Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-09-13

attempt to sink his teeth in the bru-
tai hand. Queer fancies fit through a
mans head in times like this; for the
Intellectually Of the bite reminded
him OF Hallowe'ens and the tubs with
the bobbing apples. One thing was
certain: he would kill this pagan the
very first opportunity. Rather a
startling metamorphosis in the char
acter of a man whose life had been
passed in the peacefulest environ
ments. And to kill him without the
least conjunction. too. To strike a
man who couldn't help himselfl
Hey therel" he yelled. Help for
a white mani" After such treatment
he considered It anything but dishon-
orable to break his parole. And where
was Ryanne? "Help!"
Mahomed swung his arm round
Georges neck. and the third cry be-
gan with a gurgle and ended with a
sigh. Deity, the Arab rebandaged
the prisoners mouth. So be II. He
had had his chance for freedom; now
he should drink to the bottom Of the
bitter cup. along with the others. He
had no real enmity against George;
he was simply one Of the pawns in
the game he was playing. But now he
saw that there was danger in liberat.
ing him. The other! Mahomed ca.
ressed his wiry beard. To subject
him to the utmost mental agony; to
break him physically, too; to pay him
back pound for pence; to bruise, to
hurt, to rack him, that was all Ma.
homed desired.
George made no further effort to
free himself, nor apparently to bestlr
himself about the future. Somewhere
in the fight, presumably as he fell
against the table, he had received a
crushing blow In the small ribs; and
when Mahomed threw him back, he
tainted for the second time in his life.
! He reclined Imply in the corner Of
the carriage. the bosom Of his shirt
bulging open; for the thrifty Arabs
had purloined the pearl-studs, the
gold collar-buttons, and the sapphire
cuff-links. And consciousness re-
turned only when they lifted him out
and dropped him inconsiderately into
the thick dust Of the road. He stirred
again at his bonds. but presently lay
still. The pain In his side hurt keen.
ly, and he wasn't sure that the RIB
was whole. What time had passed
since his entrance to the English Bar
was beyond his reckoning, but he
knew that II was yet in the dark Of
night, as no light whatever penetrated
the cloth over his eyes. That he was
somewhere outside the city he was
assured by the tang OF the winter
wind. He heard low understandable;
and while he possessed a smattering
Of the tongue, his head ached too
sharply for him to sense a word.
Later, a camel coughed. Camels? And
where were they taking him upon q
camel? Bagdad! Impossible: there
were too many white men following
the known camel-ways. He groaned a
little, but the sound did not reach the
ears Of his captors. To ride a camel
under ordinary conditions was a pain,
full affair; but to straddle the ungainly
brute. dressed as be was, in a swal
lov-tail and paper-thin pumps, did moi
promote any pleasurable thoughts
They would In all truth kill him be
fore they got through. Hang the r1sl
And doubly hang the man who had
sold It to him.
His whilom friend. conscience, came
back and gibbered at him. Once b,
said: Don't do IT." and now she wal
saying quite humanity: 4 told yor
sol" Hadn't she warned himi Hadnp
she swung her red lantern under biz
very nosei Well. she hoped be wal