Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-09-09
The Argus Daily Story
Between Friends-By Clarissa Mackie.
Copyrighted. 1919. by A.sociated Literary Bureau

IhCe WIS eApOSeO IN the glow OF tue
brief light Cameron saw a look of
eagerness spread over the grim fea-
lures of his dragoman.
"A signal" decided Cameron. won
dering whether it would not be wiser
TO bowl the traitor over with one shot
now and If there was to be a battle
let 1t begin at once and have It over
with.
There would be small chance OF his
escaping alive IL the enemy should
surround him as they would be likely
to do. Even now they might be crouch
ing behind the very sand dune against
which he was leaning
Almost anything was better than the
strain OF waiting for something to hap
pen. He would give them ten minutes
moro and then. He glanced at his
watch and saw that It was two hours
after midnight.
He was impatient at the idea OF hav-
ing his arrival at Glib delayed by an
other day aud he could not understand
Adds stupidity In proIonsing the jour
neg except in the light Of having be-
trayed his master TO the bandita
Abdi smoked bis cigarette peace
fully and finally flung the burning end
to the ground. Cameron watched for
some answering signal but saw moth
ing.
Perhaps IL Is the signal to attack
now" he muttered and at that instant
Abdi turned swiftly and yelled at him.
"Baalekw Q.ookoutD was his cry. and
it was flung as a warning to Cam
erou.
Cameron dropped into the shadow of
the hillock and awaited with Quickened
pulses the swift padding OF feet among
the sand dunes. BE saw Abdi throw
himself into q similar attitude and he
was ashamed that he had mistrusted
the loyal fellow even as he thrilled
with the realization that he WAS not
fighting alone-there were two OF
them.
Abdi had the point OF vantage; he
could see what was coming. Cameron
watched his dark form.
Suddenly Abdi sprsng to bis full
height aud screamed ranatically:
La illah Allah. Mohammed RasouI
Il Allah"
There came a sharp shot out of the
silence that followed his challenging
cry, and the Arab tumbled back,
cIutching his arm.
Come on out OF that. you jackals"'
sang out a strong English speaking
voice from the direction of the shot
that had wounded Abdi.
I.Ne l.
body.
Hi, there! Who are you?" he called
out
THE devil" was the astonishing eI-
plosive retort. Come on. Applehy:
let's investigate this civilized individ-
ual" And footsteps came nearer. near
er. and finally rounded the htllock
against which the grooming Abdi lean
/ ed, and two men dressed In European
| garments and wearing white pith he'll
NETS appeared.
, They stopped at sight OF the group
Of three horses, the wounded Arab
and the solitary form 81 tie American
In garb similar to their own.
"Appleby, who is your fool friend?'
asked Cameron coolly as he approach
ed them.
Ford Cameron" calculated Apple
by, staring with all his might. Have
we been stalking you all the even
ing?"
you have" returned Cameron
grimly. ITS wonder you didn't get
potted. What did you think we were,
eh?"
Bandits. We heard you were COM
ing How? Desert wireless. OF course.
Thought we'd come out and meet you.
Started yesterday and got lost Last
night the pesky robbers harried as all
over the desert. Thought we were in
for another night Of It, only we chang
ed about and hunted the hunters.
Funny, isn't it,
Appleby ratified lightly on as his
companion leaned over the groaning
Arab, deftly ripped the covering from
his shoulder and made a brief exami-
nation OF the wound 10y the light OF
an electric pocket lamb that quite
awed Abdi into submission.
"A mere scratch" he pronounced
brusquely as he took out a small case
/ from his pocket, applied ointment and
bandages. There, my good fellow /;
you'll be all right in a day or so.
Mighty sorry pinked you. but 1t was
fortunes of war"
He pressed gold coin into the
Arabs eager hand. and. waving aside
the murmured thanks. he Joined the
other two men.
Let me introMce DIR. Ransom" said
Appleby TO Cameron He's the med
zeal end Of the expedition"
The three sat and talked in the ii
minishing moonlight, while Abdi sIum-
bered itfully.
When day dawned Cameron mount
ed hillock and looked in all direc-
tons. Against the eastern sky stood
palm trees In dark silhouette
THE ruins OF Glib" he shouted
down TO his compa mons
As the three stood and watched the
rising Of the sun Abdi stirred him Sc {
and turned his face to the east.
la Han Allah. Mohammet Rasoul
II Allah" he chanted And this time
1t was cry Of peaceful worship.