The Mena weekly star., 1913-04-24

proud and savage, into whose keenino .he Holy Yhiordes was given. Ma nomed-E[Gebel, the Pasha,s riaht nand' sheik in his own right
 But you haven't got the rug now n
 No' MT, Jones, I haven't: but on lne other hand you have. So bero we are together. When he gets through With me, your turn"
 George laughed. Rvanno ono.- thoughtful over this sign PoroivaI U Algernon did not seem exactly wor ried. N'o'iS "or'
 Aren't you little afraid?p
 T? Why should I be?" ino,,irod George innocently. Certainly what. ever your Arab friends argun,ants may De- moral or physical, I'm going to Keep that Yhiordes."
 Was he blufing? Ryanne wondered Did he really have nerve? Well within forty-eight hours there would come test.
 Say do you know, I rather wish youd been with me on that trip-tbat IS, II you like rough game" Rvanne said this in all sincerity.
 T have never been in A roueb oo,,, as you call it; but I've often had a strong desire to be, just to find out for myself what sort of a duffer I am."
 hyanne had met this sort of man he. lore; the fellow who wanted to know what stuff he was made of and wac ready to risk his hide to find out His experience had taught him to expect nothing of the man who knew inst what he was going to do in a crisis.
 Did you ever know, Mir. Jones'" said Ryanne, his eyes humorous. "that there Is an organization in this world or ours, a company that offers a try. out to men of your kidney?"
 Whats that? What do you mean 2"
 what say There is an established concern which will, upon application Tor a liberal purchase of stock, ar. range any kind of adventure you wish"
 "What?" George drew in his legs and sat up. What sort of a iQuy is this?"
 You put your finger upon the one great obstacle No one will believe that such a concern exists. Yet it is a fact. And why rot?"
 Because it wouldn't be real. if would be going to the moon Ia Conev Island"
 Wrong absolutely wrong If Il told you that l am a stockholder in this company, and that the adventure of the Yhiordes rug was arranged for my special benefit, what would you say?"
 "Say?"' George turned a serious countenance toward the adventurer. Why the whole thing is absurd on the face of 1t. As a joke, 1t might go; but as genuine affair, utterly impos- sible."
 No" quietly. q admit that 1t sounds absurd, yes; but ten years ago they'd have locked up, as insane, man who said that he could fly. But think of last summer at Paris, at Rheims, at Frankfort; the Continental hAl was lNlA OA Ag ms -llieNhAAAOOs lDlh It's pretty difficult to impress the av- craze mind with something new Why shouldn't we cater to the poetic, the romantic side of man? We've con cerns for everything else. The fact is, mediocrity is always standing be- hind the corner with brickbats for the initiative Believe me or not, MT. Jones, but this company exists. The proof Is that you have the rug and l have the scars"
 But in these prosaic times!" mur- mured George. still skeptical
 "Prosaic times!" sniffed Ryanne. There's one of your brickbats They swung 1t at the head of the first print CT. Prosaic times! My friend, this is the most romantic and bewildering age humanity has yet seen. There's more romance and adventure going about on wheels and steelbottoms than ever there was in the days of Drake and the Spanish galleons. There's an adventure lurking round the nearest corner-romance, too. what this organization does is to direct you; after that you have to shift for your self. But. like a tirst-rate physical in' structor, they never map out more than a man can do. They gave me the rug. Your bones, on such quest would have been bleaching upon the banks of the Tigris."
 What the deuce is this company called?" George was enjoying the con versation immensely.
 The United Romance and Adven- ture company. Ltd, of London Paris and New York"
 Have you any of the company paper with you?" George represseu bis laughter because Ryanne's face was serious enough.
 Unfortunately, no. But If you VIII give me your bankers address I'll be nleased to forward you the prospec' tus."
 "Knauth, Nachod and Kuhne. ] am shortly leaving for home. Better send 1t to New York. l say, suppose A chap buys an adventure that IS not nm to the mark; can be return It or exchange 1t for anotherY
 No. It's all chance, you know The rules of the game are steer hound. We find you an adventures it's up to you to make good
 But, once more suppose a chap gets a little too rough game, and doesn | turn up for his dividends; what thenF
 "In that event" answered Ryanne sadly "the stock reverts to the gen eral fund"
 r,..r,, lav hack in his chair and Icy