The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1905-11-30
A Story Of
the Cost.
SYLVANUS
COBB, JR.

mistrust your object"
II understand you, sire; and I viii!
be guarded. Shall it be as I have
said?"
Eyes. only bear in mind that the
thing must be accomplished If &C
c~omplishment is possible"
Il understand you, sire; and be as
sured that my wits shall be stretched
to their utmost"
"Aboul Cassem," said the king, after
Judah had gone, what do you Think
II think the fellow will study up
some grand plot between now and
morning. At all events. sire, 1 do not
believe you can find a better man for
your purpose"
At an early hour the king retired,
and all night long his sleep was trou-
bled with very unpleasant dreams. He
dreamed two or three times that the
Scourge of Damascus had robbed him
of his beautiful bride. and once he
dreamed that his throne had passed
from him. In the morning he was
more anxious for the apprehension of
the robber than before, and impa-
tiently did he await the coming of the
Israelite.
At the appointed hour Judah made
his appearance and announced that he
would undertake the task of delivering
up the terrible Scourge.
IF I succeed" he said, you will
hear from me as soon as success
crowns my efforts. If I fail, you will
perhaps never hear from me again."
and when will you set forth?" ask
ed the king, almost beside himself with
hopeful anticipation.
"At once, sire. This very day, if
a get ready"
DO you want help2."
Il would select two of your most
trusty guards"
Take as many as you want"
Two will be enough, sire"
will you take them from those who
have been on duty here?"
emo, sire. That would not be safe.
The robbers might recognize them.
will have two who came with us from
Damascus yesterday" =.
LAS you will, Judah. Select the men
you want, and they shall accompany
you"
The Israelite promised that he would
V all his arrangements made be-
fore the king was ready to depart, and
with this assurance he went away.
By the middle Of the forenoon the
king was ready to set forth on his re-
turn to Damascus. Ulin and Abba
were placed within a comfortable box
upon the back of a stout camel, and
around them were posted a hundred
armed e The remainder of the
retinue was arranged under the direc-
ton of About Cassem, the kings prime
minister, and only the order was
needed to set the whole in motion.
At this point the king withdrew to the
palace, where he found Judah ready to
set forth on his dangerous mission,
and with him were two guards, Osmir
and Selim, two ~resolute, intelligent
fellows, who seemed to love the excite
ment of the work upon which they
were about to enter. The king was
pleased with the choice Judah had
made
Il might not have hit upon them"
he said; "but I know they will serve
you. And now, what more can 1 do?"
Nothing" replied Judah. IT have
all that I can use, and am ready for
the work. If I succeed, you will hear
from me in good time; and if you new
er hear from me, you may at least be
assured that I failed from no lack of
will to serve you"
With a few words Of announcement
the king left his servant to pursue his
own course, and proceeded to join his
army, which was soon in motion; and
before the close of another day he
arrived at Damascus, where Ulin was
once more suffered to find shelter be-
meath the roof Of her father. Touching
her marriage, it was understood that
the ceremony should be performed as
SOOu DIS Luo pel1ou VI mourning q
passed, which would be in two weeks:
and until then she was to remain in
close retirement. Koran asked that
she might not be suffered to go out,
for he feared to have her see too much
of the outer world before he had Sc
cured her hand.
We must now return to the Palace of
the Valley, where we left those who
were to go in search of the robber
chieftain. As oon as the king had
gone, Judah repeated the instructions
he had already given to the guards.
They were not to accompany him; but
they were to come after him, in a man
ner agreed upon, and were to conduct
themselves towards him in all respects
as though they had never before seer
him.
Towards the latter part Of the after
noon Judah stripped himself bare to
the skin, and caused one Of the men to
beat him with a leathern thong until
long livid ridges were raised upon his
shoulders and back. After this he re-
sumed his clothing, and as o as the
shades of evening began to fall, he
mounted a fleet horse, and rode away
to the northward towards the plains OF
Abilene. He knew that Julian had
taken that course, and he hoped to
overtake him before MANY hours. I'm