El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-01-25
The HeraId's Daily
Short Stsry

You would die with exhaustion and
your husband viii be very angry and
viii take you 10 the oasis It is
seven kilOmeters from here and very
beautiful
7 don't care for your oasis she
said. i want to 90 to Biskra right
away. Get two mules and we will be
off I viii give you. let me see-I
will give you two hundred francs
Two hundred francsi AIabrOuk was
astonished. He could not refuse such
a fortune Besides he almost knew
the way TO Biskra. il was next to i'm
possible to make a mistake, so he
said with a deep sigh: 4 viii go
and find the mules and We Will start
II you are quite sure you want to-
An hour later they were on their
Way to Biskra.
what country do you come from. %
asked MabrOuk. You sit IN the saddle
I am Parigote. friend Of Mabrouk. i"
she replied gaily. You are evidently
from FL Kantara-
Mabrouk rather annoyed
The expedition went on swimming
" Though the mules were little more
than skin and bones, they trotted quite
we'll The little Parisienne was sing
ing like q lark and Mabrouk listened
- Occasionally he asked: Are you
not afraid?"
"Of thieves and robbers and Arabs
don't know. It would not pc
strange if you we're. afraid"
But 1 have never been AFRAID IN all
my life, And you, Mabrouk!
'I! Oh I am not afraid Of anything
I am as brave as a lion
Evening came suddenly as always IN
these ATTITUDES. The sky was oeautl19l
with the myriads of stars on It's Nel-
vety bosom. A gentle breeze brought
pleasant GOODNESS after the neat OF the
day. 90
Z am hungry" the lady said open
my valise MabrOuk, there are lots OF
nice things in it. We will have supper
The valise contained, cold roast
chicken. pate de foie gras, cakes and
Nothing of that is pork" asked Ma
mot a bit Of it, friend Mabrouk- You
may eat with a clear conscience.
Mabrouk would never have consented
to eat pork He was too good a mussul-
man for that, but his religious convic-
ton had never been strong enough
to overcome his natural liking FOR wine
He tasted the Parisienne's cham
payne and smacked his lips with de-
light 1t now pitch dark
You are quite sure you are not
afraid madame he stammered with
his mouth full.
Not the least bit"
1t was different with him. A man
may De Ilrst guide OF Ine desert anu
a coward, just the same
He drank to get courage Undoubted-
" he drank too much for suddenly,
when he wanted to get up, he discov-
cred that he had no legs. Everything
was spinning around. He cried;
Madame You don't knOW2 I am drunk.
You must not be angry, madame. It
was your champagne that did It
Mabrouk's companion had lit an cleo
trio torch and was studying a map.
Her guides confession made her laugh
Well, Mabrouk," she said, you viii
have to get sober in a hurry. We are
going to start right away. 1 want to
get to Biskra early
Start NOwi" cried Mabrouk. Look
at me I can't stand up straight. You
must let me sleep, madame. am
drunk"
sleep. my friend" she said. sleep
calmly. I have found the way on the
map and am going TO start right away.
You may join me tomorrow 1 want to
surprise my husband"
Then Mabrouk ben Bessaoud, first
guide of the desert, burst out, sob
bing:
"Oh. beg you, madame. Don't leave
me here all alone I am afraid I am
afraid of the robbers. afraid Of the
Arabs I am afraid because the night
is so dark. STAY with me, madame"
And the little Parisienne had to sit
and keep watch over her guide until
dawn.