Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-01

continuous and regular as though dropped from
| the bulb of an hourglass. At the sound of their
steps he sprang to his feet and made low bow
| to Buhammei, who answered it with slight
gesture.
THEY gained their saddles, still without say
ing other than the little comments incident
to mounting and. two and two, rode away, the
dragoman in the lead as before. The American
shaded his eyes and looked over toward the
field where the cavalrvmen had been drilling,
and saw band of unmounted horses guarded
by men that in his Western days he would have
| c-,Ied wranglers, while vivid splotches of color
lounging in the shadows beyond indicated that
the troopers were loafng after their morning
work. He wondered if they were waiting for
| the return of the scar faced man. lie called
Miss Clarke's attention to them; but she gave
| nothing more than glance and a nod and then
| looked ahead to where her friend and the Moor,
side by side, were trotting steadily in advance.
Already they were so far ahead that their
| words were indistinguishable and came like
| aimlessly floating sounds.
The American locked <eenly at the girl be-
side him and felt that some reason must exist
for her silence. what is troubling you, Miss
| Clarke?" he asked.
AS if surprised at his perception she looked
at him and smiled family and then compressed
her lips. II am angry with myself" she an
Swered. and then, after an instant's pause.
softly. AT first was angry with you: but
I've decided you are not culpable.
AT me? What for. may ask!"
Because you didn't answer Mr.. Buhammei's
rather rude speech. At first it seemed to me
that you should rise in defense of the foreign
ers. and then. when l thought it over, con-
cluded that it was l who should have risen in
behalf of my brother, who, after ALL has no call
upon your friendship.
You think his reference to the participation
of foreigners in government work was a covert
stab at Kaid Hamilton Clarke?"
Undoubtedly"
"Ah! That was not the part of his speech
that impressed me most: but rather his ex-
pressed desire to hold all the outside world
aloof. said nothing. Miss Clarke, because, to
tell the truth, paid less heed to what he said
than the manner in which ne said it. and-weli:
at the moment was thinking of something else"
She turned full in her saddle and faced him.
Her lips were half parted and her eyes curious.
so wasn't mistaken" she said DO you
know that was what ! noticed most his
had been mistaken, because-well, because
dislike him. l wonder if you feel as do about
that man a perpetual question as to who and
what he really is! If that polished shell. those
decidedly elegant manners. that constant grace,
that unfailing habit of doing everything as if
with generalization, were to be lost, what
would the other man be, Captain Whitney!
Don't you think that beneath the sleek and
shining coat and the languid repose there is
tiger that could move as swiftly as the wind
cruelty? Don't you? Do you trust him!"
She was leaning little toward him. with her
face very earnest, and he, in the thoughts con-
jured by her words. frowned deeply. He felt
that her woman's intuition was putting into
speech the half formed estimates that had been
correlated in his own mind through infnitesi-
NAL things. He gave deep breath and gath
cred his reins more tightly before answering
Il don't know" he said slowly. 81 don't be-
lieve he is what he seems. and for that reason
do not trust him; but am fascinated by
what have thought to be fitting glimpses of
the real character which he cannot always con-
ceal. All they are waiting for us to come up
with them
He touched his mount lightly with his spurs,
and they galorCd up to where the others were
sitting with their horses headed toward them.
Buhammei was plainly unaware of anything
tragic On the trip.
"Well, you two must find each other enter
/ tainingr' the American girl called in her deep
soprano as they approached. 'Mr. Buhammei
suggests that we reenter the city by the gate of
FL Ghsa. What think your Say yes and don't
raise objections, because want to 60 that way"
The American, totally unfamiliar with dis
tances and not knowing how far out of the
direct route it would take them, turned inquir-
ingly to Miss Clarke. and she nodded her head
1T isn't much farther" she said land time
with us is not particularly precious
THE Consul's daughter and Buhammei
Il