Barton County democrat., 1912-10-04

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 or
fifteen minutes went by. In the sew
eral attempts he had failed to score
the full complement.
George laughed.
What's in your mind?" cried Ry-
anne peevishly. IF it's anything
worth telling, shoot it out, shoot it
QUIT"
Il was thinking what I'd do to a
club-steak just about now" '
Ryanne stared beyond the fire. "A
club-steak. Grilled mushrooms"
Sauce Bordelaise. Artichokes."
NO. Asparagus, vinaigrette."
What's the matter with endives?"
That's so. Well, asparagus with
butter-sauce."
"Grilled sweets, coffee, Benedictine,
and cigars"
And magnum of 1900 to start off
with" Ryanne, with a 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 the fluttering paste-boards.
You're right, Percival," Ryanne ad.
mitted humbly. 1T will not hurt us
to talk out loud, and We are all brood
ing too much. | am crazy for the want
OF tobacco. I'll trade the best dinner
ever cooked for a decent cigar"
George put hand reluctantly into
his pocket. He brought forth, with ex.
treme gentleness, cigar, the wrapper
OF which was broken in many places.
I've saved this for days." he said.
With his pen-knife he sawed II deli.
cately into two parts, and gave one to
Ryanne.
You're good fellow, Jones. and
I've turned you a shabby trick.
shan't forget this bit of tobacco"
ITS the last we've got. The boys
you know, refuse a pull at the water.
pipe; defiles 'em, they say. Funny
beggars! And IL they gave us tobacco
we shouldn't have paper or pipes"
Il always carry pipe, but lost II
In the shufhe. | never looked upon
smoking as bad habit. suppose
it's because was never caught before
without 1t. And 1t is a bad habit
since 1t knocks up chap this way
fcf the lack Of it. Where do you gel
your club-steaks in old N. W"
And for an hour or more they sol
emnly 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. II he
aimed at Ryanne at all, it was in
trifing annoyances, such as forget
ting to give him his rations unless he
asked for them, or walking oyer the
cards spread out upon the sand
Ryanne carried himself very we'll. Had
he been alone, he would have broken
loose against Mahomed; but he
thought Of the others, and restrained
himself-some consideration was due
them.
But into the blood of the two men
there crept a petty irritability. They
answered one another sharply, and
often did not speak. Fortune alone
seemed mild and gentle. MahOmed
since that night she had braved him
let her 90 and come as she pleased
nor once disturbed her. Had she
shown weakness when most she need
ed courage, Mahomed might not have
altered his plans. Admiration Of cour
age is inherent in all people. So
without .appreciating it, that moment
had been precious one, saving them
all much unpleasantness.
By the twentieth day, the caravan
was far into the Arabian desert, and
early in the afternoon, they came up
on a beautiful oasis, nesting like ar
emerald in a plaque of gold. So many
days had passed since the beloved
green Of growing things had soothet
their infamed eyes, that the sight Of
this haven cheered them all nightly
Once under the shade of the palms
the trio picked up heart. Fortune sans
little, George told funny story, ant
Ryanne wanted to know il they
wouldn't take a hand at euchre. In
deed, that oasis was the turning-poin
Of the crisis. Another week upon tn,
dreary, proftless sands, and their spir
its would have gone under completely
: This oasis was close TO the regular
camel-way. there being a larger oasil
} some twenty-odd miles to the north
But Mahomed felt safe at this distance
, and decided to freshen up the caravan
7 by two-days' rest.
George Immediately began 10 show
Fortune little attentions. He fixed he,
, saddle-bags. spread out her blanket
brought her some ripe dates Of hi
own picking. insisted upon going t
. the well and drawing the water sh,
was to drink. And OH how sweet ant
) cool that water was, after the gritt,