The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05
The Carpet
From Bagdad
Bv Harold MacGrath, Author of
Hearts and Masks The Man on the Box etc.
Illustrations by NJ G. kettner
Copyright l9l by Bobbs-Menill Company

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
penang over the inanimate Ryanne.
She was bathing his face with 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 I help" asked George.
"You might rub his wrists" she
answered.
1t seemed odd to him that they
should begin in such a matter-of-fact
way. 1t would be only when they
had fully adjusted themselves to the
situation that questions would put
forth for answers. He knelt down at
the other side of Ryanne and mas
saged his wrists and arms. Once he
paused, catching his breath.
"What is it?" she asked.
"a rib seems to bother me. It'll be
all right tomorrow" He went on
with his manipulations.
els he badly hurt?"
81 can't say"
wide still, Ryanne's arms and legs
worked satisfactorily. The trouble
was either in his head or back of his
ribs. He put his arm under Ryanne's
shoulder and raised him. Ryanne
mumbled some words. George bent
down to catch them. Gilt 'em up in
this half, boys; we've got them going.
He'll! Get off my head, you farmer!
4. Two cards, please" His
face puckered into what was intended
for smile. George laid him back
gently. Football and poker: what
had this man not known or seen in
life? Some one came between the
two men and the fire, casting a long
shadow athwart them. George looked
up and saw Mahomed standing close
by. His arms were folded and his
face grimly inscrutable
"Have you any blankets?" asked
George coolly.
Mahomed gave an order. A blanket
and two saddle-bags were thrown
down beside the unconscious man.
George made a pillow of the bags and
laid the blanket over Ryanne.
"Why do you waste your time over
him." asked Mahomed curiously.
81 would not leta dog die this way"
he retorted.
"He would have let you die" replied
Mahomed, turning upon his heel.
George stared thoughtfully at his
whilom accomplice. What did the
pld villain insinuate?
"Can l do anything to make you
more comfortable?" speaking to For
tune.
I'm all right. was chilled little
while ago, but the fire has done away
with that. Thank you"
"You must eat when they bring you
food" III s.ss3-.sr .,'-e.,e~-.
hI'll try to-" smiling bravely.
To take her in his arms, then and
there, to appease their hunger and
bis hearts!
Self-consciously, her hand stole to
her hair. A color came into her
cheeks. How frightful she must look!
Neither hair-pin nor comb was left.
She threw the strands across her
shoulder and plucked the snarls and
tangles apart, then braided the whole:
He watched her, fascinated. He had
never seen a woman do this before.
1t was almost sacrilege for him to
be so near her at such a moment.
Afterward she drew her blanket over
her~shoulders.
You've got lots Of pluck
"HaVe T?' -~ss.f1--.r.raas ..4.--; IA
"Yes. You haven't asked question
ret"
would 1t help anyf@
''No. don't suppose it would. I've
an idea that we're all on the way to
the home Of Haroun-al-Rashid."
"Bagdad," musingly.
cts the rug. But do not under.
stand you in the picture"
mo more do l."
With consideration that spoke
well of his understanding, he did not
speak to her again till food was
passed. Later, when the full terror
Of the affair took hold Of her, she
would be dreadfully lonely and would
need to see him near, to hear his
voice. He forced some Of the hot
soup down Ryanne's throat, and was
glad to note that he responded little
After that he limped about the strange
camp, but was careful to get in NO
ones way. Slyly he took note Of this
face and that, and his satisfaction
grew as he counted the aftermath OF
the war. And it had taken five OF
them, and even then the result had
been in doubt up to the moment when
his head had gone bang against the
stucco. He took a melancholy pride
In his swollen ear and half-shut eye
He had always been doubtful regard
Ing his courage; and now he knew
that George Percival Algernon Jones
was as good name as Bayard.
The camel-boys (they are called
boys all the way from ten years up to
fOrty) having hOhh1pd the hoo ST q