Adventure, February 20, 1922 — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

hospital to have his eyes healed. He knows English and can reatt the names on labels.” “Did you put him up to it?” “Not I! He begged a meal from us after- wards and offered-to show us how he fooled foreigners for money in the hotels of Massa (Egypt). So we came with him to this cave, _ where he had hidden what he stole; and here he breathed fire, and showed us how to do it. But he kept the secret to himself of how to mix the powders, putting the stuff on our tongues and teaching us until we could do it perfectly.” “So you can’t work the fire-gift without him, eh?” ~—More is the pity!” “That settles that, then! Did you tell the people what I said about postponing action until tonight?” “Tand my sons. We all spoke of it. Some were angry with us. Some were pleased. Some doubted. But we, who had the fire- gift, had the last word. -Jimgrim, we have kept faith.” I went over and looked at the Egyptians. ° who was still stunned, gurgling through his gruesome mouth and bleeding pretty freely from Mahommed’s blows that would have felled a lion. The scars on his face looked like burns at close quarters; and that was likely, for they say that nearly all beginners at that trickster’s trade have ghastly ac- cidents. “What is this about the fire-gift going back, Jimgrim?”’ Ali Baba asked. “Tt goes back tonight.” “And we? Do you mean to put us to shame? Are we.to have no hand in this? Is our honor not in your keeping?” The gang crowded close on Grim to hear his answer, and Mustapha clucked nervous- ly between his teeth, rattling the rifle to call attention to it. I was as scared as he was, but if Grim minded in the least he did not show it. “What’s this talk about honor?” he asked. “Are you trying to add to the terms of a bargain after it is made?” “No, no, no!” they chorused and he laughed at them. . “What then?” “We are your friends,” said Ali Baba. “Tnshallah, a man such as you is thoughtful for his friends!”’ “Your . friends, Jimgrim, don’t sommes it!’ The Seventeen Thieves of “EL-Kalil 39° “Think of El-Kerak, Jimgrim!” “Who provided camels for you when you went in pursuit of the Beersheba — thieves?” “8 “When you were governor here, who ‘brought word about the man from Bethesda —he who sought to knife you in the night? Remember that, Jimgrim!” “Yes; and who slew the fakir who had gone mad?” “Didn’t we save the life of the British | officer, who had offended everybody and was mobbed?” . “Yes, and lied afterwards to save him from his own people! We have done every- thing that you ever asked of us, Jimgrim; isn’t our father Ali Baba’s honor in your keeping?” “Well, what is it you want?” asked Grim. “‘That we shall not be made the laughing- stock of El-Kalil!”’ solemnly. And at that they all sat down, in a circle as before, with Grim standing in the midst.. liberately with his foot and sat down too, whereat they all clothed themselves in a new contentment. The Arab thinks far more highly of a judgment .given sitting. “This is a new bargain,” Grim began after a moment’s thought. “Tnshallah!”’ “The terms are these: The old bargain = ~= continues until the end of this affair.” “Na’am, na’am.” (‘“Yes, yes.’’) “Ali Baba shall retain such personal dignity as I can contrive for him, but the method must be mine.” ““Na’am, na’am.” “In return for it, Ali Baba and all his ‘sixteen sons and grandsons shall be the © friends of the present governor, de Crespigny, and of his assistant Jones.” “Tatb! They are worthy of it. They are bold. The right spirit is in both a them! We agree!” “And nothing in this agreement shall be construed to mean that Ali Baba and his — gang shall not all or severally go to jail, if - convicted of breaking the law in futurey They go’to jail in the proper spirit, without — malice, if caught and convicted.” “Taib! Agreed!” “Very well,” said Grim. four of you pick up that Egyptian, him to the jail at once!” “Now three or and pea Ali Baba answered — PERN Pe 4 ¥% So he moved the stone de- reL: ; “oe PET ~*~ . - Mai ia 4 J t f >/ % s*) At NY a a * . *) Ch! aa ie¥ ‘ y ooh a4 aG — » AS : “4 My fy if 2 Ta, . WM ‘ . 7) i ee Pes : _ ih), ey, 7) Hs ode TAL: BON See Tabs € ! pees : 4 4 hel f : f ad «rf f “yd ON i et ae aA eg h M : + a’ ta, ; » Bel Swed toed UL, Le eh JA ey = & comicbooks; . eS BS , oy 2 « = : f i See 5 hb ¥ Ae anh ean