Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-01-27
CHAPTER X1v.-(Continued.) ?

at was my life or his exclaimed
Ryanne, not relishing the recital OF
this phase. 1T was my life or his;
and he was upon my back"
Fortune shuddered. Presently she
laid her hand upon Mahomed's arm.
Would you take my word Of hon
orr" ~ ..8. -.#
Mahomed sought her eyes. Eyes. |
read truth in your eyes. Bring me
the rug, and my word of honor to
you. you shall 60 free
But my friends?' r.
Zone of them" Mahomed laughed
unpleasantly. It was an excellent idea.
zone of them shall go free with you.
1t will be for you to choose which.
Now, you dog, laugh, taught" and the
tongue Of the kurbash bit the dust
within an inch of Ryanne's feet.
What shall coz" asked Fortune
miserably.
Accept urged Ryanne. III you
are afraid to choose one or the other
of us, Jones and will spin coin"
II agree said George, very I'M
harpy.
George searched. He found the
dance card to the ball at the hotel. In
another pocket he discovered the little
pencil that went with 1t.
"You write" said Mahomed to
Fortune.
I'm intend to-" Fortune took the
card ard pencil and wrote as follows.
Mother !, Mr.. Jones and l
are prisoners Of the man who owned
the rug, which you will find In the
large steamer roll. Give 1t to the
courier who brings this card. And I'M
der no circumstances set spies upon
his track In French she added: Eve
are bound for Bagdad. In case Ma
homed receives the rug and We are
not liberated, wire the embassy at
Constantinople and the consulate at
Bagdad.
Fortune"
She gave it to Mahomed.
Read it out loud" he commanded.
While he spoke English fuently, he
could neither read nor write it In any
serviceable degree. The note he had
given to Fortune had been written by
a friend of his in the tazaars who had
upon time lived in New York. For.
tune read slowly, slightly flushing as
she evaded the French script.
"That will do,' Mahomed agreed.
He shouted for one of his boys, bade
him saddle the hagin or racing camel,
which Of all those twelve. alone was
his. and be off to Cairo. The boy dip.
ped his bowl into the kettle, ate
greedily, saddled the camel, and five
minutes later was speeding back to-
ward Cairo at gait that would bring
him there late that night.
Fortune and George and Ryanne
watched him till he disappeared be-
low dip and was gons from view. In
the minds of the three watchers the
same question arose: would he be too
late? George was cheerful enough
thereafter but his cheerfulness was
not of the Infection; kind.
At noon the caravan was once more
upon it's way. Ryanre was able to
ride. The fumes of whatever drug
had been administered to him had fin
ally evaporated, and he felt only bruis-
ed. old, disheartened. An evil day
for him when he had set forth for
Bagdad in quest of the rug. He was
confident that there would be no rug
awaiting the courier, and what would
be Mahomed's procedure when the
boy returned empty-handed was not
difficult to imagine. Mahomed was
right; so far honor had not entered
into the contest. According to HE
lights. the Arab was only paying coin
for coin. But for the girl, Ryanne
would have accepted the situation
with shrug, to await that moment
when Mahomed, eased by the sense OF
security, would naturally relax vigi
lance. The presence Of Fortune
changed the whole face OF the affair
Mahomed could have his eyes and
heart If he would but spare her. He
must he nafient he must Accent in.