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Show THE CITIZEN 24 collect three thousand gineli agreed upon and would deliver to a certain lady a sandalwood box, the possession of which endangers my life and has brought about me the mists of Abu Tabah, the magician. So the head of the cat was out of the bag at last. But there was more to come and it was not a proposition to plunge at, as I immediately per ceived; and I parted from Ali Mohammed upon the prudent understanding that I should acquaint him with my decision on the morrow. The terrace of Shepheards was deserted, when, after I had escorted my visitor to the door, he made his way down into the Sharia Kamel Pasha. Two white-robefigures who looked like hotel servants, and a little nondescript group of natives, stood at the foot of the steps. At the instant that doubt entered my mind and too late to warn the worthy Ali Mohammed, the group parted to give him passage; then a terrific scuffle was in progress and one of the wealthiest merchants of the Muski was being badly hustled. As I reached the street, out from the feet of the wrestling throng, like a football from a scrum, rolled a neat You would I d tarbush. Automatically I stooped and picked it up. Its weight surprised me. Then, glancing inside the tarbush, I perceived that a litlte oblong box, together with a quaint signet ring, was ingeniously attached to the crown by means of silk threads tied around the knot of the tassel. I glanced rapidly about me. 1, alone, had seen the cap roll out upon the pavement A hard jerk, and I had the box and the ring free in my hand. A nativS policeman who freely employed his cane upon the thinly-cla- d persons of the group had terminated the scuffle. his shaven skull robbing him of much pf the dignity which belonged to his tar: A very dusty Ali Mohammed, bush, confronted me, ruefully dusting his garments. Your tarbush, my friend, I said $ AT THE CASINO THEATRE STARTING WEDNESDAY restoring his property to him with & bow. One piercing glance he cast into the interior, then: Oh Allah! he wailed. O Allah! I am robbed! Yet A sort of martyred resignation, a beatific peace, crept over his features. To war against Abu Tabah is the act of a fool, he declared. To have obtained the Beys money would have been good, but to have obtained peace is better! I awoke that night from a troubled sleep and from a dream wherein magnetic fingers caressed my forehead hypnotically. For a moment I could not believe that I was truly awake; the long ivory hand of my dreams was still moving close before me with a sort of slow fanning movement and other nimble fingers crept beneath my pillow! Without fully opening my eyes, cautiously, inch by inch, I moved my hand to that side of the bed nearer, to the wall, where there reposed a leather holster containing my pistol. of My fingers closed over the butt the weapon, and in a flash I became wide awake. . . and had the ring of the barrel within an inch of the smiling face of Abu Tabah! Be good enough, my friend, I said, to turn on the center lamp. The switch, as you have probably noted, is immediately to the left of . See and Hear the . FOLLYDOLS at the NEWHOUSE The Brightest Spot in Town Dine, Dance and Enjoy a Clever Show . CLEAN, WHOLESOME LIVELY ENTERTAINMENT The Follydols appear under the direction of Mr.' drover Frankie, dinner, 6:30 to 9, and during after-theatsupper, from 10:15 to 12:30, on week nights. During dinner, 6 to 9, on Sundays. Tea, 4 to 6, Thursday and Saturday afternoons. DANCING for GUESTS re Pinto' Mabel Normand GOLDWYN PICTURES the door. Abu Tabah, straightening his figure and withdrawing his hand from beneath my pillow, inclined his picturesque head in grave salute and moved in the direction indicated. This is the second occasion, I said, upon which you have unwarrantably submitted file to a peculiar form of outrage Not unwaramtably, replied Abu Tabah, his speech suave and gentle; but I fear I am too late! His words came as a beam of enlightenment. At last I had the game in my hands did I but play my cards with moderate cunning. You must pursue your inquiries in the harem of the Bey, I said. The house of Yussuf Bey has been watched, he replied; "therefore my agents have failed me and must be punished. They are guiltless. It was humanly Impossible to perceive my. enI declared trance to the house, truthfully. So it was you who the carried sacred burko of the Seyyideh he said, and tonight Ali Nefi-se- h, Mo- hammed brought you the reward for your perilous journey. Your reasoning is sound, I replied. I had scored the first point in the game, for I had learned that the wonderful silken yashmak, pearl embroidered, which I had found in the sandalwood box, was no less a curiof the Seyy-de- h osity than the face-veNefiseh, and must therefore be of truly astounding antiquity and unique of its kind. The woman Chahmarah, continued my midnight visitor, who was once a dancing girl, and who will ruin Yussuf Bey as she ruined Ghuri Pasha before him, must be for ever accursed if she dare to wear the burko of Nefiseh. I had scored my second point; I had learned that the lady to whom Ali Mohammed would have had me deliver the yashmak was named Shahmarah and was evidently the favorite of the notorious Yussuf Bey. You have performed an immoral deed, he said sweetly, and have pandered to the base desires of a woman of poor repute. I offer you an oportunity of performing a good deed and of trebling your profit. il . This was as I would have it, and I nodded encouragingly. I am a Moslem, he said; and although Yussuf Bey is a dog of dogs, he is nevertheless a True Believer and I may not force my way into his harem. He might return the veil if he knew that Shahmarah had it, I suggested ingeniously. Abu Tabah shook his head. There are difficulties, he- replied, and if the theft is not to be proclaimed to the world there is no time to be lost. This is my proposal. Return to the woman Sharmarah, and asquaint her with the fact that the sacred veil has been traced to her abode and her death decided upon by the Grand Multi if it be not given up. Force the merchant Ali Mohammed to return the money received by - him, using the same threat which will prove a talisman of power. Return to the infidel woman the full amount. I will make good your commission, to which, if you be successful, I will add two hundred pounds. You must give me a little time to consider this matter, I said. Abu Tabah graciously inclined his head. On Tuesday next a company of holy men who have journeyed hither from Ishpahan go to view this relic; you have therefore five days to act. And if I decline? The loss must be made known it would be a great scandal; the merchant Ali Mohammed, and the woman, Shahmarah, must be arrested very undesirable; you must be arrested most and undesirable; your banking account will be poorer by three hundred pounds. Frightfully miserable, I declared. I waved jny hands in the direction of the door (I had reasons for reMa'salama! bed.) maining in (Good-bye)- ,' 0 I said. Dont stay to (Continued on Page 42.) . |
