Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-01
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR MAY 1. 1910

raised his heavy riding crop and brought it
swishing downward across the white and bent
back with blow that sounded like smack of
an open hand across face. Dick instinctively
famed. He drove the spurs into his horse until
the startled animal gave one bound forward be-
meath him. He heard Miss Clarke exclaim as if
between clenched teeth. How terrible!" He
was madly intent on dragging the crop from
Buhammei's hand. And then, before he could
put his thought into execution. he halted with
surprise and curbed his rearing mount.
Instead of resenting the blow, the stately
Berber was mumbling something that sounded
like thanks. He did not even attempt to rise
from his kneeling posture, and still held the
folds OF his mantle together across his breast as
if soliciting another blow. Buhammei, who had
paid no attention to his companion, thrust his
hand into his pocket and pulled his horse along
side the kneeling figure. He bent far down
from the saddle and whispered something in
such low voice that none of the others could
hear and turned to ride away.
DICK. amazed at the whole proceeding
quoted his horse and pulled abreast of the
English girl. and as they passed the Berber saw
hand and that in the black palm of the other
were shining pieces of gold.
He looked at the girl by his side and, taking
her unawares discovered that she was staring
at him with admiration and gratitude unveiled;
but her eyes shifted to the horses head and she
flushed perceptbly before she spoke.
4" thank you for what you meant to dc" she
said. again turning toward him.
He bit his lip. as if feeling that he had acted
impetuouslv, and then muttered. II couldn't
helplt. But did you ever see anything like that
in all your life?"
Her answer was trenchant and expressive.
THE brutei" she exclaimed.
As though answering her epithet. a voice
called out from in front as they looked up to see
Buhammei looking at them from over his
shoulder. They advanced until all four horses
were abreast.
Pardon me" the Moor said with great suav-
ity. That may have seemed cruel to you; but
! know the beggars of my own country. He
had no business to surprise me in that way
know how to check their mendicity!'
He ended with a strained laugh and forging
ahead again placed his horse alongside that VI
the Consul's daughter. The other two. drop
ping behind. looked at each other for long
moment, each with unspoken comment.
Do men in this country give beggars hand
fuls of gold!" the officer asked.
nAh. was that man beggar?" was the
Berber sheik who for some unknown reason is
on foot"
Dick reverted mentally to the death on the
mountain. his suspicious of a conspiracy again
keen and questioning
They turned into road which skirted the
city and wound away in a depth of bordering
orange and lemon trees which hung in dropping
heaviness overhead, their fruit laden branches
mteItWlHeQ III HelSnOOrly intimacy. FOR some
minutes they rode in silence, each thinking of
the recent incident and perplexed. A white
cuba surrounded by the customary number of
squatting figures was reached and decrepit
old man hobbled up to bestow the sanity
blessings. or curses. dependent upon the fruits
of his solicitations. They passed and found
themselves once more on an open plain.
THE officer turned back to see if the saint
still standing in the road, and as he did
so there broke out into the open, two by two. the
foremost horsemen of the troops they had seen
at the foot of Zalag. Now they doubled up in
close order until they were four abreast and
galloped after them. in time. keeping in exact
distance and a certain espionage over their
movements. The American gave startled ex-
clamation and looked ahead to where their
companions were riding steadily along the
broad white roadway. They did not seem to
hear the rolling noise of the following squadron.
and were apparently talking about objects they
were passing.
Off before them rose the time worn gate of
Ell Ghisa, its battlements sharply outlined
against the pallid blue of the sky, and the SOL
diers guarding it appeared at that distance to
be mere marionettes in brilliant colors of pre-
dominant and flaming red They were well up
to the gate. when for the first time Buhammei
looked back and became suddenly aware of the
following horsemen Dick was so close to him
that he could see the outlines of his face, which
hardened. and also noticed another fact that