Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-04

horror came over him. All" he grasped.
and, dropping upon his knees he ran his
fingers over the skull. The hair
matted with blood, and deep, ragged
edged dent bore witness to the terrible
force with which the rife barrel had
fallen.
I've killed man., he whispered. in an
awestruck voice. rising to his feet. Star
ing fxedly at the silent thing lying there
before him. he repeated the sentence over
and over again:
I've killed ii man-I've killed mani
Then all AT once a great change came
over him, the joy and fierceness Of the lust
OF blood and he laughed Historically.
sloating over the dead man before him. as
the victorious heroes used to do in the Old
DarDaric ages.
He thought of the other Turk, and looked
cut of the door just in time to him turn
at the hither corner and disappear as he
walked back his beat. Curtis made
dash for an olive tree about eight rods dis
tant, and, skulEing behind it, peeped be-
tween the high gnarled roots. When the
guard had again appeared and turned back
he ran to rock ana threw himself down
behind 1t, instnctively using tactics by
which he had sometimes crept up div
Ing duck. He was now within listening dis
tance. The next run brought him to the
side Of the house, and he had just time to
throw his gun to his shoulder when the
guard stepped INFO view. Curtis fired, and
the man dropped. He might have taken
him prisoner. but the thought did not
cur 10 him He had tasted blood Panayo-
ia came to the door and looked wonder
ingly out. The American to her with
the smoking musket IN his hand and seized
her by the wrist. It was the natural act
OF the savage who has won his woman in
fight.
Come. Panayotar he cried, you are
free. They are all dead"
And he started down the hill pulling the
girl with him. She came without a word.
CHAPTER XX.
Tied to 4 tree was one of those large
black and tan mules that are stronger than
any horse and tough as steel This one a
pack animal, had been left behind in
charge Of the three guards. Curtis picked
up the clumsy pack saddle which lay near
and threw it upon the beasts back. In his
excitement he bungled the unfamiliar
straps, but Panavota assisted with nirnble
and experienced fingers. He helped her to
mount, and was about to climb up behind,
when he happened to think Of the dead
TURK $ ammunition Bringing a supply
from the hut, he climbed up behind the
girl. SO they rode away, the American
aStr!de the animals ruInp, the fair Cretan
sitting sidcwise in the saddle. He passed
an arm around her waist to steady them
both. and accelerated the animals speed
by jahbing the butt of his musket into its
side. lie could not use his heels, because
PanayOta guided the mule by Tipping in
It's eyes, first one side of the head and
then on the other, the end OF the rope that
was tied about its neck. AS Curtis felt be
meath mis- arm the firm but yielding form,
innocent of COTSets; the warm strong
heart throbbed against his hand, his mad
ness became compete. He had killed iwp
men FOR this girl. and she worth it. He
was ferocousiy happy. The very touch u
her thrilled him. He knew now why he
had killed the mentor the same reason
that David had slain Uriah. Woman, gen
Tie, refining, Spftening woman, will, in an
lh%tdHl- blot Two Thousand years OF civil
zati"n out of a mans nature and turn him
back INTO Il primitive savage. He nal her
Very tight. and she made no resistance
| What tribes shape destinies. In the
Siddy happiness of the moment he could
not have framed original Greek sentence
to save his soul, but he leaned forward
with his lips cl"se to the girls ear with his
face partly buried in her hair, the refrain
of hyrnns Maid of Athens sang Itself
| in his brain, and he whispered again ana
again. Zoo mou, sas agapo, zoe mou, sas
agapo" tMy life. [ love you.'D She shiv-
| cred slightly the first time that he repeat
| ed the sentence. but when he placed his
! face against her flaming cheek, she did not
| repulse him And at last, that first keen
madness of contact with her passed away
| and he chartered eXcitedly as he jabbed
| the ambling mule again and again: Don't
| be afraid, Pssnayota; they'll never catch us
| We got you now, not kostakes. My life
| love you! Go on, you dromedary, or I'll
| punch rib out of you! They must kill me
| before they take you again.
After they had been about an hour on the
| road they began to feel uneasy.
They must have got back by this time"
| other Turk, then they would have thought
! we We're rescued" and he looked anxiouslv
| back over his shoulder. The idea came to
| Curtis of turning off sharply from the path
| and hiding in the hills. But the mountains