Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-24
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caravan deserted by Mahomed put out Tor
Cairo Immediately they struck the regu-
lar camel way. Fortune, George and
Ryanne were in a pitiable condition.
heart and body weary. In rags and tat
ters. George. now that the haven was
assured, dropped. his forced buoyancy.
his prattle, his jests lie had done all
mortal man could do to keep up the spir-
its of his co-unfortunates: and he saw
that, most of the time. he had wasted
his talents. Ryanne. sullen and morose,
often told him to shut up; which WASH
exhilarating. And Fortune viewed his at
tempts without sensing them. and fire.
quently looked at him without seeing
him.
Now, all this was not particularly conf
forting to the man who loved her and
was doing what he could to tighten the
dreariness of the journey. He made al
lowances. however; besides suffering un-
usual privations, Fortune had had
frightful mental shock. girl Of her
to rise Immediately to the old level.
Sometimes. while gathered about the
evening fire. he would look up to find her
sad eyes staring at him. and it mattered
clairvoyance blurred visibilities. for she
was generally looking into her garden at
Mentone and wondering when this hor-
rible dream would pass. Subjects for con-
versation were exhausted in no time. Dig
as he might. George could find nothing
new; and often he recounted the same
tale twice of an evening Sardonic laugh
ter from Ryanne.
Ackermann had given them up as hope
less. He was strong, vain, domineer-
ing man, kindly at heart, however, but
impatient. When .he told story he de-
manded the attention Of all; SO, when
Ryanne yawned before his eyes, and
George drew pictures in the sand. and
the girl fell asleep with her head upon
her knees. he drew off abruptly and left
them to their own devices. He had
crossed and recrossed the silences so
often that he was no longer capable of
judging accurately another mans mental
processes. That they had had a strange
and numbing experience he readily I'M
derstood; but now that they were out of
duress and headed for the coast, he saw
no reason why they should not act like
human beings.
Fortune. but the rest of them slept upon
the sand, under the stars. Once George
awoke as the dawn was gliding the east.
Silhouetted against the sky he saw For
tune. She was standing straight. her
hands pressed at her sides. her head tilted
it, but she was asking God why these
things should be. He, threw off his
blanket and ran to her.
Fortune, Won mustn't do that You
will catch cold
II cannot sleep. she replied. simply.
He took her by the hand and led her
to the tent. TRY he said. Then he
did something he had never done before
TO any woman save his mother. He
kissed her hand. turned quickly and went
over to his blanket She remained mo-
tionlesS before the tent. The hand fas-
cinated her. From the hand her gaze
travelled to the man, settling himself COM
fortably under his blanket. Pity,
hot N 1,s. har Dnaft rvN
pity!
In Damascus the trio presented them
selves at the one decent hotel. and but
for Ackernann's charges upon the man.
ager. it is doubtful If he would have ac-
cepted them as guests: for more suspi-
cious-lOoking trio he had never set eyes
upon. ca hotel man weighs a person by
the quality of his clothes.) Moreover.
they carried no luggage Ackermann
went sponsor; and knowing something OF
the integrity of the rug hunter the man.
ager surrendered. And when George pre-
sented his letter Of credit at the Imperial
Ottoman Bank, again it was Ackermann
who vouched for him. 1t had been agreed
to say nothing Of the character OF their
adventure. None of them wanted to be
followed by curious eyes.
With a handful Of British gold in his
pocket, George faced the future hope
fully. He took his companions in and
about town, hunting the shops for cloth
succeeded in finding. 1t was ill-fitting and
cheap, but 1t would serve till they reached
either Alexandria or Naples.
How are you fixed?" asked Ryanne.
gloonily surveying Georges shoddy cot
tOn-wool suit.
Cash in hand?''
Yes
about four hundred pounds. At Ma
Piles 1 can cable. Do you want any,"
Would you mind advancing me two
months salary"
"Ryanne. do you really mean to stick
to that propositiOn?'
tits on my mind just now
well, We'll go back to the bank and
I'll draw a hundred pounds for you. You
can pay your own expenses as We go.
to Fortune?"
"Sec that she gets safely back to Mem
tone
Suppose she will not go there:''
Its up to you, Percival; it's all up to
you. You're the gay Lochinvar from the
west I'm not sure-no one ever is re-
garding woman-but think she'll listen
to you. She wouldn't give an ear to
scalawag like me. This caravan bust
ness has put me outside the pale I've
lost caste.
You're only desperate and discour-
aged; YOU can pull up straight
Much obliged
You haven't looked at life normally:
that's what the matter is
''solon, you're right. There's that poor
devil back I'm Bagdad. I've killed a man.
Percival 1t doesn't mix we'll with my
dreams
"YOu said that it was in sclf-defense.
land God knows 1T was. But IL
hadn't gone after that damned rug, he'd
have been alive today. OH. damn it all:
let's go back to the hotel and order that
club steak, or the best imitation they
have. I'm going to have pint of wine
I'm as dull as ditch in a paddy field.
"A bottle or two will not hurt any OF
us. Well ask Ackermann. For God
knows where we'd have been today but