Adventure Magazine Cover, December 10, 1922 — page 57: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

~ Benefit of Doubt Mullahs, priests, ministers know all those signs. They can recognize pride, honesty, fine frenzy, patriotism, determination, com- promise. The mullah watched stealthily, looking away each time Mahommed Babar faced about. “What do you say his name is? Sirdar Mahommed Akbar Khan? Great names! A great man possibly.” He faced the mullah and stood with legs apart looking down at him, holding one elbow and stroking his beard again. “See that he is respectfully treated. Let him have no weapons, but he may come and go unmolested, That is my order.” it was the very first detailed order given by Mahommed Babar since his grasp of the leadership, and the mullah’s opportunity to attach his own imprint to authority. “Tf he comes and goes but has no weapons harm may befall him, sahib. Better im- prison him.” “T have spoken! If harm befalls him, let his blood be on your head! Let me have word of everything he says and does.”’ “Your honor will not speak with him?” rin) «8 dg The mullah hesitated, devoured by curi- osity, which eats the brains of some men as worms gnaw the belly of a dog. “He has no beard, but—is he your honor’s brother?” Mahommed Babar glared. The word brother in the East has various significances. Moreover, a mullah’s curiosity more often than not has teeth. Answer, and he per- verts the answer. Refuse, and he draws his own conclusions. Appear to mistrust him, and he mistrusts you. Trust him, aud take the consequences! “You may get the answer to that question from Sirdar Mahommed Akbar Khan, and you have my leave to go!’”’ replied Mahom- med Babar, resuming his stride up and down the room with his hands behind him. So the mullah returned to» the mosque, where the elders had done arguing, and announced his restored importance in a short speech. He had prayed, he informed them; that being his business and he a faith- fulman. In answer the Lord of Mercies had inspired him to go and visit Mahommed Babar down the street. During the ensuing interview knowledge had been born in his mind in a flash that this Mahommed Babar was the Lord’s appointed leader, and he had therefore blessed him in the name of the surely uphold the Moplah cause. Mahommed Babar, a very prince of men and a lover of God if there ever was one, had accepted the blessing and given thanks for it, requesting him, the mullah, to con- tinue with spiritual mediations and wise advice.. In view of the facts, and of his conviction ‘that all this was Allah’s will, it was his duty to urge them to obey Mahommed Babar implicitly in all things— for the present. He added the last words in more or less of an undertone, having not only a fine imagination but a well-developed bump of preparedness against contingencies. The elders departed, discovering scant amusement in the mullah’s sermon, but bent on making the most of the situation. They were so eager to keep an eye on one another that they flocked out, elbowing and shoving —hurrying down street to undo the ad- vantage gained by those who had stood nearest to the mosque door. The mullah approached King, who was. : a . - | en & f Most High, whose right arm would now still lying down with his bandaged head cushioned on the folds of his turban. “Your honor’s brother is disturbed for your honor’s safety,”’ said the mullah. “He orders a bodyguard appointed for your honor, lest harm befall. There is a little room behind this mosque—clean—comfort- “oa son and my servant would bring ood——_”” King noted the tense and was careful to look pleased. The mullah’s underhanded- ness was easy enough to see through, but the word brother was not so easy. He suspected guesswork, not believing that Mahommed Babar would have proclaimed relationship for any reason. He had_ probably given orders that made the mullah suspect blood- relationship as the only likely explanation. There might even be a slight facial resem- ~ blance. He was no such fool as to enlighten the mullah one way or the other. “Has your honor a weapon?” the mullah asked, almost off-handedly, not looking directly at him, but sidewise. Conscious of the automatic still tucked snugly against his ribs, King shook his head. ““Get me one!” he urged. ‘Those rascals who struck me on the head took mine.”’ The mullah looked relieved, and beckoned King to follow. Almost laughing, King obeyed him and passed out through the rear door of the mosque into a tiny court, at the back of which was a one-story thatched comichbooks AF Ava 88, BY abe vo io WY REY, NY Thc © RD ‘ hiv ra AME aN Fd yo Py Nie Le Dealt 6) Vw iy ; wi I Ve at 4 Ne Ne tir 4) Nie! 4 3 uA ye ( AUP SW ACL oe Beat tt ean ey Nall ‘an iy’ PA uy ay \ er Pree ee (eo) aa