Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-16

desultory they may be In other things.
There is peculiar restfuiness IN knoWIne
what the hour is, whether it passes QUICK
ly or whether 1t drags.
Further Investigation revealed that MS
letter Of credit was undisturbed, ana tnat
ne was the proud possessor OF six dam-
aged cigars and box of cigarettes: III
stantly the thought of being days without
tobacco smote him almost poignantiy. ne
was an tnveterate smoker. and the iact
that the supply was SO pitiably small gave
unusual zest to his craving. he now
longed for the tang Of the weed upon ms
lips, but he held out manfully. He would
not touch cigar or cigarette till night
fall, and then he made up his mind to
smoke half of either. The touch, seinsn.
and calculating. of the miser stole over
hlm III Ryanne was without the SOONER
SO much the worse for him. The six ci-
CARS he would not share with the Arch-
angel Michael, supposing that gentleman
came down for a smoke
Forward. always forward, winding In
and out Of the valleys, trailing over the
came. and the brilliance of afternoon dim
med and faded into the short twilight.
Were they never going to stop? One hill
more, and George, to his infinite delight.
saw cluster of date palms ahead, mile
or so; and he knew that this was to be
the haven for the ship of the desert The
caravan came to 1t under the dim light
Of the few stars that had not yet at
tanned their refulgence. Under the palms
were few deserted mud houses. huddled
de1ectedly together, like OutcaStS seeking
the nearness rather than the companion
ship of their o-unfOrtunateS. Men had
dWelt here once upon a time, but the
plague had doubtless counted them out.
one by one. They made camp near the
well, which still contained water.
Prayers. A wailing chanted forth to-
ward Mecca. God is great. There Is no
God but God.''
George had witnessed prayers SO often
that he no longer gave attention to the
aret. But out here. in the blank wilder
ness, it caught him again. caught him as
it had never done before. A shiver
stirred the hair at the base of his neck.
The lean bodies, one not distinguishable
from the other now. kneeling, standing,
sweeping the arms, touching the forehead
upon the rug, for even the lowest camel
boy had his prayer rug ceaselessly inton-
ing the set phrases-George felt shame
grow in his heart. Was he as loyal to
his God as these were to theirs?
A good fire was started, and the fu-
nereal aspect of the oasis became quick
and cheerful. A little distance from the
blaze, George saw Fortune bending over
the inanimate Ryanne She was bathing
his face with a wet handkerchief. After
time Ryanne turned over and flung his
arms Imply across his face. 1t was the
first sign Of life he had exhibited since
the start. Fortune gently pulled aside his
arms and continued her tender mercies.
Can help?" asked George.
You might rub his wrists" she an
swered.
1t seemed odd to him that they should
begin i'm such a matter-of-fact way. II
would be only when they had fully ad-
justed themselves to the situation that
questions would put forth for answers.
He knelt down at the other side OF
Ryanne and massaged his wrists and
arms Once he paused. catching his
breath.
What is it," she asked.
"a rib seems to bother me. TIN be all
right tomorrow" He went on with his
manipulations.
rs he badly hurt?'
Il can't say
(To be continued tomorrow