The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-02-15
Chapter .
RIccoLPs MESSAGE

CUODENL11 al 3 cIank or ho01B
~ q Jingle Of steel, and a creak oi
leather, Ohio sprang to attention
presented arms and returned to the
position of attention. and then held
lont the paper to Major Rlccoli al
that officer, followed by his orderly
BombeIli, rode out OF the gate ana
glancing at the sentry. returned ais
salute by raising two fingers to his
cap.
~what's thisg" ne asked, refining
mp.
"A letter for yon, mon Command
ant. That Arab just brought 1t. / told
him to wait there until / was Re
iieved."
"Good!"
Having frowned his way through
the document, Major Riccoli. his
handsome face otherwise devoid Of
expression, again read II, and again
thoughtfully regarded the messen-
ger
"Tii, you," he called. ana Beckon.
ing to the Arab, wheeled about and
rode back into the little fort.
Dismounting and giving his reihs
10 the orderly:
See that I am not disturbed and
that no one comes near here" he
hald.
Then. bidding the Arab follow
him, he entered the little stone
room that was at once his Office and
his quarters. and shut the door,
Having closed the door, Major
Rieeoli seated himself at the rough
wooden table. placed his revolver
upon II and. with q wave OF his
,hahd gave his visitor permission
10 be seated.
! The Moor. respectfully touching
his head and his chest, bowed and,
souatting cross.legged on the moor
of the hut. drew his feet beneath
Ihls cloak.
The French officer, head on hand,
for some moments silently regarded
the dnsky, bearded and somewhat
dirty face Of the man who, from be.
.heath 6verhanglng bushy eyebrows,
watched him intently with unwink-
ing gaze.
Yes. q typical Moor. A fat-faced,
bushy-bearded hlll-man who might
Be own cousin 10 Abd-el-KrIm, Raj
suii. or any ether Moorish chieftain
--robber, brigand, rebel. patriot, or
whatever one liked 10 call him.
Why didn't the fellow speak,
One loses prestige and takes the
lower ground IL In dealing with
these people, one pays the ilrst visit
or makes the first remark.
In silence Major Riccon en-.
deavored to oukstafe the Moor. 70
his great annoyance he found him.
SELF compelled. at length. to blink,
and almost to withdraw his gake
from that OF the visitor. as q fencer
dlsensages his sword.
"WellS" no said sharply and re.
eeived In reply another bow and
salutatioh. respectful II not humble.
"Why have Jon come heref" he
asked In his all but perfect Moorish
Arabic.
-To bring that letter. sidl."
s"Do you know what's In itfe
Il do. SidL"
"You know that It is an answer
70 my message to the Kaid3"
Il do sidi."
Why didn't you 80 when you had
nven the letter TO the sentry9"
4 hare 10 take an answer Sidl.s
why could not my messenger to
the kaid have brought this letter
and taken back my answer"
My master. the Kaid. IL the most
trusting OF men. but only In the
Faithful has be any faith--and not
much In them. He once trusted the
FORD Of the Sultan. publicly pledged
N the K'ran.a
so he sent you 10 find out wheth-
q the messenger and the message
we're genuine and incidentally 10
nnd out anything else that yoa could.
and generally to spy out the landYs
The Moor smiled.
The Kaid. my MASTER on whom
DO peace. sent me to ind out
whether the messenger and the
message were genuine he replied.
"And also 10 be his ear into which
pour Excelleney might whisper any