The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1901-07-10

if the stroke of an ak had severed it.
and. thrice infuriated. the Arabs closed
in on him. The points of their weap-
ons were piercing his harness when,
sharp and swift. one on another. three
shots Kissed past him. The nearest OF
his assaiIants fell stone dead. and the
others. wounded and startled. loosed
their hold, shook their reias and tore
off down the lonely road. while the
dead mans horse. shaking his burden
from him out OF the stirrups. followed
them at a headlong gallop through q
cloud of dust
THAT was pretty cut through the
arm. Better had it been through the
throat. Never do things by halves,
friend Victor" said Cigarette careless
" as she thrust her pistols back into
her sash and looked with the tranquil
appreciation Of connoisseur on the
brown, brawny, naked limb where ie
lay severed on the sand, with the hils
Of the weapon still hanging in the sin
eWy fingers. Cecil threw himself from
his saddle and gazed at her in bewil-
dered amaZement He had thought
those sure, COOL death dealing shots
had come from some spahis or chas-
seur.
II owe you my life!" he said rapidly.
"But, good heavens, you have shot the
fellow dead
Cigarette shrugged her shoulders,
with a contemptuous glance at the
Bedouin's corpse. ITO be sure. / am
not a bungler."
Happily for me, or had been where
he lies now. But wait. Let me look.
There may be breath in him yet"
Cigarette laughed, offended and scorn~
full as with the offense and scorn OF
one whose first science was impeached
Look and welcome, but if you find
any life in that Arab make laugh of 1t
before all the army tomorrow"
She was at her fercest. Cecil, disre-
garding her protest, stopped and raised
the fallen Bedouin. He saw at q
glance that she was right. The lean,
dark, lustful face was set in the rigid
ity of death. The bullet had passed
straight through the temples.
did you never see dead man be-
fore?' demanded Cigarette impatiently
as he fingered. Even in this moment
he had more thought Of this Arab than
he had of her
He laid the body down and looked al
her with glance that, rightly or
wrongly, she thought had rebuke in it.
Every many But it is never
i,,l iT,l-
They did not know what they did,
what divine pity! Good powder
and ball were sore wasted, it seems
You would have preferred to lie there
yourself, it appears. / beg your par
don for interfering with the prefer
ence'' 49,. -,~,.-,-.---t~s e.s-ee,---
Her eyes were flashing, her lips very;
scornful and wrathful. This was his
gratitude!
"Wait, watt said Cecil rapidly, lay
ing his hand on her shoulder as she
flung herself away. My dear child, do
, not think me ungrateful. | know welt
enough should be dead man myself
had it not been for your gallant assist
ance. Believe me, | thank you from
my heart"
"But you think me 'unsexed,' all the
samep'
The word had ranked in her. She
could launch it now with telling re-
prisal He smiled, but he saw that his
phrase which she had overheard, had.
not alone incensed but had wounded
her.
well. a little perhaps" he said gen
Iitly. How should it be otherwise2
And, for that matter, | have seen many
a great lady look on and laugh her soft
cruel laughter while the pheasants
were falling by hundreds or the stays
being torn BY the hounds. And they
had not 1.-THE of your courage"
TT is well for you that was unsex~
ed enough to be able to send an ounce
| of lead into drunkard!" she pursued,
with Unreasonable disdain. 'If l had
been like that dainty aristocrat down
| there, it had been worse for you. &
| should have screamed and tainted and
| left you to be killed while I made q.
| tableau. Oh-he. that is to be feminine, :
is it not?"
| mere uiu you see Cnat lady 6 ne
| asked in some surprise.
| ooh, was therew answered Cigas
rette, with toss of her head south
ward to where the villa lay. Il went
to see how you would keep your prom,
ise."
| We'll. you saw / kept it."
She gave her little teeth a sharp click
like the click of a trigger.
Yes. And | would have forgiven
you If you had broken it,
Would you? | should not have for
given myself
All, you are just like Marquise. And
you will end like hin"
Very probably
why did you give those chessmen
to that silver pleasant she asked
him abruptly.
Silver pheasant?''
"Yes. See how she sweeps, sweeps,