The Sauk Centre herald., 1909-11-04

stood in his way.
He had been on deck q long time
that day, but Baraka had only been
established in her chair a few min
utes. As yet he had hardly talked
with her Of anything but the neces-
sary preparations for the journey, and
she had trusted him entirely, being so
worn out with fatigue and bodily dis
comfort that she was already half
asleep when he had at last brought
her aboard, late on the previous night
Before the yacht had sailed he had re-
ceived Van Torp,s telegram informing
him that Kralinsky was at Bayreuth;
for his secretary had sat up till two
in the morning to telegraph him the
latest news and forward any message
that came. and Van Torps had been
amongst the number.
Il have something Of importance to
tell you." Logotheti said.
Baraka prepared herself against be-
traying surprise by letting her lids
droop q little, but that was all
Speak" she answered. Il desire
knowledge more than gold"
You are wise." said the Greek
gravely. mo doubt you remember
the rich man Van Torp, for whom /
gave you a letter, and whom you had
seen On the day you were arrested"
ivan Torp" Baraka pronounced
the name distinctly, and nodded. Yes,
I remember him well. He knows
where the man is whom I seek, and
he wrote the address for me- 1 have
it. You will take me there in your
ship, and shall find him"
IF you find him. what shall you say
TO him?" Logothed asked.
+ Few words. These perhaps: You
left me to die, but I am not dead, I
am here. Through me you are a rich,
great man. The rubies are my mar
riage portion, which you have taken.
Now you must be my husband That
10 all. Few words"
1T is your right" Logotheti an.
swered. "But he will not marry you"
Then he shall die" replied Baraka,
as quietly as if she were saying that
he should go for a walk
'If you Kill him, the laws of that
country may take your life," objected
the Greek
THAT will be my portion" the girl
answered, with profound indifference.
"You only have one life," Logotheti
observed. 1T is yours to throw away.
But the man you seek is not in that
country. Van Torp has telegraphed
me that he is much nearer Neverthe-
less, if you mean to kill him, will
not take you to him, as l intended
to do"
Baraka's face had changed, though
she had been determined not to be-
tray surprise at anything he said; she
turned to him, and fixed her eyes on
his, and he saw her lashes quiver.
'You will tell me where he is," she
said anxiously. If you will not take
me will go alone with Spiro. / have
been in many countries with no other
help. l can go there also, where he
is. You will tell me-"
Not if you mean to murder him."
said Logotheti, and she saw that he
was in earnest
But if he will not be my husband.
what can / do, if l do not kill him?"
She asked the question in evident
good faith.
IF / were you, / should make him
share the rubies and the money with
you, and then / would leave him to
himself"
But you do not understand" Ba-
raka protested. HE is young, he is
beautiful. he is rich. He will take
some other woman for his wife, if
leave him. You see, he must die.
there is no other way. If he will not
marry me, it is his portion. Why do
you talk? Have 1 not come across
the world from the Altai, by Samark-
and and Tif1is, as far as England, to
find him and marry him? Is it moth
ing that l have done. Tartar girl
alone, with no friend but a bag of
precious stones that any strong thief
might have taken from me? Is the
danger nothing? The travel nothing?
Is it nothing that have gone about
like shameless one, with my face
uncovered, dressed in mans clothes?
That have cut my hair, my beautiful
black hair, is that as nothing, too?
That have been in an English prison?
That / have been called thief!
have suffered all these things to find
him, and If come to him at last, and
he will not be my husband, shall he
live and take another woman? You
are great man. it is true. But you
do not understand. You are only Q
Frank, after all! That little maid you
have brought for me would under
stand me better, though she has been
taught for six years by Christians.
She Is good girl She says that in
all that time she has never once for
gotten to say the Fatiheh three times
a day, and to say 'el hamdu illah' to
herself after she has eateni She
would understand. know she would.
But you. never!"
The exquisite little aquiline fea-
lures wore look of unutterable con-
tempt.
IF were you," said Logotheti.
smiling. Il would not tell her what