The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1913-01-16
CHAPTER xIv,-(contInued,)

Why not tell Mahomed at once.
and have him send courier back for
the rug?" suggested Fortune.
by Jove, that clears up everything.
Well do it Immediately" George felt
better than he had at any stage Of the
adventure. Here was a simple way
out of the difilcu!ty.
Softly" sEs4 Ryanne. Let us
come down to ehe lean facts. II that
rug is In ycTT room, Fortune. your
mother he's discovered 1t long before
now. She will turn 1t over to your
estimable uncle. None of us will ever
see 1t again, I'm thinking. The Major
knows that Jones gave me thousand
pounds for IT," Struck by a sense of
Impending disaster. Ryanne began to
tumble in his pockets. Gone! Every
shilling OF II gone! Hes got that,
too; Mahoned; the cash you gave me,
Jones. Wait moment; don't speak:
things are rhirling about some. Over
nine hundred pounds; every shilling
OF It, We mustn't let him know that
I've missed 1t. I've got to play weak
In order to grow strong. But
they will at least start up a row as
20 your whereabouts, Fortune"
NO." thoughtfully; mo, l do not
think they will"
' The undercurrent was too deep for
George. He couldn't see very clearly
just then. The United Romance and
Adventure Company; was that all?
Was there not something sinister
behind that name, concerning him? He
looked patiently from the girl to the
adventurer.
Ryanne stared at the yellow desert
Beyond. His brain was clearing rap
idly under the stimulus of thought
He himself die rot believe that they
would send or, searchparties either
for him or for Fortune He could not
fathom what had given Fortune her
belief; but he realized that his own
was based upon the recollection of
that savage mood when he had thrown
accept it, He had run away with For
tune as he had boldly threatened to
do. The mother and her precious
brother would proceed at once to New
York without him. He had made a
fine muddle Of 1t an. But for glass
IF wine and grain too much of con
Tidence, he had not been here this day.
Mahomed, himself astir by this
time, came over to the group. leisure.
iy. The three looked like conspira.
tors to his suspicious eye, but unlike
conspirators they made no effort to
separate because he approached. He
understood: as yet they were moi
afraid Of him. That was one of the
reasons he hated white men: they
could seldom be forced to show fear
even when they possessed 1t. Well
these three should know what feal
was before they saw the last OF him
He carried kurbash, a cowhide whip
which he twirled idly, even sugges
lively. First, he came to George.
"It you have Yhiordes, there is still
chance for you. Cairo is but fift.
miles away. Bagdad is several hun
dred.' He drew the whip caressingl,
through his fingers.
Il do not lie," replied George, a tru
eulent sparkle in his eyes. Il toll
you that ! had It not. 1t was III
truth
A ripple Of anxiety passed over Me
homed's face. And your" turnin
upon Ryanne, with suppressed savage
ness. How he longed to lay the las
upon the dog
Don't look at me-" answered Ry
anne waspishly- "If had 1t | shoul
not be here" All, for bit of his oil
strength! He would have strangle
Mahomed then and there. But tn
drug and the beating had weakene
aim terribly.
";f give you the rug" intetpose
FORTUNE, will you promise freedol
to us all?"
Mahomed stepped back. nonplusse,
He hadn't expected any informatio
from this quarter
81 have the rug" declared Forum
calmly, though she could scarcel
hear her own voice. her heart bel
so furiously.
you have it!" MahoEled was co
fused Here was turn in the ros