The Irish standard., 1912-10-19

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danger, where I'd simply have to get
together"
"And you got it," There was frank
wonder and admiration in the pursy
gentleman's eyes. Gall alone, and you
got it? Honest?"
Honest. They nearly had my hide.
though"
where is it7''
"Sold."
"Who?"
"Percival."
Horace, you're wonder, II there
ever was one. Sold it to Percival!
You couldn't beat that in thousand
years. You're great man."
praise from Sir Hubert"
"Who's he?"
can authority on several matters"
GLOW much did his give you for it?"
"Tut, tut! 1t was all my own little
iaunt, Wallace. I should hate to lie
to you about it."
'What about the stake gave you?"
Ryanne made sign Of dealing
cards.
"Threw it away on a lot of dubs,
after all I've taught you'll"
Cards aren't my forte"
"There's a yellow streak in your
hide, somewhere, Horace"
There is, but it is the tigers stripe,
my friend. What did with my money
is my own business"
"NVill she allow for that?''
"Would 1t matter one way or the
other?"
"No, don't suppose it would. Some
times think you're with us as huge
joke. You don't take the game seri.
GUS enough" Wallace emptied his
glass and tipped the bottle carefully.
you're out of your class, somehow"
1907"
"Yes. You have always struck me
as man who was hunting trouble for
one end"
"And that?" Ryanne seemed inter-
ested.
Wallace drew his finger across his
throat. Ryanne looked him sQuarely
in the eye and nodded aff1rmatively.
II don't understand at all"
you never will, Wallace, old chap.
am the prodigal son whose brother
ate the fatted calf before I returned
home. I had letter today. She
will be here tomorrow sometime. You
may have to go tc Port Said. If my
plan doesn't mature"
1.-THE Ludwig?"
eyes,"
"say, what . Frau she would have
made the right mani"
Ryanne did not answer, but glow
cred at his glass.
"The United Romance and Adven-
ture Company" Wallace twirled his
glass. IF you're wonder, she's a
marvel. A Napoleon in petticoats! It
| does make fellow grin, when you
look it all over. But this is going to
be her Austerlitz or her Waterloo.
And you really got the rug; and on top
Of that, yea cave sold /. to George p.
e. .~3eeci sIere'pr-a"
MANY happy A.aurns," ironically. :
They finished the tDttle without
!; further talk. There was no cow nal-
ity here. Both were fond Of good wine.
but the more they drank, tho tighter
grew their lips. Men who have been
in the habit Of guarding dangerous
secrets become taciturn in their cups.
| From time to time, flittingly, there
appeared against one Of the windows.
! just above the half-curtain, a lean,
dark face, which, in profile, resembled
the kite-the hooked beak, the watch
full, preyful eyes. There were two
hungers written upon that Arab face.
+, food and revenge.
"Allah is good" he murmured.
He had but one eye in use, the 9th
er was bandaged. In fact, the face ex-
hibited general Indications Of rough
warfare, the skin broken on the bridge
Of the nose, g freshly healed cut un-
der the seeing eye, long strip of
plaster extending from the ear to ths
mouth. There was nothing Of the beg
gar in his mien. His lean throat was
erect, his chin protrusive, the set Of
his shoulders proud and defiant. Ordi-
narily, the few lingering guides would
! EdVS LOlU Llll1 W JIG CAA dDO0t
his business; but they were familiar
with all turbans, and in the peculiar
| twist Of this one, soiled and ragged
though it was, they recognized some
prince from the eastern deserts. Pres.
emily he strobe away, but with stiff
| ness which they knew came from long
| journeys upon racing-camels.
George dreamed that night Of magic
carpets, Of sad-eyed maidens, of fierce
Bedouins, of battles in the desert, OF
genii swelling terrifically out Of squat
bottles. And once he rose and turned
on the lights to assure himself thai
the old Yhiordes was not part oil
these vivid dreams.
| He was up shortly after dawn, In
white riding-togs, for final canter te
Mena House and return. In two days
(, more he would be leaving Egypt be
! hind. Rather glad in one sense, rath