The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1896-02-13

my brother, but shall be back anon
"She returned in q few minutes and
whispered to me:
"'Mahomed's come. He'll be here
soon.'
"'But you've locked the door said 1.
"She smiled.
80 will show you said she. Come
here and l followed her. She pointed
me out a trap door in the floor, a few
feet from the cot. | guessed the rest.
She handed me a loaded stick and told
me to take my stand behind the screen
close to the trap door to wait till Ma
homed's whole person was in the
room, then strike him on the head that
he fall senseless to the ground.
After giving me these instructions,
Ayesha asked me to help her arrange
the bed clothes to look like a figure.
We had hardly done this when we
heard footsteps ascending. / got be-
hind the screen and Ayesha, after ex-
tinguishing the light, crept into the
dark of the room.
"Noiselessly the trap door opened
and a man entered the room from be-
low. On hands and knees he stole to
the bed. Then, gradually, his black
form lifted off the ground, and for a
second or two the man stood motion
less. Now | saw his hand uplifted to
strike with a club the figure on the
bed, to make sure of no resistance;
then ], putting my whole strength in
the stroke, felled him to the ground.
"Ayesha rushed forward and bawled
down the trap door, in q voice re-
sembling, as much as possible, that of
a mans: All right! Hand up the
sack!
"'Here you are came the reply from
below. Now, look alive! I'm sleepy
eff you are in such a hurry, come
up and help me- said Ayesha.
ugh! I'd rather be excused re-
piled 1oosif to this invitation. BE
sides, | pay you to do the dirty work.
Be quick. Let me know as soon as
you are ready and l will help carry
down the sack
"'Why did you ask him upg' l ques-
toned Ayesha. What if he had
Gomez
81 had no fear of that replied she.
L know him well. Now, no more talk.
Here, get into this sack
Into this sack!' 1 exclaimed.
"What brains you men have she
said, pettishly. This sack was handed
up to me to put you in, and
But l understood what she meant
now, and l cried:
"'Ayesha! how can I thank you-'
Hush! and she stopped my speech
by placing a hand of hers to my
mouth. l gently put it aside and said.
"A kiss, Ayesha. l must have one
"She raised her face and l pressed
my lips to hers. I strained her to me.
and b%esought her much to marry me
and leave that bowling den Of shame.
"I cannot she cried. I've told YOU
I'm a thing to loathe, and not good
enough for such rs you. Silence! Not
a word. Get into the sack. We are
wasting time
But said I, venturing another
question, who is to driver
Myself she replied, casting about
her Mahomed's cloak. Come, get in
Il did as she bid me, and as soon as
she had secured the neck of the sack
called to her brother to help carry
down the load. He came up to the
room, now that everything was ready,
and l was quickly conveyed to the car.
riage outside.
Come In the morning for your re-
ward said Yosif.
"Ayesha answered not, but drove
away.
"After we had gone a little distance
Ayesha stopped the carriage and let
me out of the sack. And l thought it
time, too, for l was feeling far from
comfortable.
COVE must part here said the girl,
in a choking voice. Walk right on and
you will come to a police station. You
will get a bed there till morning.
"'Ayesha,' / pleaded, remain with
me. Why go back? Do you not love
meP'
"'Allah alone knows I do. That man
who calls himself my brother has some
strange power over me that l cannot
leave him.
lis Yoosif, then, no your brother?'
l asked with surprise.
"'No. He promised me, when | vas
young and foolish to believe anything,
to make me his wife; he has not kept
his promise
"'Scoundrel! exclaimed 1. He is
not a fit associate for so good
"'Hush, foolish youth! 1 have told
you that you know me not. Sooleman.
come near me. Kiss me. Gaze upon
me well. This is the last you will ever
Scc VI lHe dSdlu. NOW, go. Allan pro-
tect you!
"She whipped up the cart horse and
in a few seconds Ayesha was lost to
me forever.
Il hurried on in the darkness toward
the police station, thinking as l went
of all that had happened to me. Pres
emily l was startled by some one lay
ing a heavy hand on me. | sprang
aside, and l saw three masked figures,
two to my front and one in rear.
"'Your purser demanded one.
land look sharp about itv advised
another. We are impatient to be off,
Il made a rush at the man on M
He waited as if to receive me.
But as l struck out at him he stopped
and l fell over him and on my
head. Nearly stunned l staggered to
feet, when | received a severe blow
my head which rendered me sense
less.
Next morning | was found lying on
the road by a policeman, who had me
conveyed to a hospital.
ut was days before | recovered con
SciOusness, and as soon as | was able
went to the police station and gave
I full account of what had happened
% me that night.
They thought me mad.
do you not believe me?' | asked.
when are my 10000 rupees, my
gold watch and chain?'
You are either mad or an impcS-
or said one police officer. You'd bet
.er leave. or I'll send you to the luna
ic aSYlum'