The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-12


lions to his captives. Fortune buried
her head in her coat and nestled down
beside her camel, while George and
Ryanne used their handkerchiefs.
George left his camel and sought For.
tunes side, found her hand and held
it tightly. He scarcely gave thought to
what he did. He vaguely meant to
encourage her; and possibly he did.
The storm broke The sun became
obscured. Pebbles and splinters OF
rock sang through the pail Of whirling
sand. A golden tone enveloped the
little gathering.
Had there been no natural protec-
ton, they must have ridden On, blind
ly and desperately, for to have re-
NAMED still in the open would have
been to await their tombs. 1t spent
its fury in half an hour; and the
clearing air became cold again. The
caravan proceeded. The hair Of ev-
cry one was dimly yellow, their faces
and their garments.
When camp was made that night
1t found the captives untalkative. The
girl and the two men sat moodily
about the fire. Fatigue had dulled
their bodies and hopelessness their
minds. The men were ragged now,
unkempt; stubble of beard covered
their faces, gaunt yet burned. George
had lost his remaining pump, and as
his stockings were now full of holes,
he had, in the last flicker of personal
pride, wound about them some cast
off cloths he had found. There was
not enough water for additions; there
was scarcely enough to assuage thirst.
By and by, Ryanne, without turning
his head, spoke to George. "You say
you questioned the courier?"
EYES,"
"Fe says he showed the note to no
one?'
yes"
"And so no one will try to find us?
mo"
Ryanne had asked these questions
dozen times and George had always
given the same answers.
Up and away at dawn, for they must
reach the well that night. It was
terrible day for them all. Even the
beacts showed signs Of distress And
the worst Of It was, Mahomed was
not quite sure Of his route. Fortunate
ly, they found the we'll. They drank
like mad people.
Ryanne, who had discovered pack
Of cards in his pocket, played patience
upon a spot smoothed level with his
hand. He became absorbed in the
game; and the boys gathered round
him curiously Whenever he succeed
ed in turning out the fifty-two cards.
he would smile and rub his hands to-
gether The boys at length consid-
cred him unbalanced mentally, and in
consequence looked upon him as a
near-holy man.
Between Fortune and George con-
versation dwindled down to a query
and an answer.
"Can I do anything for you?"
mo, thanks; I am getting along
nicely
Tonight she retired early, and
George joined Ryanne's audience.
ct averages about nine cards to the
play" he commented.
Ryanne turned over an ace. Ten or
fifteen minutes went by. In the sew
eral attempts he had failed to score
the full complement.
George laughed.
Whats in your nind?" cried Ry.
anne peevishly. eff it's anything
worth telling, shoot it out, shoot it
Quit"
Il was thinking what I'd do to a
club-steak just about now"
Ryanne stared beyond the fire. "a
club-steak. Grilled mushrooms"
Sauce Bordelaise. Artichokes."
"No. Asparagus, vinaiGrette."
whats the matter with endives?"
That's so. Well, asparagus with
butter-sauce."
"Grilled sweets, coffee, Benedictine,
and CIGARS"
''And a magnum of 1900 to start off
with" Ryanne, with a sudden change
Of mood, scooped up the cards and
flung them at Georges head. do you
want US both to become gibbering
idiots?" le--
George ducked. He and the boys
gathered in the fiuttering paste-boards.
you're right, Percival," Ryanne ad-
mitted humbly. at will not hurt US
to talk out loud, and we are all brood.
ing too much. l am crazy for the want
of tobacco. I'd trade the best dinner
ever cooked for decent cigar"
George put hand reluctantly into
his pocket. He brought forth, with ex-
IRENE gentleness, cigar, the wrapper
of which was broken in many places.
'I've saved this for days." he said.
With his pen-knife he sawed it deli
cately into two parts, and gave one to
Ryanne.
you're a good fellow, Jones, and
I've turned you shabby trick. /
shan't forget this bit of tobacco"
Its the last we've got. The boys.
you know, refuse a pull at the water
pipe; defiles 'em, they say. Funny
beggars! And if they gave us tobacco,
we shouldn't have paper or pipes.'
81 always carry pipe, but l lost it
in the shuttle. 1 never looked upon
smoking as bad habit. l suppose
it's because I was never caught before