Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1912-11-15


ested.
Wallace drew his finger across his
throat. Ryanne looked him squarely
in the eye and nodded atflrmatively.
IL don't understand at all"
You never will, Wallace, old chap.
I am the prodigal son whose brother
ate the fatted calf before | returned
home. | had a letter today. She
will be here tomorrow sometime. You
may have to go I o Port Said, II my
plan doesn't mature"
"The Ludwig"
yes"
Say, what n Frau she would have
made the right man."
Ryanne did not answer, but glow
cred at his glass.
"The United Romance and Adven-
ture Company" Wallace twtrled his
glass. IF you're a wOnder, she's a
marvel. A Napoleon in petticoats! 1t
does make q fellow grin, when you
look it all over. But this is going to
be her Austerlit2 or her Waterloo.
And you really get the rug; and on top
Of that, you have sold it to George 7.
A. Jones. Here's"
MANY happy returns ironically.
They finished the bottle without
further talk. There was no convivial-
ity here. Both were fond of good wine,
but the more they drank, the tighter
grew their lips. Men who have been
in the habit Of guarding dangerous
secrets become taciturn in their cups.
From time to time, iittingly, there
appeared against one Of the windows,
Just above the ~half-curtain, a lean,
dark face, which, in profile, rosembled
the kite-the hooked beak, the watch
full, preyful eyes. There were two
hungers written upon that Arab face,
food and revenge.
al h Ia good" he murmured.
Fms had but one eye in use, the 9TH
err was bandaged. In fact, the face ex-
hibited general indications Of rough
warfare, the skin broken on the bridge
of the nose, a freshly healed cut I'M
der the seeing eye, q long strip Of
plaster extending from the ear to the
mouth. There was nothing of the beg
gar in his mien. His lean throat was
erect, his chin protruave, the set Of
his shoulders proud and defiant. Ordi-
narily, the few lingering guides would
rudely have told him TO be off about
his business; but they were familiar
twist of this one, soiled and ragged
though 1t was, they recognized some
prince from the eastern deserts. Pres
emily he strobe away, but with a stiff.
ness which they knew came from long
journeys upon racing-camels.
George dreamed that night OF magic
carpets, of sad-eyed maidens, Of fierce
Bedouins, OF battles in the desert, OF
genii swelling terriflcally out of squat
bottles. And once he rose and turned
on the lights to assure himself that
the old Yhiordes was not q part Of
these vivid dreamg.
He was up shortly after dawn. in
white riding-togs, for a final canter to
Mena House and return. In two days
more he would be leaving Egypt be-
hind. Rather glad In n sense, rath-
er sorry In another. Where to put the
rug was q problem. He might carry
it in his steamer-roll; it. would be
handler there than in the bottom Of
his trunk, stored away in the ships
hold. Besides, his experience had
taught him that steamerrolls were
only indiiferently inspected. You will
observe. that the luster of his high
ideals was already dimming. He rea-
soned that inasmuch as he was bound
to smuggle and lie, it might be well to
plan something artistically. He wished
now that he was going to spend Christ
mas in Cairo; but it was too late to
change his booking without serious
loss of time and money.
He had a light breakfast on the
veranda Of the Mena House, climbed
up to the desert, bantered the donkey
boys, amused himself by watching the
descent of some German tourists who
had climbed the big Pyramid before
dawn to witness the sun rise, and
threw pennies to the horde Of blind
beggars who instantly swarmed about
him and demanded, in the name Of Al
lah, a competence for the rest of their
days. He finally escaped them by
footing 1t down the incline to the no.
tel gardens, where his horse stood
waiting.
1t was long after nine when he slid
from the saddle at the side entrance
Of the Ssmiramis. He was on bis way
to the bureau for his key, when an
exquisitely gloved. hand lightly touched
his aTm.
Don't you remember me, Mr..
jones'" said a voice Of vocal honey.
George did. In his confusion he
dropped his pitt.helmet, and in stoop-
ing to pick it UP, bumped into the por-
ter who had rushed to his aid. Re-
member her! Would he ever forget
her? He never thought Of her with
out clubbing himself an outrageous ass.
He Strengthened, his cheeks afre;