Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1913-03-28
IOIlS ~ II-0.I\ETTHER- {. : =
1911 by Obj COMPANY =

in from Khuzistan, bound for Smyrna.
How may I help your"
Take us as far as Damascus" an
swered Ryanne. I'VE can get on from
+, there well enough"
Whats you manner" directly.
"Ryanne."
And yours?"
Fortune Chedsoye."
"Next?"
Jones'"
The humorous bruskness put a kind
Of spirit into them all, and they n
swered smilingly.
"Ryanne and Jones are familiar
enough, but Chedsoye is a new one
Here, you'll" whirling suddenly upon
the boys who were pressing about.
He volieyed some Arabic at them, and
they dropped back. well, I've heard
some strange yarns myself in my
time, but this beats. them all.
Shanghaied from Cairo! Humph! If
some n had told me this, anywhere
else but here, I'd have called him a
liar. And you, Mr.. Ryanne, went into
Bagdad alone and got away with that
Yhiordes! It must have been the
devils own of a job"
1T was" replied Ryanne laconically.
He did not know this man Acker-
mann; he had never heard of him;
but he recognized a borh Leader of
men when he saw him. Gray-hafred,
lean, bearded, sharp of word, quick
of action, rude; he saw in this carpet
hunter the same indomitable qualities
Of the ivory-seeker. you did not
stop at Bagdad?" he asked, after the
swift inventory.
"No. I came direct. l always do"
grimly. Better turn in and sleep;
we'll be on the at dawn, sharp,
"SleepY Ryanne laughed.
"Sleep?" echoed George.
Fortune shook her head.
We'll, an hour to let the reaction
wear away said Ackermann. But
you've got to sleep. I'm boss now,
and you won't find me an easy one"
with a humorous glance at the girl.
I'VE are all very happy to be bossed
by you." she said.
Twenty days." Alderman unused.
You're a plucky young m No
hysterics?"
mot ave a sigh Of discomfort" put
in George. IF it hadn't been for her
pluck. we'd have gon n to pieces just
from worry. Are you Henry Acker-
mann, of the Oriental Company in
Smyrna!"
YES; why?"
I'm George P. A. Jones, Of Morti-
mer & Jones, New York. I've heard
of you; and God bless you for this
nights work."
Mortimer & Jones? You don't say!
Well, If this doesn't beat the Dutch!
Why, If you're Robert e. Jones' boy,
I'll sell you every carpet in the pack at
cost" He laughed; and 1t was laugh
ter good to hear, dry and harsh though
it was. Your dad was a fine gentle
man, and one Of the best judges Of
his time. You couldn't fool him a
knot. He wrote M when you came
into this world Of sin and %tribulation.
Didn't they call you Percival A~lgernon.
OF something like that?"
They did," And George laughed.
too.
You're a sight. Any N sick7 Got
a m~edicine-chest aboard?"
4NO. OAAy OoAA6Su ny dAu ol6COuIs
aged. I say. Mr.. Ackermann, got an
extra pipe OF two and some 'baccy?"
Flanagan, see what's In the chest"
Shortly Flanagan returned. He had
half q dozen fresh corn-cob pipes and
a thick bag Of tobacco. George and
Ryanne lighted up, about as lea con
tentment as two men in their condi-
ton could possibly be.
Said Flanagan to Fortune: DO you
chew?"
Fortune looked Mortified.
ooh, I mean gum!" roared Flanagan.
No. Fortune did not possess that du-
bious accomplishment.
Mighty handy when you're thirsty"
Flanagan advised.
They built up the fire and sat round
It costly. They were all nor or less
happy, all except Fortune. So long as
she had been a captive Of Mahomed,
she had forced the thought from her
mind; but now 1t came back with .
full measure Of misery. Never, never
would she return to Mentone. not even
for the things that were rightfully
hers. Where would she go and what
would she do? She was without money
and the only thing she possessed OF
value was the Soudanese trinket Ry-
anne had forced upon her that day