Adventure, February 20, 1922 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

16 | Adventure - them and that they can come without fear, ee all sixteen of them.” as / “But they will be busy. They are pre- paring certain matters.” . ae Bi “T know it. I won’t interfere. They may a - go away afterward and make all the prepa- } rations they like.” ; Ali Baba wrote painstakingly and passed the finished note to Grim, who studied it for half a minute before calling a servant. * “To Mahommed ben Hamza in the suk.* Come straight back here. Don’t wait for an answer or stop to answer questions.” ~The man went off at a run and Grim sat ma Wa tas ~~ a . 4 _. down in the window-seat. = “Come and sit by me, Ali Baba. Now, A ft you infernal old scoundrel, let’s understand is’ each other.- I’m going to watch you like a fox stalking a bird, and I warn you not to _ make one signal to your gang. If you want to know what I’ll do if you disobey me, just | make one signal to your gang and see! ae These boys here made a mistake, didn’t - they, when they clapped you in jail? That a gave you a chance to stir ructions, didn’t soe it? And get rescued and fill your caves with loot after the rioting. Well, you'll tell that gang of yours that you’re out of jail now, - so that part of the program that called for 7 an attack on the jail is off—absolutely off— you understand?” : Ali Baba nodded. His eyes were watch- ing Grim’s intently, trying to read the plan behind the spoken word. . , -“They’ll ask you whether you’re free yet. ,» You'll answer what?” iy “T am not free—yet!”’ “No. That’s the wrong answer. By the ; time they get here you will be free.” = “Taib! Lam willing! I will go with them.” igs “Yes. But you and I will have a private understanding first.” What struck me most as I watched the faces of the two men was a difference less of = nationality and thirty years or so than of a couple of dozen centuries. And in spite of x. ,cunning and cocksureness won by half % a century of practically unpunished and ee profitable crime; in spite of the fact, clear = enough by now, that the Arab could count , confidently on thousands of his fanatical friends to use direct force against us, who Nh hile a7) ee PLA ~ were an insignificant handful, for the mo- , ‘ment out of reach of help, the impersonation | of past history looked helpless against the young American. 3 ; “*Bazaar. I suspected Grim of being up to his old game of spotting the spark of elemental decency that is always hidden somewhere and fanning it into flame for his own use. Cohen, who knew Arabic ’better than I did, seemed equally aware of reenforcements not yet seen. The expression on the Jew’s face . was of masked alertness, as distinguished from Grim’s businesslike good humor. “T know your game,” said Grim. ‘See if I don’t. There’s a Moslem insurrection in Jerusalem, of which you’ve had full ad- vance particulars. There’s trouble in Egypt and Constantinople that keeps the army at Ludd under orders for instant service elsewhere; some one has told you of that, too. I'll deal with that some one ~ later. You’ve had it in for the Jews here for a long time——” | “Fi idak!* They lend money to Moslems and collect the debts in the governor’s court! It is forbidden by the Koran to lend money at usury.”’ “And you figure that the moment is there- fore auspicious for a massacre.” . “Haida hatk.t It is going to take place.” “You know there will be punishment afterward.” ae “Perhaps that is written.” “But as you don’t propose to murder ,any Jews yourself, or at any rate don’t intend to be seen murdering them, and have plenty of friendly witnesses in any case, you yourself expect to get off scot-free - with lots of loot. Isn’t that so?” “T shall prove an alibi.” “T know you will! I’m going to help you!” ““Mashallah! What does this talk mean?” “You have a son, by name Mahommed ben Hamza.” “Truly. My youngest. He will be here soon.”’ “When I came here to act as governor ~ a year ago, he was in the jail under sentence of death.” : “Truly. But the charge was false. The © witnesses had lied.” “Do you remember who set him free?” Ali Baba did not answer, but the ex- pression of his eyes changed and by just the fraction of an inch he hung his head. He looked even better that way—more patri- archal than ever, blending savagery and ~ humility. *That is certainly sol TQuite true. ; ‘ GOmile I (0) CS} (e(oyl aa) 's | at i ue eae or at. J —# —