The Mena weekly star., 1913-06-26
Copyright 1911 by Bobb,-Merrill Compap, Continued from last issue)
CHAPTER xV.
Eortune,s Riddle Solved.

neither at Ryanne nor at George. She knew that George, his soul filled with unlucky quixotic sense of cnivalry which had made him so easy a victim to her mother, would not accept his liberty at the price of Ryanne's, Ky. anne. to whom he owed nothing. not even mercy. And if she had had in ask one of the two, George would have been the natural selection. for she trusted him implicitly. Perhaps there still fingered in her mind a rec. ollection of how charmingly he had spoken of his mother.
 She could have set out for Cairo alone: even as she could have grown a pair of wings and sailed through the air! The fate that walked behind her was malevolent, cruel, unjust. Sha had wronged no one. in thought o+ deed. She had put out her hand conf. dently to the world, to be laughed at, distrusted, or ignored. Was it DOS, sible that little more than a month ago she wandered, if not happy, In the sense she desired, at least in peaceful state of mind, among her ca. melias and roses at Mentone? Her world had been, in this short time, remolded, reconstructed; where oncl had bloomed a garden, now yawned {. chasm; and the psychological earth. quake had left her dizzy That Ma. homed, now wrought to a kind of Der. serk rage, might begin reprisals at did D ;,,s1 feeling was rather of dull, aching in difference. Nothing mattered now.
 But Ryanne and George were keenly alive to the danger. and both agreed that Fortune must go no farther.
 Ryanne, under his bitter raillery and seeming scorn for sacred things. DOS. sessed a latent magnanimity. and it now pushed up through the false lay. CTS. Jones, it's my funeral. Go tell her. You two can find the way back to the canal. and once there you will have no trouble. Don't bother your head about me"
 But what will you do?"
 Take my medicine" grimly.
 'Ryanne, you are offering the COW. ardly part to mel"
 You fool, it's the girl. What do I care about the rest of it? You're as brave as lion. When you put up your fists the other night, you solved that puzzle for yourself. For Gods sake do it while have the courage to let you! Don't you understand? love that girl better than my hearts blood, and Mahomed can have it drop by drop. Go and go quickly! He will give you food and water"
 You go. She knows you better than me-
 But will she trust me as she will you? Percival, old top, Mahomed will never let me go till he's taken his pound of flesh. Fortunei" Ryanne called. Fortune, We want you!"
 She appeared at the flap of the tent.
 Jones here will go back with you. Go both of you, before Mahomed changes his mind"
 Miss Chedsoye, he is wrong. He's the one to go. He was hurt worse than l was. Pride doesn't matter at a time like this. You two go." des. perately.
 Fortune shook her head. All or none of us; all or none of us." she re. peated.
 And Mahomed. having witnessed and overheard the scene, laughed, a laughter identical to that which had struck the barmaid's ears sinisterly. He had not studied his white man without gathering some insight into his character. Neither of these men was poltroon. And when he had made the offer, he knew that the con- ditions would erect a barrier over which none of them would pass vol untarily. So much for pride as the Christian dogs knew 1t. Pride is a me buckler; none knew that better than Mahomed himself; but a wise man does not wear it at all times.
 What is it to be-" he demanded of Fortune.
 What shall say to him?"
 Whatever you will" Ryanns was tired He saw that argument would be of no use.
 All or none of us" And Fortune looked at Mahomed with all the pride or her race. Tt Is not because you wish me to be free; 1t is because you wish to see one of my companions made base in my eyes. will not have it!"
 The will of Allahl" He could not repress the fire of admiration in his own eyes as they took in her beauty, the erect, slender figure, the scorn upon her face. and the fearlessness in Aer great, dark eyes. Such woman might have graced the palace of the Nreat Caliph. He had had in mind many little cruelties to practice upon ner' that he might see the men writhe, ihpotent and helpless to aid her. But III this tense and dramatic scene. a sense of shame took possession of nm his pagan heart softened; not rom pity, but from the respect which ohe brave person gives free-handed to another
 Mahomed was not bad man, nei' ,ner was he cruel one. He had been terribly wronged, and his eastern way nau put one angle of vision: to avenge Himself, believing that revenge alone eouid soothe his outraged pride and
 eestablish his honor as he viewed 1t rum within. Had the courier re turned with the Holy Yhiordes, 1t is no' impossible that he would have lib ''a'ed them all. But now he dared