Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-09-07

before we begin the game"
The stranger leaned back, passed his
cigar case, and, having lighted a weed
himself, began:
1T is an unwritten law among the
wild Bedouins east of the Red sea that
If an infidel traveller is attended on his
journey by one Of the faithful he is
safe from the attacks of Mohammedan
robbers. AS long as the Frank as all
foreigners are called, is under the pro-
lection of the Star and Crescent, the
rascals hand is stayed, and as they
meet, the villain, who would otherwise
show no quarter. salutes with the
grave suavity of courtier. But let
that same traveller become separated
from the Arab guard that he has bribed
to give him safe conduct through his
own bandit-infested country, and he
becomes legitimate prey. He will be
plundered and perhaps killed, or,
worse, II the robber thinks that cruelty
will extort any secrets of hidden spoil,
tortured or held for ransom, with each
days display losing a few fingers,
which are forwarded to the captive's
friends to signify that the rascals mean
business.
''The party in which this American
was travelling had been entering Syria
from the south, and were progressed
some II days from the sacred base of
old Sinai At place called Bir-es-
Sheba, on the regular caravan route to
and from Mecca from the north, they
heard of some interesting archeologi-
cal treasures just unearthed some two
days journey to the east, and, having
made the detour, the party snugly en-
camped by the side of a beautiful
stream under the shadow of the Tubal
chain OF mountains.
"The treasures were vastly exagger-
ated, as is the custom with everything
oriental, and they soon determined to
turn back to the caravan route and
bump on up into Syria-tbumping'
being the familiar term for camel rid
ing, and a very expressive word at
that. But on the afternoon of the first
resting day some one suggested q
jaunt to famous old well, where it
was said were some very ancient tu-
null. But, knowing the Bedouins to
be conscientious liars, and sick of this
unrewarded chase for phantom treas
ures, the American begged to be left
behind in charge of two tents, which
were pitched side by side on the bank
of the stream.
"This was agreed upon, the whole
party except himself going off on their
three days trip, leaving their COM
rade stretched at full length on a rug,
his narghili, or water pipe, lighted for
company.
This oriental atmosphere, gentle
men, Is a powerful drug. Do what you
will to tight against it, it's subtle charm
holds you captive. The man sue
cumbed to its influences and went fast
asleep.
"Out Of this sweet, trance-like repose
he suddenly bounded into the horrible
consciousness of torturing pain in
one Of his hands, as though some wild
beast 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 of, with a hideous dirk-knife,
the first three fingers of his left hand.
In an instant 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 two of his cap
tors set out upon this mission, leay-
ing him in care of the third, who was
heavily armed.
mo one knew better than the pris-
oner 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 desperately about in his mind for
a loophole Of escape before the fellows
should return with these unsatisfactory
tidings, which would result, no doubt,
in further mutilations.
'As his gaze swept the tent for
something suggesting plan for deliv-
erance, he 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 1t
concealed. The coat had been over
looked because it was as grimy as the
tent wall itself. E%.~ g
I'm moments like this one grasps
at straws. AS it is said q drowning
person reviews his past experiences
perfectly in brief moment, so to this
man, facing desperate odds, came q
desperate suggestion. TT z.*s< s.zs.. ST..
He called loudly on supposed pro-
tector In the adjoining tent to come
to the window and prove to his cap
tor that he was under protection Of q
Moslenn. As he spoke he slowly drew
the coat from before the mirror ii
front Of which the sheik was standing.
mo words can express the unutter-
able CONSERVATION pictured upon that
blazing face, livid with fright and
wonder, 90 for the first time It saw
ito own awful reflection. not knowing
Il was It's own. One instant he stood
stock-still. Fascinated. horrifed, over
D 4