Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-17

deucedly odd affair-a scarab; Egyrtion
scarab. l was rather pleased for II was
curio, and l slipped 1t on my finger and
went on.
was close to the hills when saw a
horse and rider come over the slope, and
my word! wasn't 1 glad? 1 walked on to-
ward the person on horseback, and as the
person was coming toward me- we were
soon near enough to distinguish each other
And of all the odd things. the person was
a woman. She wore divided skirts and
rode astride and she rode well, too, by
Jove!
extraordinarily pretty in fact, wavy brown
hair, large brown eyes and pinkish-olive
skin.
She pulled up her horse and looked at
me- / raised my hand to my travelling cap
and as l did so her eyes rested on my
hand and she gave a little cry. Then be-
fore l had the slightest idea of what she
was going to do she pulled revolver out
of holster strapped TO her saddle and
| pointed it at me-
Don't you move" she said: and bar
| ring the fact that she spoke with slight
| nasal twang, as all Americans do, her voice
| was very sweet and musical.
| At that I laughed for 1 realized that
| after the mud-puddle and the cactus bush,
| was rather an awful object
| Really, my dear young lady" 1 began,
you have not Il c slightest cause to fear
me- really now. 1 know my appearance Is
! SHoChiilSly DdU, OUT tQdt 3 Inc 1dulL Oh a
] mud-puddle and a cactus bush.''
| Then she frowned at me and held the
revolver little tighter. You can't fool
me- she said And really wasn't trying
who you are Mr.. Starr has been looking
for you. I'm so glad can show him that
| a woman can do something, even If she has
! lived east all her life
| l stared at her. II can't imagine what
| you're up to- said l.
Now, don't try to deny that you were
! Mr.. STAIRS bookkeeper, and that you ran
away with $4,000 of his money and a lot
! of his jewelry. 1 never saw you before,
| but your names birmingham and you are
| an Engishman. They told me you were
and 1 can tell it by your way of speaking. -
| OH I'm an Englishman, right enough, .
| said !. But my name isn't birmingham,
you know. It's Clough. That's the sur
| name-full name is Henry Ryecroft Clough.
| Sorry l haven't a card but all my things
| are in my handbag
She looked very scornful. oh! that's
| well enough to tell she remarked But
| 1 know you, you see. I've seen that ring
| on Mr.. Starts finger time and time again
| that scarab ring. He let me wear It for
| week once. You see, that gave you
| away"
| laughed in quiet way as II she were en-
| joying joke that was all her own. Per-
| sonally it's hardly laughing matter for a
gentleman to be taken for a thief. But
sue really .housht 'lde was oiie anu sne
still kept that weapon pointed at my head.
Now you walk ahead OF my horse" she
said. TN keep this gun pointed at your
head and If you turn or try to get away
I'll shoot you. And can shoot very well.
So you'd better look out. Right about face,
now"
| Rather humiIiating, eh, what? But, of
| course there was only one thing to do and
| that was to obey her. For a chap doesn't
| like to struggle with a woman, or mishan-
| die her or ANYTHING of that sort, and
knew I could establish my identity soon
| as we reached some place where they knew
| this fellow-Jerningham, or whatever his
! name was. So / right-about-faced and
| walked ahead of her horse.
/ tried TO explain 10 her as walked that
| If she would ride back to the station
could show her my luggage and my letters
of Identification. I produced the American
key to the patent lock with which l had
fastened the door to the hut. But she SIM