Adventure, February 20, 1922 — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

34 the general impression? What do you think of it all?” “Me?” said Cohen. “Think? ——! I’ve got to follow them thieves down into Abraham’s cave or bust with curiosity!” “You'll bust then, for it can’t be done!”’ said Grim. ~ * CHAPTER VII “Your friends, Jimgrim, don’t forget it!” E HURRIED back to the Governorate ' as straight as you can go through the mazy streets of Hebron and found Jones _asleep in his boots on the bench at the end - of the hall. De Crespigny was dozing on the window-seat in the sitting-room, and made a show of being angry with Jones for not having gone to bed. “Fat lot of use you'll be this time to- - * morrow!” ~“Do you see me bedded down, while you -face the music alone?” Jones answered testily. “Seems to me I’ve heard somewhere of juniors obeying orders!” _ . “You told me to go and get some sleep. nt -Echid.”’ 7 - Grim recounted what had happened at the Haram, while de Crespigny mixed _ drinks and a sleepy Arab servant stripped Cohen and me of our slimy wet garments. : ‘So you can both sleep safely until morn- ing,” Grim assured them. ‘Tell you what: I - shan’t need Cohen until after breakfast. Let him sleep in the hall. He'll give the alarm if a mouse breaks in. He’s nervous.” “‘Noivous? Me? After breakin’ into a ‘mosque an’ doin’ a Hippodrome high-divin’ stunt into a dark tank? You mean noivy!” “TY mean sleep,” said Grim. “There’s a _bellyful in ‘store for you tomorrow. - Thought [Td try you out this evening. You’ve made good. Tomorrow you win _~ the game for us.” “Tf you’re countin’ on me to make a home run Ill start now!” said Cohen. ‘‘Give me one 0’ them camels and I’ll make it quicker! Mnyum-m! Never knew a hot cocktail Adventure Oak and the caves thereabouts,” Grim answered. “Righto! I'll dig you out a man.” “Tell him to bring handcuffs.” “When d’you want him?” “Now. Il’ve got to move quickly. Our side-show’s scheduled for tomorrow night and we don’t want a rival act playing the same pitch. We’ve got to pull up that fire- gift by the roots. Besides, we need the makings.. Some of the notables are likely to call on you at dawn, ’Crep, and tell you their version of tonight’s events. If I were you I’d take the line that you'll permit crowds in the streets leading to the Haram tomorrow night to see the Jews return the _fire-gift; but make them swear by their beards there shall be no bloodshed if the Jews don’t disappoint them. Take their pledge in writing for it. Then how would it be if you offered to grace the ceremony with your official presence?” “Good. That'll do to remind ’em of what they’ve promised. But Lord help us if you fail, Grim! Are you sure of the Jews?” “That’s Cohen’s end.” “Say, see here,” put in Cohen, “I’ve told you more’n once these Jews are Orthodox. They’d no more listen to me than if I was a Piute Indian. They’d sooner listen to an Indian!” “Go to sleep on the bench and dream of a way of persuading them,” Grim suggested pleasantly. “Policeman ready, Crep?”’ The servant had found me dry clothes belonging to the estate of an Arab who had been hanged for triple murder a couple of weeks before and Grim and I left by the front door again with the policeman shoul- dering a loaded rifle just behind us. This time instead of turning toward the city we_went almost to the opposite direc- tion, between orchard walls, by a path-so stony that you tripped at every second step. The policeman’s steel-capped boots struck sparks behind us and the noise we made set little foxes scampering, then brought them back again to leap on the wall and look. Surely all nature wonders at the clumsiness of man.. could sink without makin’ you sick. Does the business, too. Saves ice. Start a new cel WE WERE in open country at the -_. fashion if I live through this. Warm drinks! wees end of half a mile, but that brought ____ Sure, give me another one!” us small advantage for the tilled ree “Can you spare me one policeman, Crep?” _ hillsides to left and right of us were so much a “Which?” _ blackness, and how in the world Grim pro- Been “Any one at all who knows Abraham’s _ posed to find any given cave, or the man who Ne ~ aod : ‘ > ~ De bd _ CONNIE DOO (E() 4