Books › Blue Book v035 n06 [1922-10], 1922 › scan 125
Scan 125
Blue Book v035 n06 [1922-10], 1922
42 lines. Read by computer on 17 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1Lou-Lou
3"It is well known to you all," he said calmly, "that this tuan speaks with the spirits by means of a board. The spirits gave him that message."
5"Sorcery!" shouted Rais Hamed, waving his bony fist furiously. "It is written that we be delivered from all sorcerers and weird women! Who shall believe in wizardry?"
7"I," said Franks. "Because, today, I received a letter by means of the pigeons of Sultan Muley, on whom be peace! And this letter told me the same tidings."
9Again, silence—this time a very harsh and critical silence, ill-disposed toward Rais Hamed. He perceived it, and dropped down upon his cushion. He was trembling, with mingled rage and fear and dismay.
11No one doubted Franks now. All knew of those pigeons.
13"You have known me many years," he said quietly. "You know that I have always told you the truth. Now I shall show you how to prove whether I lie or not! First, Zahri will come here, alone; he will come in a day or two. After him, very soon after him, perhaps will come Tuan Hvarson, also alone. But Sultana Lou-lou will bring with her Tuan Quail, and the slave Barak, and the strange Tuan Fortesque. If these things do not fall out as I say, then let Allah strike me!"
15Again there was silence. In the midst of it Trehearne plucked at the arm of Franks.
17"Tell that gray devil," he blurted in English, "that Luke Quail will—"
19"Shut up," snapped Franks.
21The head councilor lifted his head.
23"This matter lies in the future," he said gravely. "And the future is in the hand of Allah, the Compassionate, the Bountiful, who alone knows all things!"
25"W'Allah alim!" intoned the others. "And God knows best!"
27Again Franks saluted them with the marhaba—fingers to brow, lips, and breast—and turned away. He had given his news. Rais Hamed and Hvarson were completely blocked.
29THE six councilors by no means enjoyed themselves for the remainder of that afternoon. Rais Hamed was sullen and silent, and presently stalked away to embark for his floating home—and men got out of his way as he passed, when they saw his face. The other five were distinctly uneasy. One of them, at least—Tembarak the Scarred, he who had lived long in Manila and served in the constabulary there—recalled the unpleasant fact of Christian baptism. True, that baptism had been discreetly received in Manila, without publicity on his part; the rub was that Luke Quail had performed the ceremony and was not apt to forget it. In Sibuko he desired to remain a Moslem. He foresaw unpleasantness ahead, did Tembarak.
31Trehearne went down to the beach that evening and hunted long to find his ouija-board, but without avail. He could not find it. He looked out toward the reef, where the Gazelle hung to her anchor, and saw from her stern cabins the dull scarlet glow of crimson light. At this Trehearne, who at one time or other had reverenced the Church of Rome, furtively crossed himself and went home. Men said that when this scarlet light blazed aboard the schooner, Rais Hamed had bloody affairs in hand.
33IN the morning, Trehearne was going through a stock of old odds and ends cluttering up the bottom drawer of his desk, and he came across a faded packet of violin strings. For a while he stared at it, and then a smile crept to his fat cheeks. What had Franks said about being on his last G string?
35"He'll like this," he said simply. "I'll take the packet up to him."
37He got his wide straw hat and took the little packet of strings, and went through town. Already the morning was hot. Trehearne strode steadily through the Chinese bazaars and the fish-market and the Arab bazaars, passed the houses on bilian poles beside the marshy creek, and climbed the little hill beyond.
39There upon the hill stood the white cubicle that Franks called home. Trehearne puffed up the winding path, mopping his cheeks and clutching the little packet firmly in his hand. He came to the door of the square white house, and found it open.
41Trehearne glanced inside, smiling to himself in anticipation. He saw the figure of Franks seated at the table, back toward him, motionless. On the table, to one side, was the violin; not upon its side, as Franks always placed it, but on its face. This made the eyes of Trehearne widen amazingly. And the bow lay on the floor—that bow, whose hair was so studiously kept
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