Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-02-26
The Call From
Out the Desert

%t& F~@4 34&ns
But why not7" persisted Captain
Aymere, rs Il the same old storyg rs
y that you won't helieve-or can't be-
lieye-that Guy is dead2a
She gave a little shudder.
Yes, that is Why" she answered.
'But three years have passed since
he wss killed. said Aymere. Three
years, His " men brought 10 Tan
gier the news of his DEATH
Aymere took her hand in his. She
was very beautiful. this first love of
his-more beautiful even than when
she married Rolfe, who was once his
friend-Rolfe. who had treated her
brutally. who had neglected her. who
had gone Off at last TO Morocco on one
OF his expeditions. and had never re-
turned.
II was quite true that Aymere had
always adored Marjorie. When she
married Rolfe he suffered cruelty, but
he had striven 10 keep the maj 5
friendship, and from affair, as 1t were
he ~worshipped the woman who had
sacrificed herself TO so unworthy z
husband. Bur time. the healer, had
wrought changes of great import TO
Jack Aymere. Rolfe was dead, with
out a doubt. and Marjorie vas to be
won. He knew that she loved him.
For two years after Rolfe's death he
never saw her. but then he came and
asked her TO be his wife. She refused,
as she was refusing now; the old
dread was always In her heart.
But Aymere was a persistent lover,
and the knowledge that Marjorie re-
turned his love made him sure that in
the end he would win her and at last
she did consent. The day was fixed
and presents and congratulations
flowed in,
Then came the bombshell, for Rolfe
after all. had not been killed. He was
a captive in the hands of the Moors.
The same American Cansul who had
sent the news OF his death to Marjorie
now sent this fresh, stunning intel
~ligence.
When Marjorie received the news
she sen for Captain Aynere.
Aymere guessed in an instant what
had happened. One glance at Mario
rie's face and he knew the truth.
$50 you were right" he said quiet
ly. "He Is alive"
She handed him a letter, and waited
in silence until he had read 1t through
to the end.
A few days later the couple, accom-.
panied by Marjorie's brother. Reggie.
were on their way 10 Tangier.
After an uneventful voyage, they ar
rived in Northern Africa, where the
American Consul had secured a guide,
and one week later a well-equipped
caravan started southwark oyer the
desert
The caravan crawled slowly. Abu
Yussef. the guide. vas a man OF few
words. but he had told Aymere that
Rolfe had sent him TO Tangier. prom
Using him a rich reward IL he sue
ceeded in getting help.
The caravan moved more quickly
as the higher lands We're reached,
where the cool treezes blew from the
mountains.
At last the mountains were crossed,
and in a valley beyond lay a little
white town. to the left OF which look
ing very tall and slender at so great
a distance, was a tower.
Abu Yussef touched Aymere's
sleeve.
"He Is there" he said.
Aymere nodded.
Il win go to him ton~ieht-alone,''
he whispered. DO not tell the others.
We will camp here"
He stole away about midnight, when
all except Abu Yussef an dMarjorie
were slumbering.
The night was wonderfully bright
and clear. The moonlight silvered
the desert, the stars blazed In their
glory, and a pure cold wind was blow
ing. Once or twice some dark
ClfdAutt itdBL vi Slubh away lioih
Aymere's path now and again the
hideous yells of the hyenas rang and
echoed. But silence was reigning
when he came to a halt beneath a
barred window OF the tower.
For a little while he stood there,
with bowed head. as though in deep
reflection; then he glanced up, and
gave a low whistle. Years and years
ago. when he and Rolfe had been
friends, Rolfe had known that whistle
well.
At first there came no answer.
Aymere whistied again, still very soft
ly-then waited. Presently he heard
a rustling. a sound as OF a chain
clanking.
And in another moment Aymere be-
held a dreadful face-a face dark as
a Moor's, bearded and disfigured. The
wore a turban. and for an in
Aymere believed there had been
a mistake. This could not be Rolfe,
this wretch, whose fingers, like talons,
IA 1- u