The champion. (Arcadia, Fla.) 1895-1911, 1906-08-23
mot WMtI Not Wllti" she toatled.

mot WMti Not Wulti" she matted,
you say that you and your woman
and he looked sdarkly at Masouda-
know nothing. But these men know,
and 1t Is right that You, for whose sake
II not by whose command the thing
was done, should mete out It's reward
and do my bidding"
For moment ROsamund stared ut
the boxes, then suddenly she closed her
eyes and, taking them up at hazard,
stretched out her arms, leaning for
ward over the edge Of the dGls. There
on calmly enough the brethren took,
each of them, the box that was nearest
to him, that In Rosamund's left hand
falling to Goodwin and that in her right
to Wulf. Then she opened her eyes
again, stood still and watched.
Cousin" said Goodwin, before we
break this cord that is our chain OF
doom know well that whatever
chances, we blame you not at all"
Then he began to unknot the silk
which was bound about his box. Wulf,
knowing that 1t would tell all the tale,
did not trouble himself as yet but
looked around the room, thinking that,
whether he lived or died, never would
he see a stranger sight. Every eye In
II was fixed upon the box In Godwlns
hand. Even saladin stared as though
II held his own destiny. No, not every
one, for those of the old lmaum were
fixed upon the face Of Rosamund
which was plteous to see, for all its
beauty had left 1t, and even her part
ed lips were ashy. Masouda alone
still stood upright and unmoved as
though she watched some play, but he
noted that her rich hued cheek grew
pale and that beneath her robe her
hand was pressed upon her heart. The
silence was intense.
"Trouble enough about one mans ,
life In a land where lives are cheapV
exclaimed Wulf, thinking aloud, and
at the sound of his voice all men start
ed as though It had Numbered sudden
" In a summer sky. Then with laugh
he tore the silk about his box asunder
with his strong fingers and, breaking
the seal, shook out It's contents. 10,
there on the floor lay the enchanted
star Of Hassan.
Masouda saw, and the color crept
back to her cheek. Rosamund saw
also. and nature was too strong for her,
| for I'm one bitter cry the truth broke
from her lips at last;
mot Wulfl Not Wulfv she walled,
and sank back senseless into Masou-
da's arms.
"Now, SIRE" said the old imaum with
chuckle, "you know which of those
two the lady loves"
ayes, | know now" said Saladin.
"and / am glad to know, for the mat
Ger has vexed me much"
But Wulf, who had paled for mo-
ment, flushed with Joy as the truth
came home to him.
''This star is we'll named The
Luck" he said as, bending down, he
took 1t from the floor and fastened 1t
to his cloak above his heart, "nor de
hold It dearly earned"
So that strange scene ended.
The afternoon drew toward evening
and Goodwin stood before saladin In his
private chamber.
"WAat seek you now" said the sui
tan sternly.
"a boom" answered Goodwin. MY
brother Is doomed to die before night
fall. ask to die instead Of him"
"Why, Sir GodwinG"
"For two reasons, sire, AS you learn
ed today, at length the riddle is an
swered. It is Wulf who is beloved Of
the lady Rosamund. and therefore to
kill him would be crime. Further, It
is and not he whom the eunuch heard
bargaining with the captain Abdullah
In the tent. swear it"
Saladin pulled at his beard then
answered;