Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1913-02-26

situation that questions would put
forth for answers. He knelt down at
the other side of Ryanne and mas
saged his wrists and arms. Once he
paused, catching his breath.
What is it?" she asked.
"a rib seems to bother me. It'll be
all right tomorrow He went on
with his manipulations.
els he badly hurt?"
81 can't say
His knowledge of anatomy was not
wide; still, Ryanne's arms and legs
worked satisfactorily. The trouble
was either in his head or back of his
ribs. He put his arm under Ryanne's
shoulder and raised him. Ryanne
mumbled some words. George bent
down to catch them. Gilt 'em up in
this half, boys; we've got them going.
He'll! Get off my head, you farmer!
Two cards, please" His
face puckered into what was intended
for smile. George laid him back
gently. Football and poker: what
had this man not known or seen in
life? Some one came between the
two men and the fire, casting a long
shadow athWart them. George looked
up and saw Mahomed standing close
by. His arms were folded and his
face grimly inscrutable.
Have you any blankets?" asked
George Coolly.
Mahomed gave an order. A blanket
and two saddle-bags were thrown
down beside the unconscious man.
George made pillow of the bags and
laid the blanket over Ryanne.
''Why do you waste your time over
him." asked Mahomed curiousfy.
81 would not let dog die this way
he retorted.
''He would have let you de- replied
Mahomed, turning upon his heel.
George stared thoughtfu1ly at his
whilom accomplice. What did the
old villain insinuate?
Can do anything to make you
more cOmfortabIe?" speaking to For
tune.
'Tm all right. was chilled a little
while ago, but the fire has done away
with that. Thank you
"YoU must eat when they bring you
food
"T'l Try to- smiling bravely.
To take her in his arms, then and
there, to appease their hunger and
his heart,si
Self-consciously, her hand stHle to
her hair. A color came into her
cheeks. How frightful she must look!
Neither hair-pin nor comb was left.
She threw the strands across her
shoulder and plucked the snarls and
tangles apart, then braided the whole.
He watched her, fascinated. He had
never seen a woman do this before.
1t was almost sacrilege for him to
be SO near her at such "a moEnent.
Afterward she drew her blanket ever
her shoulders.
you've got lots Of pluck"
"'HaEe I?''
eyes. You haven't asked a question
yet"
Would it help any,"
mo, l don't suppose it would. E've
an idea that we're all on the way to
the home of Haroun-aIRashid.''
"Bagdad,'' musingly.
"It's the rug. But I DO not under
stand you in the picture"
mo more do l."
With g consideration that spoke
well Of his understanding, he did not
speak TO her again till food was
passed. Later, when the full terror
Of the affair took hold of her, she
would be dreadfully lonely and would
need to see him near, to hear his
voice. He forced some of the hot
soup down Ryanne's throat, and was
glad to note that he responded a little.
After that he limped about the strange
camp, but was careful to get in no
ones way. Slyly he took note of this
face and that, and his satisfaction
grew as he counted the aftermath Of
the war. And it had taken five Of
them, and even then the result had
been in doubt up to the moment when
his head had gone bang against the
stucco. He took melancholy pride
in his swollen ear and half-shut eye.
He had always been doubtful regard
ing his courage; and now he knew
L
was as good name as Bayard.
The camel-boys (they are called
boys all the way from ten years up to
forty, having hobbled the beasts,
were portioning each a small bundle
of tibbin or chopped straw in addition
to what they might find by grazing.
Funny brutes, thought George, as he
walked among the kneeling animals
to go five days without food or water,
to travel continuously from twenty
five to eighty miles the day! Others
were busy with the pack-baskets. A
tent, presumably Mahomed's, was be-
ms erected upon a clayey piece Of
ground in between the palms. No one
entered the huts, even out OF curios
ity; SO George was certain that the
desertion had been brought about by
one plague or another. A smaller