The Mena weekly star., 1913-06-12

But upon this knowledge he bas mapped out his plan of torture in TO gard to Ryanne. The idea of sellino Fortune had dimly formed in hi, mlhd' While his blood had burned in anger; but today's soberness showed nm the futility of such a procedure, lie would have to make the best of a loohsh move; for the girl would eventually prove an encumbrance At any rate' he would wiring one white mans heart till 1t beat dry in his breast. That her health might be ru. ineu' that she might sicken and die, III no manner aroused his pity. This attrlpute was destined never to ba awakened in Mahomed's heart.
 The kisweh, the kisweh, always the Holy fhiordes; that he must have even If he had to forego the pleasure or breaking Ryanne. He was too old to start life anew; at least too old to stir ambition. He had wielded au. tnorlty too many years to surrender if Hghtly; he had known too lonp bis solden-haked tobacco, his sberbet ms syrupy coffee, the pleasant loaf. Ing In the bazaars with his merchant Irlends. To return to the palace. to confess to the Pasha that his careless. ness had lost him the rug. would TO- suit either in death or banisbmen+. ana so far as he was concerned ba had no choice, the one was as had as tne other So, if the young fool who had bought the rug of Ryanne told the truth wbep he declared that if hao hSeh stolen again, then Ryanne knew where t was; and he could be made to tell; he, Mahomed. would at. .ehd 70 that And when Ryanne con. iessed, the girl and the other would De conveyed to the nearest telegranh- post. That they might at once report the abduction to the English authori. ues did not worry Mahomed Not tba heetest racingcamel could find him and behind the walls of the palace or Bagdad, only Allah could touch nm. He had figured it all out closely. ana he was an admirable strategist In his way. Revenge upon Ryanne for the dishonor and humiliation, and the return Of the rug; there was nothing more beyond that.
 betore George had the opportunity of speaking to Fortune, he was raised rom the sand and bodily lifted upon his camel; and by way of passing pleasantly, his hat was damned down over his eyes. He swore as he pulled up the brim. Swearing was another accomplishment added to the list of transformations. He had a deal to learn yet, but in his present mood he was likely to proceed famously. He read1usted the hat in time to see Ry- anne unceremoniously dumped into one of the yawning pack-baskets, his arms and legs hanging out, his head lolling against his shoulder, exactly like marionette, cast aside for the time being. A man of ordinary stam- ina would have died under such treat. ment. But Ryanne possessed an ex- traordinary constitution, against which years of periodical dissipation had as yet made no permanent inroads More over, he never forgot to keep his chin up and his waist-line down. They put him into the pack-basket because there was no alternative, being as he was incapable of sitting upon a cam els back.
 Next, George saw Fortune, unre- sisting, placed upon the camel, under canopy. At least, she would know a little comfort against the days long ride. His heart ached to see her. He called out bravely to her to be of good cheer. She turned and smiled; and he saw only the smile, not the swift, decisive battle against the on- set of tears: she smiled, and he was too far away to see the swimming eyes.
 A bawling of voices, a snapping of the kurbash upon the Hanks of the camels, and the caravan was once more under way George looked at his watch. which fortunately had been overlooked by the thieving natives, and found it still ticking away brisk ly. It was after nine. It was com. fort to learn that the watch had not been injured Most men are method ical in the matter of time, no matter how desultory they may be in other things. There is a peculiar restful- ness in knowing what the hour Is, whether 1t passes quickly or whether 1t drags.
 Further investigation revealed that his letter of credit was undis- turbed and that he was the proud pos sessor of six damaged cigars and box of cigS es. Instantly the thought of ba4- 5, days without tobacco smote him almost polgnantly He was an inveterate smoker, and the fact that the supply was so pitiably small gave unusual zest to his craving. He now longed for the tang of the weed upon his lips, but he held out man fully. He would not touch a cigar or cigarette till nightfall, and then he made up his mind to smoke half ot either. The touch, selfish and calcu' lating. of the miser, stole over him. If Ryanne was without the soother, so much the worse for him. The six cigars he would not share with the archangel Michael, supposing that gentleman came down for a smoke.
 Forward, always forward, winding in and out of the valleys, trailing over the hills, never faster. never slower. Noon came. and the brilliance Of aft
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