The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-12-07

here Is your adventure upon approval
l thought. Of course. you still had the
rug. Mahomed was to carry you into
the desert for a week, and by that
time you would have surrendered the
rug, returned to Cairo. the hero of
rull-nedged adventure. Lord! what a
mess Of 1t I've made. forgot, next
to this bally rug, Mahomed loved me-"
The hitherto credulous George had
OF late begun to look into facts in.
stead OF dreams. He did not believe
a word Of this amazing confession, de.
spite the additional testimony of For.
tune. relative to Ryanne's statements
made to her in the bazaars.
THE bitter bitten" was Geores's
sole comment
Ryanne breathed easier.
why not tell Mahomed at once
and have him send a courier back for
the rug?" suggested Fortune.
by Jove, that clears up everything
Well do 1t Immediately" George felt
better than he had at any stage OF the
adventure. Here was a simple way
out of the difficulty.
Softly" said Ryanne. LET NJ.
come down to the lean facts. If that
rug is in your room, Fortune, your
mother has discovered 1t long before
now. She will turn it over to your
estimable uncle. None of us will ever
see 1t again, I'm thinking. The Major
knows that Jones gave me thousand
pounds for It," Struck by a sense of
impending disaster, Ryanne began to
tumble in his pockets. Gone! Every
shilling Of 1t gone! "Hes got that.
too; Mahomed; the cash you gave me,
Jones. Wait a moment; don't speak:
things are wh1rling about some, Over
nine hundred pounds; every shilling
OF 1T. We mustn't let him know that
I've missed 1t. I've got to play weak
In order to grow strong. But
they will at least start up a row as
to your whereabouts, Fortune"
NO." thoughtfully; mo. do not
think they WILL"
The undercurrent was too deep for
George He couldn't see very clearly
Just then. The United Romance and
Adventure Company; was that ALI
Was there not something sinister
behind that name, concerning him? He
looked patiently from the girl to tho
adventurer.
Ryanne stared at the yellow desert
beyond. His brain was clearing rap
idly under the stimulus of thought.
He himself did not believe that they
would send out search-parties either
Tor him or for Fortune. He could not
fathom what had given Fortune her
belief: but he realized that his own
was based upon the recollection OF
that savage mood when he had thrown
down the gauntlet. Now they would
accept 1t. He had run away with For.
tune as he had boldly threatened to
do. The mother and her precious
brother would proceed at once to New
York without him. He had made 9
fine muddle Of 1t all. But for a glass
OF wine and a grain too much of con
hdence. he had not been here this day
q Mahomed, himself astir by. thii
time, came over to the group, leisure
~. The three looked like conspira
tors to his suspicious eye. but unlike
conspirators they made no effort tc
separate because he app .ched. HI
understood: as yet they were moi
afraid Of him. That was one of the
reasons he hated white men: the,
could seldom be forced to show fear
even when they possessed it. Well,
these three should know what fear
was before they saw the last of him.
fle carried kurbash, cowhide whip,
which he twirled idly, even sugges.
lively. First, he came to George
IF You have Thiordes, there is still
chance for you. Cairo is but fifty
miles away. Bagdad is several hun.
dred." He drew the whip caressingly
through his fingers.
II do not lie," replied George, q tru.
culent sparkle in his eyes. II told
you that l had it not. 1t was the
truth"
A ripple of anxiety passed over Ma.
homeds face. "And you?" turning
upon Ryanne, with suppressed savage
ness. How he longed to lay the lash
upon the dog!
Don't look at me-" answered Ry-
anne waspishly. IF had 1t should
not be here" All, for bit of his old
strength! He would have strangled
Mahomed then and there. But the
drug and the beating had weakened
him terribly.
III give you the rug" interposed
Fortune. will you promise freedom
TO us all?
Mahomed stepped back. nonplussed.
He hadn't expected any information
from this quarter.
II have the rug" declared Fortune
calmly, though she could scarcely
hear her own voice. her heart beat
10 furiously.
"You have it," Mahomed was con.
fused. Here was a turn in the road
upon which he had set no calculation.
All three Of them!
eyes. And upon condition that you
liherato ,Ia all 7 will MT ~ }p+o .,o,,,