Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-08-23

ting his hand into his breast, he drew
thence u ring, with which he began to
play carelessly.
"Whence that ringi" she said, with
fear and wonder in her eyes. at is
And she ceased.
"From one to whom It was given and
who has charged us with a message.
Now, hostess, let us be plain with one
another. I propose that we remove
ourselves from your roof and go to stay
with our W people Mt the castle,
where, / doubt not, we shall be wei
come, telling them that we would bide
no longer with one who is called n spy,
whom we have discovered also to be n
daughter of. Al-je-bal,' after which,
perhaps, you will bidc no longer In
Beirut, where, as we gather, spies and
the daughters of Al-je-bal' are not
welcome"
She listened with an impassive face
and answered:
Doubtless you have heard that one
Of us who was so named was burned
here recently as n witch? Why, fool
ish men, l can lay you both dead be-
fore ever those words pass your lips"
You think you can" said Goodwin,
"but for my part I am sure that this Is
not fatcd. and am sure also that you
do not wish to harm us any more than
we wish to harm you. TO be plain,
then, it is necessary for us to visit
Al-.je-bal. VIII you aid us in this?'
IL do not know. l will tell you after
four days. If you are not satisfied
with that. go. denounce me, do yout
worst, and I will do mine, for which
I should be sorry"
"Where Is the security that You will
not do it IL we are satisfied" asked
Wulf bluntly.
you must take the word Of
daughter Of Al-ie-bal.' I have non
other to Offer" she replied.
THAT may mean DEATH" said Wulf.
You said just 10Y that was not fat
ed. and, although / have sought YOU
company for my own reasons, l have
no quarrel with you-as yet. Choose
your own path. Still. I tell you that j
you go, who, CHANGING to know Arabic
have learned my secret, You die, anc
that if you stay you are safe-at leas
while you are In this house. / swea
it on the token Of Al-je-bal," and
bending forward, she touched the RIM
in Godwin's hand, but remember tina
for the future | cannot answer"
Goodwin and Wulf looked at each 9th
er. Then Goodwin replied:
81 think that we will trust you an
stay words at which she smiled a lit
tie, as though she were pleased, thel
said:
"Now, If you wish to walk abroad
guests Peter and John, I will summon
the slave to guide you, and in fou
days we will talk more OF this matte
of your journey. which until then hat
best be forgotten
So the man came, armed with
sword, and led them out, clad in thei
pilgrims robes. through the streets o
this eastern town. In due course the
came to the inr again. having met q
n who they knew. When the brett
rem were back in their chamber, seate
at the far end Of it and speaking YER
low lest they should be overheard, the
consulted together long and earnestl
as to what they should do. This wa
~clear-they and something Of their mi.
: sion We're known, and doubtless motto
of their coming would o o he give
to the sultan Saladin. From the kin
and great Christian lords in Jerusalel
a, they could expect little help. since I
give it might be to bring about an ope
rupture with Saladin. True, they migl
. try to find their WAY to Damascr
alone, but if the sultan was warned
= their coming would he not cause the
= to be killed upon the road or cast I'M
y some dungeon where they would la
, guish out their lives? The more the
spoke of these matters the more the
were pcrplcXed till at length GodwI
4 said:
Brother. our uncle babe us earnes
4. ~ to seek II this Al-je-bal, an
l though it seems that to do so is vel
> dangerous, I think that We had be
obey him who may have been give
y foresight at the last"