The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-12-14
about the f1re. Fatigue nao uuIled
their bodies and hopelessness their

apour- the flre. Fatigue nao uulled
their bodies and hopelessness their
minds. The men were ragged now.
unkempt; a stubble Of beard covered
their faces, gaunt vet 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 asslage thirst.
By and by, Ryanne, without turning
his head. spoke to George. you say
you questioned tho courier?"
EYES,"
"He says he showed the note to no
one?"
eyes,"
"And so no one will try to tind u.s."
mo-"
Ryanne had asked these questions
q dozen times and George had always
given the same answers.
Up and away at dawn. for they must
reach the we'll that night. 1t was a
terrible day for them ALL Even the
beasts showed signs Of distress. And
tho 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 q query
and an answer.
"Can do anything for you?"
mo. thanks; ! am getting along
nicely"
Tonight she retired early, and
George Joined Ryanne's audience.
1T averages about nine cards to the
play" he commented.
Ryanne turned over an ace. Ten OF
fifteen minutes went by. In the sew.
eral attempts he had failed to score
the full complement.
George laughed.
whats in your mind?" cried Ry.
anne peevishly. IF it's anything
worth telling, shoot it out, shoot it
!out!"
II was thinking what I'd do to q
club-steak just about now"
Ryanne stared beyond the fire. "A
club-steak. drilled mushrooms"
Sauce Bordelaise. Artichokes."
mo Asparagus, vinaigrette."
Whats the matter with endives? ?"
That's so. Well, asparagus with
butter-sauce."
"Grilled sweets, coffee, Benedictine
and cigars"
"And magnum Of 1900 to start OF
with" Ryanne, with sudden change
Of mood, scooped up the cards and
flung them at Georges head. do you
want us both to become gibbering
idiots?"
George ducked. He and the boys
gathered in tho fluttering paste-boards
You're fight, Percival," Ryanne adj
mitted humbly. ut will not hurt us
to talk out loud, and we are all brood
ing too much. 1 am crazy for the want
OF tobacco. I'd trade the best dinner
ever cooked for a decent cigar"
George put a hand reluctantly into
his pocket. He brought forth, with ex'
IRENE gentleness, cigar, the wrapper
of which was broken in many places
1--WE saved this for days." he said
With his pen-knife he sawed 1t 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"
cts the last we've got. The boys
you know, refuse pull at the water
pipe; detiles 'em, they say. Funny
beggars! And If they gave us tobacco
we shouldn't have paper or pipes"
II always carry a pipe, but lost II
in the shuttle. I never looked upon
smoking as a bad habit. suppose
It's because was never caught before
without it. And it is a bad habit
since it knocks up chap this way
for the lack of 1t. Where do you gel
your club-steaks in old N. Y.?'
And for an hour or more they sol
emily discussed the cooking here and
there upon the face Of the globe.
By judicious Inquiries George ascer
tanned that the trip to Bagdad, barr
ing accidents, would take fully thirty
five days. The daily journeys pro
ceeded uneventfully. Mahomed main
tanned taciturn grimness. If hi
aimed at Ryanne at all, it was in
trif1ing annoyances, such as forget
ting to give him his rations unless he
asked for them, or walking over the
cards spread out upon the sand
.