The Argosy, March 27, 1920 — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

ALIS shall know it, and she shall pay for it, not I!” He dragged at his pouch with fumbling fingers, and took out the pearl. A ray of the western sun struck in through the window, and he held the pearl up to it. “Tell me, O lovely jewel, what other man there is in this maid’s head!”’ He stood swaying, with the heavy eye- lids scarce open, watching the shifting piey of color in the gem. Suddenly the eyes opened wide, and his hands fell to his sides. ““Mustufa,” he said, ‘that arrak of thine is queer stuff!’ He looked again, and said clearly: ‘ Youth, I see thy face in the jewel!” Kahleel rose and stood door. “T cannot help what thy jewel shows thee,” he-said evenly. ‘If thou wilt be a fool, Ali Hassan, no man can stop thee.” “She was ¢/y treasure!” He lunged unsteadily at Kahleel: tried vainly to bring his wits together; then the drug which Kahleel had put in his drink overcame him, and he fell among, the ta- bles. Mustufa spread out his hands and smiled. “The arrak hath been too much for him.” “Keep him here, out of sight,” said Kahleel; “it will not do to let any one see the Sultan’s viceroy thus. I will send his slaves to him,”’ close to the CHAPTER IV. PURSUIT. T dawn Ali Hassan awoke. Batuta crouched at his feet, looking at him with mingled devotion and fear. The great man rolled over, sat up, and put his hands to his head. “JT have had such dreams,” ‘’ Mustufa, what do I here?” Mustufa rose from the ground, where he was brewing coffee, and said: ‘“ The youth and Ali Hassan sat here last night.” ‘“T remember,” he said. “I had some of thy villainous arrak.” He arose, walked to the jet of water, and he said. REVENGE—AND ALLAH’S. 203 drank deep. Mustufa placed the coffee before him, and when he had tasted that his head began to clear. “Tt was like no arrak that ever I tasted,” he said. ‘‘ There was a girl?” “ Aye,” said Mustufa. “I donkey litter cross the square.” “So,” said Ali, “I must be gone. I have kept her waiting too long.” He arose, but the slave threw himself at his feet and clasped him about the knees. “ Mercy, master!’’ he cried. “ Do not whip me for bringing evil news!” Ali looked down upon him and said: “Thou evil son of an evil mother, what tidings hast thou?”’ “Thou wilt not have me whipped?” “No,” said Ali Hassan; “ but tell thy news quickly.” He walked to the fountain, plunged his arms into it, and bathed his face. Then he sat down in the corner and said: “TI will listen.” “ Yesterday at sundown,’ said the slave, “we took a maid to the house, Ali Has- san. No sooner had we arrived there than a youth came, the same that was with thee in the morning, and said that thou wert in danger here. “We came to thee, but the youth had said that thou wert not to be disturbed, and we let thee lie. One only stayed behind. ‘At midnight he dragged himself hither, wounded, and told his tale. The young man, after we were gone, forced his way into the house—wounded the lone guard with a knife, bound him, and took the maid in the litter, After some hours he got him- self free from his bonds and came hither and told us. Allah knoweth, Ali Hassan, that I am blameless, and thou hast prom- ised not to have me whipped.” The flush spread over the master’s face, and the veins in his forehead swelled. “Tho shalt not be whipped,” he said, “ but where are the others!” “At that evil news, master, they fled from fear of thee!” Ali Hassan sprang to his feet and his fingers curled. the Saw “JT could kill thee!” he choked. “Thou raven! But there is other work to be done.” comicbookssacom