Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-02-20

night, had powdered his clothes, ana
his face was stained and streakeo.
His head lay in the sand, bis soft Fe-
dora crushed under his shoulders
What with the bruises visible. the
rents in his coat, the open shirt,
soiled, crumpled, collarless, he In
vited pity; only none came from the
busy Arabs. AS he slept, a frown
gathered upon his face and remained
there.
When he came back from his
troubled dreams, a bowl OF rice,
thinned by hot water, was given him.
He cleaned the bowl, not because he
was hungry, but because he knew that
somewhere along this journey ne
would need strength; and the recur-
ring fury against his duress caused
him to fling the empty bowl at the
head Of the camel-boy who had
brought it. The boy ducked, laugh
ing. George lay down again. Let
them cut his throat If they wanted to;
it was all the same to him. Again he
slept, and when he was roughly and
forcibly awakened, he sat up with a
snarl and looked about.
His head was clear now, and he
began to take notes. He counted
ten, eleven, twelve camels, a a r
van in truth, prepared for a long and
| continuous journey. There three
pack-camels, laden with wood, tents,
and such cooking utensils as the fru-
gal Arab had need Of. Certainly Ma
homed was a rich man, whether he
owned the camels or hired them for
the occasion. Upon one Of the beasts
they were putting up a MAMMAL, a n
opy used to protect women from the
sun while riding. One Arab, taller,
more robust than the others, moved
hither and thither authoritatiVely'
Wound about his tarboosh or fez was
a bright green cufia, signifying that
the wearer had made the pilgrimage
to Holy Mecca. This individual
George assumed to be Mahomed him
self. And he recognized him as the
beggar over whom he had stumbled
two nights gone. Pity he hadn't
known, and pitched him into the Mic
when he had the chance.
Mahomed completed his directions
and walked leisurely toward George
but his attention was not directed
toward him. A short distance away
at Georges left, was a man, stretched
out as If In slumber. Over his iner
figure Mahomed watched. He drew
back his foot and kicked the sleeping
man soundly, smiling amiably tn
while; a kick which, had Mohamed'
: foot been cased in western leather
must have stove in the sleeper's ribs
;. Strange, the victim did not stir. Ma
homed shrugged, and returned to tn
: business Of breaking camp.
George was keenly interested l
4 this man who could accept such
e kick apparently without feeling or ~
sentiment. He stood up for a bette
8 view. One glance was sufficient.
was Ryanne, the erstwhile affabl
s Ryanne of the reversible cuffs: hi
t feet and hands still in bondage, h
n clothes torn, his face battered an
bruised like a sailors Of a Sunda
Q morning on shore-leave. The sight
Ryanne frightened him c~onsiderabl
10 Although he was s~ingularly free fro
d the spirit Of malevolence, he was, ne
II ertheless, human enough to subscrit
n to that unwritten and much denit
a. creed that the misery Of n man re
g. onciles another to his. And here Wi
n company such as misery loved; he
was a man worse off than himse
whose prospects were a thousal
Of times blacker. Poor devil! And he
"a he was, captive Of the men he b
10 wronged and beaten and robbed.
n seen through Georges eyes, Ryann'
~ outlook was not a pleasant thing
he contemplate. But oh! the fight Il
of one must have been! II 1t had TAX
Ave natives to overcome him, HI
nd many had 1t taken to beat Ryan
N into such a shocking condition?
al was genuinely sorry for Ryanne. |
do In his soul he was glad to 9 hi
~ One white man could accomplI
nothing in the face Of these odds; !
NO two white men, that was a differ
nv matter. Ryanne, once he got his lie
als strong, courageous. ~resourceful,
anne would get them both out of
somehow. And II RyaI
no hadn't the rug, who the dickens HI
by The tumble Of questions that r
,od in his mind. seeking answers to
nto riddle Of Yhiordes rug, subsidized e.
as they rose. The bundle to the
rts side OF Ryanne stirred. He had, in
alt general survey OF the scene, bar
els set a glance upon It, believing 1t
In be a conglomeration Of saddle-b
nee (made Of wool and cotton) and b
a kets. It stirred again. George 81
die led II with a peculiar n Of deti
led. ment. A woman; q woman In "
lied had but recently been q smart Pr
ere. ian t~allormade street-dress.
hat woman, rubbing her eyes, bore
md. self up painfully to a sitting post
ON. She was white. All the blows of
and night paat were az nothing in {
the parlaon With this invisible One vi