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

COlmpan1eu by II porter, WIN Ieo d uoh'
key. This man without more ado
seized their baggage and, helped by
other porters, began to fasten it upon
the back of the donkey with great
rapidly, and when they would have
| forbidden him pointed to the yelled
woman.
Your pardon said Goodwin to her
| at length and speaking in French, but
this man
Loads up your baggage to take it
to NY inn. 1t Is cheap, quiet and com
Portable, thugs which | heard you say
you required just now, did l notT' she
! answered in n sweet voice, also speak.
| ing in good French.
Goodwin and Wulf began to discuss
what they should do. When they had
! agreed that it seemed not wise to trust
themselves to the care of a strange wo-
man in this fashion they looked up to
see the donkey laden with their trunks
being led away by the porter.
TOO late to say no.. l fear me-" said
the woman, with a laugh, 80 You must
be my guests awhile If you would not
lose your baggage. Come, after so
long Il journey you need to wash and
eat. Follow me, sirs. | pray you.'
Then she walked through the crowd,
which they noted parted for her as she
went, to a post where a fine mule was
tied. I.oosing it, she leaped to the sad
die without help and began to rido
away. looking back from time to time
TO see that they were following her, as,
indeed, they must.
AT last the woman on the mule turn
ed through a doorway in a wall of TN
burned brick, and they found them
selves before the porch of a white,
rambling house which stood in a largo
garden and was situated on the Dor
ders of the city.
Here the woman dismounted and
gave the mule to Il Nubian who was
waiting: then with a quick movement
she unveiled herself and turned toward
them, MS though to show her beauty.
Beautiful she was; of that there could
be no doubt. She was young also
perhaps twenty-fve; no more - and
very fair skinned for an eastern.
MY poor house is for pilgrims and
merchants, not for famous knights, yet
sirs. ! welcome you to it," she said pres
entity, scanning them out of the corners
of her eyes.
"We are but squires In our own coun.
try who make the pilgrimage" replied
Goodwin. For what sun each day will
YOU give us board and a good room to
sleep in"
''Sirs. repeat. this is but a humble
place, scarce fit for knights like you,
but If YOU will honor it the charge is
SO much"
1--WE are satisfied" said Goodwin.
II will settle with the porter. IIa
would cheat YOU" said the wolnan
Then followed a wrangle five min
some, still faced woman and the por
ter, who. after the eastern fashion
] dashed himself into Il frenzy over the
sum she offered and at length began tC
J cali her by i'll Presently in &
I perfect foam Of passion he said, or
rather, spat out:
"No wonder, Masouda the Spy, tina
4 HlIPI IlIlllS HIt W W. .'ll WI hoii
Won take the part of these Christian
dogs against Il true believer. you chilt
@ of Al-je-bal!'
Instantly the woman seemed to stiff
en- like Il snake about to strike.
"Who is he?" she said coldly. "D'
you mean the lord-who kills?" An,
i; she looked at him-a terrible look.
At that glance all the anger seemed
l to go out Of the man.
"Your pardon, Widow Masouda," h,
said. Il forgot that you are a Chris
! tian and naturally side with Chris
p tians."
| She gave him the money, adding il
her quiet voice:
go, and If you love life keep bette
watch over your words"
Then the porter went, and it cam
into Wulf's mind that their strang
hostess had powers not possessed b
innkeepers in England. When she Ia,
watched him through the gate Masor
Ga turned to them and said In French:
"Forgive me, but here in Beirut thes
Saraccn porters are eXtortionate, espt
cially toward us Christians. Well, 70
n are to pay me q good price, and yo
i shall have my best room while
plcascs you to honor me with you
n company. All, your baggage! You d
not wish to leave it. Slave, com
here"
With startling suddenness the NJ
r bian who had led away the mule al
h pearcd and took up some Of the pacl
l. ages. Then she led them down a pa
II sage into n large, sparsely furnishe
!. room with high windows, in whic
II were two beds laid on the cemeI
v floor, and asked them II it please
n them.
i, They said, Eyes; it will serve"
is "Have no fear for your baggag
,e We're you as rich as you say you al
Is poor and as noble as you say you al
* humble both it and you are safe
the inn Of the widow Masouda, o IL
guests. But how are you namedT'
"Peter and John"
I'd "Remembet the pilgrim with the lii
n of white hair Is Peter"
is "You need 1t to distinguish you apar
TX who, l suppose, are twins. Let II
see, Peter has a line Of white hair az
Us gray eyes John has blue eyes. Jot
=. - a. . - III.