Argosy, Vol. 123, No. 2 — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

THE CARAVAN OF THE DEAD. sey, speaking very slowly. “I have come for Miss Rand. Shall I tell you why?” He had not seemed taken aback by the knowledge that Monsey knew him. Edith wondered whether, after all, Donovan had not expected this. If so, he had been fool- hardy in coming. She did not understand. “You, Monsey and this man Abbas Abad,” he went on, “‘ are marked down by the Sayaks. You know the belief of the Moslems that each criminal has, in heaven, ; a stone marked with his name that will one day fall upon him no matter where he is. The Sayaks have condemned you to death; there will be fighting before long. You cannot leave the tower. I wish to take Edith away from danger,” Monsey broke into a long laugh. “Oh, you are a fool. I like to hear you talk. Well, Edith Rand won’t go awa y- She will stay with me. Is that clear?” A slight shrug answered him. ‘“‘T wanted to give you the chance, Mon- sey, to play the gentleman, you know.” The Russian flushed, biting his mustache. He watched Donovan draw an object care- fully from. his pocket. It was a heavy jade necklace of many folds, set with seme in- ferior turquoise. Donovan laid it on the table, rolled into a ball. | “ You remember this?”’ His words were crisp. ‘‘ Well, perhaps Abbas does. It be- longed to the wife of Iskander Ibn Tahir. He bought it back, in the Kashgar bazaar. ‘And he has kept it. You know the fate in store for a man who violates the home of an Arab of high birth?” While he spoke, he put his hand on the necklace. Monsey’s eyes widened a little, and he licked his full lips. Then he shook his head. ‘Not good enough. “You can’t bluff me.” “T am not bluffing. Nor am I warming you. Whatever happens to Miss Rand, your life is forfeit. It is beyond me.” So calmly he spoke, ke seemed to be ex- pldining the inevitable. Edith felt this, and Monsey was silent a space. As if finished with the business of the necklace, Denovan tossed it, still rolled tightly, into Edith’s Jap, a distance of a scant two yards. “Presents from such men as Iskander have a meaning,” he said. 259 Donovan had-not looked at her. Mon- sey took the words to himself, but the girl glanced up with awakened curiosity. Abbas would have. taken the necklace, but the _ Englishman turned to him sharply. ‘“ Mahmoud is coming for you, Abbas,” he said in Turki, “ Are you ready?” The simple speech caused the Alaman to draw a long breath and to step back instinc- tively. Edith wondered whether it was sur- prise at being addressed in his own tongue. But she remembered the fear that had flashed inte the face of the Sart upon the mountainside. The name of the physician seemed to carry a potent spell. Monsey had been startled just enough to anger him. It occurred to him that Dono- van, entirely in his power, was taking the upper hand of the situation. Meanwhile Edith drew the necklace under her lace Shawl. Here her quick fingers explored its folds tentatively. She felt a piece of paper, eamolen with- in the jade ornaments. Faperly, she sepa- rated the wad of paper from the necklace and thrust it into the bosom of her dress. When the ornament of the wife of Iskan- der fell again to her lap it revealed nothing but the stones, strung on a gold chain. Abbas later claimed it, with an eye to spoil. “You are more of a fool than I thought, Mr. Donovan Khan. My star is high, Ab- bas said. Well, I am grateful for your help. — Have you any more cards to show?” -Donovan turned to him earnestly. “TI do not need to conceal my cards, Monsey. Believe it, or not, the Sayaks hold you fast. Your men have heard of them, and they are afraid. You know the fear that centers about Yahka Arik?” — Sure of himself again, Monsey laughed. He rose, motioning the other to come to the door. There he pointed through the outer entrance that gave on the courtyard. ““Oh, I know the legends. Maybe if I had only a handful of men ’’—he shrugged —‘ but look out there!” He watched, pleased, as Donovan stiff- ened and drew an involuntary breath at sight of the numbers in the kurgan and their weapons. “You see. Likewise, the old moat on the side away from the cliff is dug out into Co NOOK (C©@