The San Francisco call., 1905-02-05

back at the woman behind him, ana
reproved him. saying that he must keep
10 the spirit of the bargain as well as
to the letter and that if he might not
speak he must not look either.
THAT is a pity" answered Wulf, for
though she is so tied up she must De
tall and noble lady from the way she
sits her horse. The horse, TOO. is noble,
own cousin or brother TO SMOKE
think. Perhaps she viii sell 1t When
we reach Jerusalem"
Then they rode on, and because they
thought their honor in ii neither spoke
nor looked more at the companion OF
this adventure, though. had they known
it, she looked hard enough at them.
At length they reached the gate OF
Jerusalem. which was crowded with
folk awaiting the return Of their en-
bassadors. They all passed through,
and the embassy was escorted thence
by the chief people. most of the multi
tude following them TO know II they
brought peace or war. Now Goowln
and Wulf stared at each other. wonder
ing whittier they were to go and where
TO find The relatives of their Teilec
companion, OF whom they saw nothing
Out of the street opened an archway.
and beyond this archway was a garden,
which seemed TO be deserted. They
rode into il TO take counsel and their
companion followed. but, as always,
little behind them.
Jerusalem is reached. and We must
speak TO her now" said Wulf. If only
TO ask her whittier she wishes to be
taken"
Goodwin nodded. and they wheeled
their horses round.
Lady" he said in Arabic. 1--WE have
fulfilled our charge. Be pleased TO tell
rs where ara those relatives to whom
we must lead you
Here" answered soft voice.
They stared about the deserted gar
den in which stones and sacks OF earth
had been stored ready for siege, ana
finding no one. said:
I'VE see them not"
Then. the lady let slip her cloak.
though not her veil, revealing the rome
beneath.
"By ST Peter!" said Goodwin. Il
know the broidery on that dress. Ma
soudai Say, is it you, Masouda?
As he spoke the veil fell also. and 10.
before them was a woman like to Ma
SCUBA and yet not MasOuda. The hair
was dressed like hers; the ornaments
and the necklace made of the claws OF
the lion which Goodwin killed were hers;
the skin was of the same rlch nue.
there even was the tiny mole upon her
cheek. but as the head was bent they
could not see her eyes. Suddenly, with
a little moan she lifted it, and looked at
them.
"Rosamund, It is Rosamund her
self" gasped Wulf. "Rosamund dis
guised as Masouda!" And he fell
rather than leapt from his saddle and
ran to her. murmuring, Cod l thank
theei'
Now she seemed to faint and slid
from her horse into his arms. and Law
there a moment while Goodwin turned
aside his head.
Yes" she said. freeing herself. 1T
is I and no other, yet / rode with YOU
all this way and neither of you knew
me"
Have we eyes that can pierce wells
and wooden garments?" asked Wulf in
dignantly; but Goodwin said in
strange. strained voice:
You are Rosamund disguised as
Masouda- Who, then, was the wom-
an 10 whom 1 bade farewell before
Saladin while the headsman awaited
me- d Veiled woman who wore the
robes and gems Of Rosamund? ?"
4 know not, Goodwin" she an
sWered unless il were Masouda clad
in my garments as 1 left her Nor
do I know anything Of this story of
the headsman who awaited you. 1
thought thought il was for Wulf
that he waited OH Heaven,
thought that"
Tell US your tale" said Goodwin
hoarsely.
1T is short" she answered. After
the casting of the lot, of which 1 shall
dream till my deaIh-day, I tainted.
When I found my senses again
thought that ] must be mad, for there
before me stood a woman dressed in
my garments, whose face seemed like
my face. yet not the same.
Have no fear she said; am
Masouda who have learned how to
play part. Listen, there is no time
10 lose. 1 have been ordered to leave
the camp; even now my uncle the
Arab waits without, with two swift
horses. You lady, will leave in my
place. Look, you wear my robes and
my face-almost; and are of my
height, and the man who guides you
viii know no difference. I have seen
70 that for although soldier OF
Salah-ed-din, he is of my tribe. l will
go with you TO the door and there bid
you farewell before the eunuchs and
The guards with weeping. and who
viii guess that Masouda is the Prin-
cess OF Baalbec and that the Princess
Of Baalbec IS Masouda?'
And whittier shall 1 go?' I asked.
My uncle, Son Of the Sand, will
give you over TO the embassy that
rides TO Jerusalem, or failing that, will
take you TO the city, or falling that
VIII hide you IN the mountains among
his own people. See. here is a letter
that he must read; I place it in your
breast
Yes SAID Goodwin, but where is
MasOuds, and what VIII happen to her
who has dared to venture such a plot
as this? Oh. know you what this
woman did? I was condemned to die
in place Of Wulf-how. IL matters not:
you VIII learn il afterward-and the
Princess OF Baalbec was brought to
say me farewell. There, under the
very eyes Of Saladin. Masouda played
her part and mimicked you so well that
the Sultan was deceived, and I, even I,
was deceived Yes, when for the first
and last time I embraced her, I was
deceived. although, il is true, I won
oered. Also since then a great fear
has been with me, although here again
was deceived, for / thought / feared
for you. Now, hark you. Wulf; take
Rosamund and lodge her with some
lady in this city, or, better STILL place
her IL sanctuary with the nuns of the
Holy Cross. whence none viii dare to
drag her, and let her don their habit
The abbess may remember you, for we
have met her, and at least she viii not
refuse Rosamund a refuge"
Yes, yes: ] mind me she asked US