The Mena weekly star., 1913-07-17
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Man Who Didn't Care.

ancient city of Damascus. That part of the caravan deserted by Mahomed ,,rt ont for Cairo immediately they strck the regular camel-way. For tune. George and Ryanne were in a pitiable condition, heart and body weary, in rage and tatters. George, now that the haven was assured, dropped his forced buoyancy, his prat. flo his tests. He had done all a nor. tal man could to keep up the spirits K of his co-unfortunates; and he saw that. most of the time, he had wasted his talents. Ryanne, sullen and mo. rose. often told him to "shut up;" # which wasn't exhilarating. And For I tune viewed his attempts without I sensing them and frequently looked at him without seeing him. Now, all this I was not particularly comforting to the 5 man who loved her and was doing I what he could to tighten the dreari' ness of the journey. He made allow. 4 ances, however; besides suffering un. 4 usual privations, Fortune had had a frightful mental shock. A girl of her q depth of character could not be ex. # pected to rise immediately to the old level. Sometimes, while gathered 8 about the evening fire, he would look 8 up to find her sad eyes staring at him. H and it mattered not if he stared in re- N turn; a kind of clairvoyance blurred N visibilities, for she was generally look ing into her garden at Mentone and wondering when this horrible dream K would pass. Subjects for conversa- ton were exhausted in no time. Dig as he might, George could find noth- 4 ing new: and often he recounted the z same tale twice of an evening. Sar 4 donic laughter from Ryanne.
 Alderman had given them up as T hopeless. He was a strong, vain. dom- 8 ineerng man, kindly at heart, how I ever, but impatient. When he told a 4 story, he demanded the attention of # all; so, when Ryanne yawned before 8 his eyes, and George drew pictures in z the sand, and the girl fell asleep with # her head upon her knees, he drew \ of abruptly and left them to their z own devices. He had crossed and re- H crossed the silences so often that he was no longer capable of judging ac- T curately another mans mental pro
 cesses That they had had a strange and numbing experience he readily H understood; but now that they were # out of duress and headed for the q coast he saw no reason why they < should not act like human beings. They still put up the small tent for q Fortune, but the rest of them slept 4 upon the sand, under the stars. Once, 4 George awoke as the dawn was gild-
 ing the east. Slhouetted against the
 sky he saw Fortune. She was stand 4 ing straight, her hands pressed at her
 sides, her head tilted back-a tense attitude. He did not know 1t, but # she was asking God why these things
 should be. He threw off his blanket and ran to her.
 H Fortune, you mustn't do that. You
 will catch cold"
 # I cannot sleep" she said simply. J He took her by the hand and led
 her 10 the tent "Try," he said. Then
 he did something he had never done
 before 10 any woman save his mother.
 lie Kissed her hand, turned quickly,
 and went over to his blanket. She
 remained motionless before the tent.
 The hand fascinated her. From the
 hand her gaze travelled to the man
 settling himself comfortably under his
 blanket Pity. pity! that
 was ever to be her portion; pity!
 In Damascus the trio presented
 themselves at the one decent hotel.
 and but for Ackermann's charges upon
 .he manager, it is doubtful if he would
 nave accepted them as guests; for
 more suspicious-looking trio he had
 never set eyes upon. GA hotel man
 ~e'shs person by the quality of his
 V'oih'sl Moreover, they carried no
 'uS ne Ackermann went sponsor;
 anu knowing something of the integ- M i"y Of the rug-hunter, the manager Il surrendered And when George pre-
 sen,ed his letter of credit at the I'm. * te.aI Ottoman Bank, again it was
 A. A.Aefmann who vouched for him. IT
 ,"0 3een agreed to say nothing of the
 ''''c'er of their adventure None
 o5 them wanted to be followed by cu-
 rous eyes.
 with handful of British gold in his
 PocAet, George faced the future hope
 iuLy. He took his companions in
 anu about town, hunting the shops for
 .o'nlns which after various difficult
 ,ns ues they succeeded in finding, It was
 .i,,,Hlllhg and cheap, but it would serve
 u'. ,hey reached Alexandria or Naples.
 HOW are you fixed?" asked By
 sl, aune, eloomily surveying Georges
 SNoady cottonwood suit.
 Cash in hand?"
 Yes
 \, Aoout four hundred pounds. At
 any"
 would you mind advancing me
 '"o months salary?"
 ,u Nyahne, do you really mean to
 'UvA to that proposition?"
 .ds, s on my mind just now"
 ,ra well we'll go back to the bank
 '1u I'll draw hundred pounds for
 r You can pay your own expenses
 do we go' But what are we going to
 as sn regard to Fortune?"
 hentoneo 'e se's saieiy oaoA U
 a1el a1sppose she will not go there?"
 In up to you, Percival; it's all up
 lro9s'o you, You're the gay Lochinvar
 evea h .lle west. I'm not sure-no one
 IS regarding a woman-but I