Argosy, Vol. 119, No. 2 — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

ALI’S REVENGE—AND *’ Not God!” cried his guest. “ But Ali Hassan, who hath the pearl which telleth all. I will be plain with thee, Najob. A ' young poet came to me this morning—the same youth who saved thee in the bazaar. He spoke so eloquently of his love that he moved me to seek the most beautiful of her sex in this city. I looked into my pearl, but — T saw naught but an old rat, and I read that to mean that she was with thee. telleth me that I am right.” Najob Azoura shrugged his shoulders and said: “I bought her at a great price from the Bedouin. She hath been an expense to me from beginning to end.” Ali Hassan struck him a blow across his shoulders that almost threw him off his feet. “There is sense in thy talk now!” he said. ‘‘ But to get anything out of Najob Azoura is like getting moisture out of a desert rock. Why do we stand here talking like two dry camels grunting for water? ‘Thou shalt have coffee such as hath never passed thy lips before.’’ He led the way-into the long room, clapped his hands, and said: “‘ Coffee—the best thou hast ever made! ”’ The slave ran to the donkey and brought the coffee mill, the pot, and the charcoal- lamp. He blew up the spark of fire in the Jamp, and brewed a pot of thick brown coffee flavored with cinnamon and citron. ‘“ Now, then,” said the great man, after his pipe was alight and he was settled among the cushiens, “now we may talk business. Mind you, I would not take the young man’s maid unless necessary, but#my pearl hath not teld me that. this was his maid: Wilt thou give her to me?” “All treasure hath price,” said the mer- chant, “even a woman’s beauty.” “Even a woman’s beauty!” exclaimed Ali, “Especially a woman’s beauty, old bag of bones! Let'me see her.” “No,” said his host, a bit fearfully. “Thou wilt run away with her. All thy men are armed.” “I give thee my word,” said Ali, “ that I wil. Rot take her without zat recom- pense.” Just recompense! ” whined the mer- chant. “Thine ideas of just payment mp not with mine.” Thy face | ALLAB’S. ‘Body of Allah!” ejaculated Ali sud- denly. ‘‘ Thinkest thou I have no pleas- ure in life but to sit here and gabble with thee! ”’ Najob arose, went to the foot of the Stairs, and called, ‘‘ Mirza!” A voice answered, “I come,” and Ali said, touching one of his fingers, ‘‘ Voice of the nightingale.” “Thy face must be covered,” said the merchant. A faint feotfgll sounded on the stairs, and the girl stood in the door. She hesitated, and Najob Azoura said, “ Sit thou here beside me.” The girl crossed to him quickly and dropped to the floor at . his side. ‘My child,” said the merchant, ‘‘ here - is a man-—-the great Ali Hassan, of the oasis of Nejed. He ruleth here for the Sultan. He hath heard of thy beauty, and hath come to see thee.” . The girl was silent, and Ali said: “ Dressed in green, as a daughter of the faithful should be; small, but ripely formed; fingers long and taper. Thou hast naught to fear from me. Let me see thy face.” : Shes was silent and motionless until Ali stirred among his cushions, and then Najob Azoura said: “There is no help, child. The horse goeth where the curb moveth him. So must we.” The girl put up her veil, and when Ali - 16S had looked long upon the small oval face — he touched. another finger and said: “Eyes of the gazelle. What is thy price, Najob Azoura?” “ Thou canst not sell me!” said the girl quickly. “T-am not thine to sell! My father will pay thee richly for me.” ‘But thy father,” said the merchant, ‘is far away, and Ali is here. There is ro help that I can see. And since I was at some expense about thee, thou wilt not grudge that I make it good? And remem- ber that Ali Hassan is rich and can make thee happy. I can face thy father with a clear conscience, for I shall have done what I can.” “Thy father will thank him, ” said Ali Hassan. ‘I came to buy thee for a slave, but I will make thee my wife!” He paused and threw out his arm to OV ©) im boo (€(0) S