Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-01-25

were busy with the k.baskets. A
tent. presumably Mahomed's, was be-
ing erected upon a clayey piece OF
ground in between the palms. No
one entered the huts, even out or
curiosity; SO George was certain that
the desertion had been brought about
by one plague or another. A smaller
tent was put up later and he was
grateful at the sight Of it. 1t meant
a little privacy for the poor girl.
Great God, how helpless he was, how
helpless they all were!
An incessant chatter, occasionally
interspersed with laugh, went on.
The Arab, unlike the East Indian, Is
not ordinarily surly: and these seemed
to be good natured enough. They
eyed George without malice.> The war
Of the night before had been all In
days work, for which they had been
literally paid While he had spent
much time in the orient and had rid
den camels, real caravan, prepared
! for weeks Of travel was distinct
novelty; and SO he viewed all with In
within few days he would look upon
| these activities with dull, hopeless
anger. He went back to the girl and
sat down beside her.
NHave you any idea why you are
here?"
| mo: unless he saw me in the ba-
zaars with Horace, and thought to tor
ture him by bringing me along"
Horace! A chill that was not of the
night ran over his shoulders So she
called the adventurer by his given
name? And how might her presence
torture Ryanne? George felt, weak in
that bitter moment. Ay, how might
not her presence torture him also?
He had never, for the briefest space.
thought Of Ryanne and Fortune at
same time. She spoke alphabetically
| it was true, as If she had known him
all her life. The wisest thing he,
could do was to bring Ryanne to o.
condition where he could explains
some parts of the enigma and be Of
some use. Horace!
I'm going to have another try 1t
him." he said.
! She nodded, but without any par.
ticular enthusiasm.
George worked over Ryanne for the
better part Of an hour, and finally the
battered man moved. He made no
effort to speak, but this time no sound
issued from his lips. At the end OF
the hour he opened his eyes and
smiled. It was more like the grin
George had once seen upon the fac0
of boxer who had returned to the
contest after having been f1oored half
| dozen times
! Can you hear me?" asked George.
Ryanne stared into his face. Eyes,"
thickly. Where are we?"
I'm the desert"
| (Which one?"
Arabian 81
Ryanne tried to sit up alone.
Better not try to move. They
banged you up at great rate Best
thing you can do Is to 60 to sleep,
You'll be all right in the morning.
Ryanne sank back, and George
bundled him up snugly. Poor devil!
He'll pull himself together in the
morning" he said to Fortune II did
not know that yeu knew him WELL /.
! II have known him for eight or nine
years. He used t0f visit my uncle at
our villa in Mentone." She smiled.
"You look very odd.' M 81 s,s iIF
"No odder than feel" with an. I'M
effectual attempt to bring together
the ends of his collar-band. II must
be sight. / was in too much Of q
hurry to get here. Did you eat the
soup and fish,"
1.-THE soup, yes; but I'm afraid that
it will be some time before I can flnd
the dried fish palatable. hope my
courage will not fail me- she added,
the first sign of anxiety she had yet
shown. She was very LONELY, very
tired, very sad.
| 1t is quite possible that Mahomed.
coming over, spoiled a pretty scene;
for George had some very brave words
upon the tip of his tongue.
| Come" said Mahomed to For
tune. "You will sleep in the little
tent. No one will disturb YOU
! Good night, Mr.. Jones' Don't
worry | am not afraid"
George was alone. He produced one
of his precious cigars and lighted 1t.
Then he drew over his feet one Of the
empty saddle-bags, wrapped his blan-
ket round him.. and sat smoking and
thinking till the heat Of the fire, re-
plenished from time to time, filled
him with comfortable drowsiness;
and the cigar, still smoking. slipped
from his nerveless fingers, as he lay
back upon the hard clay and slept.
Romance Is the greatest thing in the
world; but for all that, a man must
| cot duu d uldl luuoL SISSp.
| The cold dew Of dawn was the tonic
that recalled him from the land Of
grotesque dreams. He sat up and
rubbed his face briskly with his hands,
drying it upon the sleeve OF his coat
as hasty and as satisfying toilet as
he had ever made. There was no ac-
tivity in camp; evidently they were
were not going to start early. The
cook alone was busy. The fire was
cracking, the kettle was steaming,
and pot of pleasant-smelling coffee
leaned rakishly against the hot ashes
The flap to Fortunes tent was still
closed. And there was Ryanne, sitting
with his knees drawn UP under his
chin, his hands clasped about n his
Sims, and glowering at no visible
thing.
| Hello cried George. Found
! yourself, eh?"
! Ryanne eyed him without emotion.
| . ''When and how did they px,f ,vo,, o,,i