Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-09-20

to stir ambition. He had welded au.
thcrity too many years 10 surrender II
lightly; he had known too long his
golden-faked tobacco, his sherbet,
his syrupy coffee, the pleasant loaf.
ing in the bazaars with his merchant
friends. To return to the palace, to
confess to the Pasha that his careless
ness had lost him the rug, would re-
suit either in death or Punishment;
and so far as he was concerned he
had no choice, the one was as bad as
the other. So, If the young fool who
had bought the rug of Ryanne told
the truth when he declared that It
had been stolen again, then Ryanne
knew where 1t was; and he could be
made to tell; he, Mahomed, would at.
tend to that. And when Ryanne con-
fessed, the girl and the other would
be conveyed to the nearest telegraph
post. That they might at once report
the abduction to the English authori-
ties did not worry Mahomed. Not the
fieetest racing canel could find him,
and behind the walls of the palace
OF Bagdad, only Allah could touch
him. He had figured 1t all out closely,
and he was an admirable strategist
in his way. Revenge upon Ryanne for
the dishonor and humiliation, and the
return Of the rug; there was nothing
more beyond that.
Before George had the opportunity
OF speaking to Fortune, he was raised
from the sand and bodily lifted upon
his camel; and by way Of passing
pleasantly. his hat was jammed down
over his eyes. He swore as he pulled
up the brim. Swearing was another
accomplishment added to the list Of
transformations. He had a deal to
learn yet, but In his present mood he
was likely to proceed famously. He
readtusted the hat In time to see Ry-
anne unceremonlously dumped into
one Of the yawning pack-baskets, his
arms and legs hanging out, his head
lolling against his shoulder, exactly
like a marionette, cast aside for the
time being. A man Of ordinary STAN
ina would have died under such treat.
ment But Ryanne possessed an ex.
traordinary constitution, against which
years Of periodical dissipation had as
yet made no permanent inroads More
over, he never forgot to keep his chin
up and his walst-line down. They put
him into the pack.basket because
there was no alternative, being as he
was incapable Of sitting upon a cam
els back.
Next, George saw Fortune, unre
sisting, placed upon the camel, under
canopy. At least, she would know a
little comfort against the days long
ride. His heart ached to see her. He
called out bravely to her to be Of
good cheer. She turned and smiled
and he saw only the smile, not the
swift, decisive battle against the on
set Of tears: she smiled. and he wa:
too far away to see the swimming
eyes.
A bawling Of voices, a swapping Of
the kurbash upon the tanks Of the
camels, and the caravan was once
more under way. George looked al
his watch. which fortunately had beer
overlooked by the thieving natives
and found II still ticking away brisk
ly. II was after nine. II was a com
fort to learn that the watch had no
been injured. Most men are method
ical in the matter Of time, no mattel
how desultory they may be in otheI
things. There is a peculiar restful
ness in knowing what the hour Is
whether 1t passes quickly or whethe
1t drags.
Further investigation reyeale,
that bis letter Of credit was undIs
turbed and that he was the proud Dos
SCISSOR Of six damaged ciRars ana
box Of cigarettes. Instantly th'
thought Of being days without tobacc'