Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1913-03-20

the comforts of life. How he was
going to keep such a vow was a ques-
ton that did not enter his head. Some
how he was going to accomplish the
feat.
What mattered the ragged beard
upon his face, the ragged clothes upon
his body, the tattered cloths upon his
feet, the ~grotesque attitude and en-
semble? The Lord Of Life saw into
his heart and understood. And who
might say with what Joy Pandora
gazed upon her work, knowing as she
did what still remained within her
casket?
From these heights, good occasional
ly for any mans soul, George came
down abruptly and humanity to the
prosaic question of where would he
make his bed that night? To lie down
at the north side Of the fire meant a
chill in the morning; the south side,
the intermittent, acrid breath Of the
fire itself; SO he threw down his blan-
ket and bags east Of the fire, wrapped
himself up, and sank into slumber,
light but dreamless.
What was that? He sat up, alert,
straining his ears. How long had he
been asleep? An hour by his watch,
What had awakened him? Not a
sound anywhere, yet something had
startled him out Of his sleep. He
glanced over the camp. That bundle
was Ryanne. He waited. Not a move
ment there. No sign of life among the
c%amel-boys; and the flaps of the two
tents were closed. Bah! Nerves
probably; and he would have lain
down again had his gaze not roved out
toward the desert. Something moved
out there, upon the misty, moonlit
space. He shaded his eyes from the
fire, now but a heap Of glowing EN-
bers. He got up, and SILVER aftel
SILVER wrinkled his spine. Oh, no
it could not be a dream; he was
awake. 1t was a living thing, thai
long, bobbing camel-train, coming di
rectly toward the oasis, no doubt at
tracted by the freight. Fascinated
incapable Of movement, he watched
the approach. Three white dots; and
these grew and grew and at length be
came pith-helmets! Pith
helmets! Who but white men wor'
pith-helmets in the desert? Whit
men! The temporary paralysis lef
him. Crouching, he ran over to Ry
anne and shook him.
What .u
But George smothered the question
with his hand. flush! For God
sake, make no noise! Get up ant
stand guard over Fortunes tent
There's a caravan outside, and In
going out to meet it. Ryanne, Ryanne
there's a white man out there!"
George ran as fast as he coul
toward the incoming aravan He me
it two or three hundred yards away
The broken line of camels bobbed u
and down oddly.
Are you white men," he called.
Eyes," said a deep, resonant voice
"And stop where you are; there's n
hurry"
Thank Cod" cried George, at tn
verge of a breakdown.
What the devil Flanagan
here's a white man in a dress-suit
God save isl" The speaker laughe,
Eyes, a white man; and there's
white woman in the camp back Their
a white woman! Great God, don't yo
understand? A white woman!" Geore
clutched the man by the foot despe
ately. "a white woman!"
, The man kicked Georges hand awe
and slashed at his camel. "Flanaga
. and you, Williams, get your guns
, shape. This doesn't look good to m
twenty miles from the main gamelie
| told you 1t was odd, that fire. Liv
. ly, now!"
George ran after them, staggerin
Twice he fell h~eadlong. But ]
laughed as he got up; and 1t wasr
exactly human laughter, either. VIII
- he reached camp he saw Mahom,
and the three strangers, the latt
. with their rifles held m~enacingly. FL
tune stood before the flap of her tel
: b%ewildered at the turn in their affaii
= Behind the leader of the new-come
= was Ryanne, and he was talking ri
g idly.
WELL" the leader demanded Of N
homed, what have you got to s
d for yourself"
Nothing"
~ Take carel 1t wouldn't come ha
n to put a bullet into your ugly hi,
" You can't abduct white women the
m days, you beggar! Well, what ha
ia you to say?"
=. Mahomed folded his arms; his
ID preston was calm and unafraid.
~ down in his heart the fires of /
Id we're raging. If only he had brcuI
he his rife from the tent; even a kni
4? and n mad moment II he died for
nj And ne had been gentle to the g.
Ia he had withheld the lash from
~ men; he had not put into action
ce single plan arranged for their mis-
nd and humiliation! Truly his blood
he turned to water, and he was wor
ha OF death. Tho white man, always
ed ever the white man Won in the {
Tor To have come this far, and then tc
Tor cheated out Of his revenge by chan