Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-06-29

life, lived through the hours Of torturing
doubt and fear, and when a stifled cry
called her back to the reality and forced
her to turn from the sunlight to the dark
room 1t was as though the dead had
risen, as though her dreams had taken
substance. She saw pale faces staring at
her; she saw on the rusty truckle bed a
figure, which rose up and held out fran
tic desperate arms toward her. But it
was no dream-nO phantom. Mrs. Cary,
wild eyed and distraught, struggled to
rise to her feet and come toward her.
Where is Beatrice?" she cried. hys-
dreamed she was dead. It isn't true.
Say it isn't true.'
Lois hurried back. In the confusion of
their retreat she had lost sight of Bea-
trice. and now a cold fear froze her blood.
She called her name adding her voice to
the half-deliTious mothers appeal: but
there was no answer. and as she prepared
to leave the shelter Of the bungalow to
go in search Of the lost girl a pair of
strong hands grasped her by the shoul-
ders and forced her back.
Lois, stand back. They are coming.'
Col. Carmichael thrust her behind him.
and an instant later she heard the report
of his revolver. There was no answering
volley. A dark. scantily clad figure
sprang through the trees. waving one
Don't fire-don't fire: It's me!''
The coloners still smoking revolver
sank. and the supposed native swayed
toward him, only to sink, few yards
ran to his side and lifted the fainting
head against his shoulder.
Good God. Geoffries! Don't say I've
hit you! How on earth was I to know"
That's all right, colonel Only winded
don't you know-never hurried SO much
in, In he or Of he
beggars-just managed to slip through.
Lor'. give me something to drink, will
your Col. Carmichael put his flask to
the parched and broken lips. Thanks.
are coming on like fun. The regiment s
only an hour of. You never saw Saun-
ders in such a fluster-it's his first big job
you know" He took another deep draft
and wiped his mouth with the corner Of
his ragged tunic 81 say--don't look at
me. Miss Lois. I'm not fit to be seen.
He laughed hoarsely. These clothes
weren't made in Bond street. and Webb
assured me that the fewer had the more
genuine ! looked. / say, colonel, this is
Col Carmichael nodded as he helped
the gasping and exhausted man into the
buna allow.
TOO lively to be talked about" he said
Il doubt If the regiment isn't going to
add itself to the general disaster
''Oh, rot!' was the young officers for
getful lapse into disrespect. 1.-The regi-
ment viii; do for the beggars all right.
They didn't expect US SO soon, fancy.
Just listen. / believe I've frightened
them away already. There isn't sound"
Col. Carmichael lifted his head. True
enough no living thing seemed to move.
A profound hush hung in the air. broken
only by Mrs. Cary's pitiful meanings.
'Oh. Beatrice. Beatrice. where are
you?'
Geoffries turned his stained face to the
coIonels.
Beatrice! That's Miss Cary. isn't it?
Anything happened to her?''
Col. Carmichael shrugged his shoulders
with the tmpatience of a man whose
nerves are overstrained by anxiety.
II don't know-we've lost her." he said.
I'VE must do something at once. Heaven
alone knows what has harper ed "
No one, indeed. knew what had hap
pened-not even the lonely man who
waited, revolver In hand, for the final en-