The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-12-26

ONE INSTANT HE STOOD STOCK STILL.
of two tents, which were pitched side
by side on the bank of the stream.
This was at last agreed upon, the
whole party except himself going off
on their three days trip, leaving their
comrade stretched at full length on
rug, his narghDi, or water pipe, lighted
for company.
This oriental atmosphere, gentle
men, is a powerful drug. Do what you
will to fight against it, it's subtle charm
holds you captive. The man sue
cumbed to it's influences and went fast
asleep.
"Out of this sweet, trance-like repose
he suddenly bounded into the horrible
consciousness of a torturing pain in one
of his hands, as though some wild best
was crunching the bones. But, as he
writhed to his knees to grapple with
the foe, he saw instead three swarthy
evil-faced Bedouins bending over him
with ghoulish glee. One had just cut
off with hideous dirk-knife the first
three fingers of his left hand. In an in
slant it flashed upon him that these were
to be sent to his friends with demand
for ransom. He was correct in this
supposition, for no sooner had
the bleeding hand been rudely
bandaged than his two captors set out
upon this mission, leaving him in the
care of third, who was heavily armed
mo one knew better than the prison.
er how impossible such a ransom would
be. His fellow-travelers had brought
as little money into Syria as would meet
their actual necessities while there.
He, therefore, began to cast desperate
ly about in his mind for a loophole Of
escape before the fellows should re-
turn with these unsatisfactory tidings,
which would result, no doubt, in fur
Their mutilations.
AS his gaze swept the tent for some
thing suggesting plan for deliverance,
Se saw it had been Quilted of everything
except two articles-his light silk coat,
which hung upon the partition between
the two tents, and the tourists shaving
mirror which it concealed. The coat
had been overlooked because it was as
grimy as the tent wall itself.
In moments like this one grasps at
straws. AS it is said a drowning person
reviews his past experiences perfectly
in brief moment, so to this man, fac
ing desperate odds, came a desperate
suggestion.
HE called loudly on a supposed pro-
tector in the adjoining tent to come to
The window and prove to his captor
that he was under the protection of a
Moslem. AS he spoke he slowly drew
the coat from before the mirror in front
of which the sheik was standing
"No words can express the unuttera-
hle CONSERVATION pictured upon that
blazing face livid with fright and won
der as for the first time it saw it's own
awful reflection, not knowing it was it's
own. One instant he stood stock-still
fascinated, Mortified, overwhelmed;
then collapsed, just as that lady did bat
i moment ago, and the American quick
~ possessed himself of his captors
arms and was master of the situation.
And now, gentlemen" concluded
the story teller, we will have our
game"
AS he spoke he again reached forward
10 turn the trump. There was "A quick
Y drawn breath of horror from those
who observed him, for the first three
fingers of his left hand were missing.
Before he could turn the card a saw
age lurch of the boat, accompanied by
the creaking of timbers, announced the
arrival of the Rappahannock at her New
York slip-and the trump was never
turned.--Black Cat