The San Francisco call., 1905-01-08

Here the woman dismounted and
gave the mule to a Nubian who was
waiting. Then, with a quick move
ment, she unveiled herself and turned
beauty Beautiful she was, Of that
there could be no doubt, with her
graceful, swaying shape, her dark and
liquid eyes, her rounded features and
strangely impassive countenanGe. She
was young also, perhaps twenty-five,
no mere. and very fair-skinned for an
Eastern.
My poor house is for pilgrims and
merchants. not for famous knights;
yet, sirs, L welcome you to it, she said
presently, scanning them out of the
corners of her eyes.
we are but squires in our own
country, who make the pilgrimage,
replied Goodwin. For what sum each
day will you give us board and a good
room to sleep in?"
These strangers" she said in
Arabic to the porter, do not speak
the truth
What is that to you?" he answered,
as he busted himself in loosening the
baggage. They will pay their score.
and all sorts of mad folk come to this
country, pretending to be what they
are not. Also you sought them-why,
l know not-not they YOU"
Mad or sane they are proper men,"
said the imDassive woman, as though
to herself, then added in French,
'Sirs, I repeat this is but humble
place, scarce fit for knights like you,
but if you will honor it. the charge
iS-SO much"
1--WE are satisfied" said SGodwin,
especially" he added. with bow and
removing the cap from his head, 'as,
having brought us here without leave
asked, we are sure that you will treat
us who are strangers kindly"
LAS kindly as you will mean as
you can pay for,'' said the woman.
Nay 1 will settle with the porter; he
would cheat you
Then followed wrangle five min
some, Still-faced woman and the por-
ter, who after the Eastern fashion
lashed himself into a frenzy over the
sum she offered and at length began
to call her by i'll names.
She stood looking at him quite un-
moved, although Goodwin, who under
stood all, but pretended to under
stand nothing. wondered at her pa
tience. Presently, however. in per-
feet foam of passion he said, or
rather spat out:
mo wonder, Masouda the Spy.
that after hiring me to do your evil
work you take the part of these
Christian dogs against a true believer,
you child of Al-Jebal!'
Instantly the woman seemed to
stiffen like a snake about to strike.
Who is he?" she said coldly. do
you mean the lord-who kills?" And
she looked at him--a terrible look.
AT that glance all the anger seemed
to go out of the man.
Your pardon, Widow Masouda,"
he said, Il forgot that you are
Christian, and naturally side with
Christians. The money will not pay
me for the wear of my ass's hoofs,
but give it me, and let me go to pill
grims who will reward me better"
She gave him the sum, adding in
her quiet voice:
Go; and if you love life keep bet
ter watch over your words"
Then he went, and now so humble
was his mien that in his dirty turban
and long, tattered robe he looked.
Wulf thought more like a bundle of
rags than man mounted on the DON
keys back. Also it came into his
mind that their strange hostess had
powers not possessed by innkeepers
in England. When she had watched
him through the gate Masouda
turned to them and said in French:
Forgive me. but here in Beirut these
Saracen porters are extortionate, es-
pecially toward us Christians. He was
deceived by your appearance. He
thought that you were knights, not
simple pilgrims as you avow yourselves,
who happen to be dressed and armed
like knights beneath your gambesons;
and" she added, fixing her eyes upon
the line of white hair on Godwin's head
where the sword had struck him in the
fray on Death Greek Quay, show the
wounds of knights, though it is true
that man might come by such In any
brawl in a tavern. Well, you are to
pay me a good price, and you shall
have my best room while it pleases you
to honor me with your company. All!
your baggage. You do not wish to
leave it. Slave. come here
With startling suddenness the Nu-
bian who had led away the mule ap-
peared. and took up some of the pack
ages. Then she led them down pas
sage into a large, sparsely furnished
room with high windows, in which were
two beds laid on the cement floor, and
asked them If it pleased them. They
said: YES; 1t will serve" Reading
what passed in their minds, she added:
"Have no fear for your baggage. Were
you as rich as you say you are poor,
and as noble as you say you are
humble, both it and you are safe in
the inn of the Widow Masouda, o my
guests-but how are you named ?"
Peter and John"
90 my guests, Peter and John, who
have come to visit the land of Peter
and John and other holy founders Of
our faith"
And have been so fortunate as to be
captured on its shore by the Widow
Masouda," answered Goodwin, bowling
again.
"Wait to speak of the fortune until
you have done with her, sir-is it Peter,
or John?" she replied, with something
like a smile upon her handsome face.
Peter answered Goodwin. RE
member the pilgrim with the line of
white hair is Peter"
.'You need it to distinguish you apart,
who, I suppose, are twins Let me see
Peter has line of white hair and
gray eyes. John has blue eyes. John
also is the greater warrior, if a pilgrim
can be a warrior-look at his muscles;
but Peter thinks the more. 1t would
be hard for woman to choose between
Peter and John, who must both of
them be hungry, so go to prepare
their food"
"a strange hostess" said Wulf,
laughing, when she had left the room;
"but / like her, though she netted as
SO finely. / wonder why? What is
more, Brother Goodwin, she likes you,
which is as well, since she may be use
full But, Friend Peter, do not let it
go too far. since I think also that she
may be dangerous, as that porter
thought. Remember, he called her a