Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-09-20


anne. 1T is in my room. done up In
the big steamerroll. And now am
glad that stole It"
Ryanne laughed weakly.
Said George soberly: what con-.
temptible thing?" He remembered
Mahomed's words in regard to Ry-
anne as the latter lay insensible in
the sand.
Ryanne. quick to seize the opportu-
nifty Of solving, to his own advantage
the puzzle for George, and at the sams
time guiding Fortune away from al
topic, the danger Of which she knew |
nothing. raised hand. 81 bribed MAJ
homed to hdnap you, Jones. Don't |
be impatient. You laughed at mel
when l laid before you the prospectasl
OF the United Romance and Advent
ture Company. / wished to prove tel
you that the concern existed. And sol
here is your adventure upon approval |
thought, Of course, you still had thsl
rug. Mahomed was to carry you intol
the desert for q week, and BY that
time you would have surrendered thel
rug. returned to Cairo, the hero Of al
fuilnedged adventure. Lordi what al
mess OF 1t I've made. forgot, pext
to this bally rug. Mahomed loved me-
The hitherto credulous George had
OF late begun to look into facts In
stead OF dreams. He did not believe
word Of this amazing confession, de-
spite the additional testimony of.For>
tune. relative to Ryanne's statements
made to her In De bazaars.
The bitter bitten" was Georesa
sole comment.
Ryanne breathed easier.
Why not tell Mahomed at onca
and have him send q courier back for
the rug% suggested Fortune.
by Jove, that clears up eyerythins
Wen do It Immediately" George fen
better than he had at any stage Of the
adventure. Here was a simple war
out Of the difficulty.
Softly" said Ryanne. let m.
come down to the lean facts. II that
rug is in your room, Fortune. your
mother has discovered 1t long before
now. She will turn It over to your
estimable uncle. None Of us win ever
see 1t again, I'm thinking. The Major
knows that Jones gave me a Thousand
pounds for It." Struck by a sense OF
impending disaster, Ryanne began to
tumble in his pockets. Gone! EVER
shilling OF II gone! Hes got that
too; Mahomed; the cash you gave me.
Jones. Wait a moment; don't speak:
things are whirling about some. Over
nine hundred pounds; every shilling
OF 1t. We mustn't let him know that
I've missed it. I've got to play weak
In order to grow strong. But
they will at least start up a row as
to your whereabouts, Fortune"
NO" thoughtfully; mo, / do no,
think they will" Il
The undercurrent was too deem for
George. He couldn't see very clearly
just then. The United Romance and|
Adventure Company; was that an,I
Was there not something sinister
behind that name, concerning hin? He
looked patiently from the girl to the
adventurer.
Ryanne stared at the yellow DESERT
beyond. His brain was clearing rap
idly under the stimulus of thought
He himself did not believe that they|
would send out search.parties either
Tor him or for Fortune. He could not
fathom what had given Fortune her
belief; but he realized that his own
was based upon the recollection or
that savage mood when he had thrown
down the gauntlet. Now they would
accept 1t. He had run away with For,
tune as he had boldly threatened to
90. The mother and her precious
brother would proceed at once to New
York without him. He had made a
nne middle Of 1t all. But for a glass
OF wine and a grain too much Of con-
hdence, he had not been here this day
Mahomed, himself astir by thia
time, came over to the group, leisure
ly. The three looked like conspira>
tors to his suspicious eye, but unlike
conspirators they made no effort to
separate because he approached. He
understood: as yet they were not
afraid Of him. That was one Of the
reasons he hated white men: thew
could seldom be forced TO show fear
even when they possessed 1t. Well
these three should know what fear
was before they saw the last of him.
lie carried KURDISH, a cowhide whin.
which he twirled idly, even sugges.
lively First, he came to George.
III you have Yhiordes, there is stin
chance for you. Cairo is but fifty
miles away. Bagdad is several hun.
dred." He drew the whip caressingly
through his fingers.
Il do not lie." replied George, a tru,
culent sparkle in his eyes. 81 told
you that l had 1t not. 1t was the
truth"
A ripple Of anxiety passed over Ma
homed's face. And you?" turning
upon Ryanne, with suppressed savage1
ness. How he longed to lay the lasb
upon the dog!
Don't look at me-" answered Ryl
anne waspishly. III had II / should
not be here" All, for a bit Of his old
strength! He would have strangled