Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1913-02-26

r. Then he drew over his feet one of
the empty saddle-bags, wrapped his
blanket round him, and sat smoking
and thinking till the heat of the fire
replen1shed from time to time, filled
him with a comfortable drowsiness;
ana the cigar, still smoking, dropped
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, man must
eat and man must sleep.
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
ne mad ever made. There was no ac-
t1vlty in camp; evidently they were
not going to start early. The cook
alone was busy. The fire was crack
ling, the kettle was steaming, and
a 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 his
shins, and glowering at no visible
thing.
"Hello!" cried George. Found
yourself, eh?"
Ryanne eyed him without emotion.
When and how did they get you?"
George inquired.
About three hours before they got
you. Something in a glass of wine
Dope. I'd have cleaned them up but
for that"
"How do you feel?"
Damned bad, Percival."
amy bones broken?'
''No: I'm just knocked about; sore
spot in my side; kicked, maybe. But
it isn't hat
George didn't ask what that" was.
where do you think he's taking us?"
"Bagdad, if we don't die upon the
way"
81 don't think he'll kill us. 1t
wouldn't be worth his while"
"You did not give him the rug"
mot II"
cit comes hard, Jones, / know, but
your giving it up will save us both
many bad days. He asked you for it ~
"He did"
"Then why the devil didn't you give
it to him? What's thousand pounds
against this muddle?"
For the simple reason didn't have
it to give up.''
What's that?"
when I went up to my room, night
before last, some one had been there
ahead of me. And at first I had Civ
en- you the credit" said George, with
admirable frankness.
"Gone!" There was mo m5stakins
the dismay in Ryanne's voice.
Absolutely"
F'WeH, / be damR!" Ryanne threw
aside the blanket and got up. It wa.
"a painful movement, and he swayeC
a little. eff Mahomed hasn't it, anC
I haven't it, and you haven't it, wht
the devil has, them"
George shook his head.
Jones we are in for 1T. If tina
cursed rug is Mahomed's salvation
it lis no less ours. If we ever reacl
the palace OF Bag6ad and that rug il
not forthcoming, We'll newer see tht
outside of the walls again
''Nonsensei There's an American
consul at Bagdad"
'And Mahomed will notify him o.
our ARRIVAL" bitterly.
isn't there some way we two
might get at Mahomed?'
Perhaps; burt it will take time
Don't bank upon money. MahomeG
wants his head. If the rug
But Ryanne stopped. He looked be
yond George, his face full of terror
George turned to see what had pro
duced this effect. Fortune was com
ing out OF her tent. Fortune? My
sGod!" Ryanne's legs gave under and
he sank, his face i'm his hands. 81
see it all now! Fool, fool! He's 60
ing to get me, Jones: he's going to get
l. n.