The Mena weekly star., 1913-06-26

Ryanne had asked these questions Ia dozen times, and George had al- ways given the same answers.
 Up and away at dawn. for they must reach the well that night II was terrible day for them .all. Even the beasts showed signs of much distress. And the worst of it was, Mahomed was not quite sure of his route Fortunate ly, they found the we'll They drank like mad people.
 Ryanne, who had discovered a pack of cards in his pocket, played patience upon a spot smoothed level with his hand. He became absorbed in the game; and the boys gathered round him curiously Whenever he succeed ed in turning out the fifty-two cards, he would smile and rub his hands to- gether. The boys at length consid- cred him unbalanced mentally, and in consequence looked upon him as a near-holy man.
 Between Fortune and George con. versation dwindled down to a query and an answer.
 Gan l do anything for you?"
 No, thanks; l am getting along nicely"
 Tonight she retired early, and George joined Ryanne's audience.
 Tt averages about nine cards to the play" he commented.
 Ryanne turned over an ace. Ten or fifteen minutes went by. In the sev eral attempts he had failed to score the full complement.
 George laughed.
 What's in your mind?" cried Ky anne peevishly. If it's anything worth telling, shoot it out, shoot it out!"
 "I was thinking what I'd do to 8 club-steak just about now"
 Ryanne stared beyond the fire. "A club-steak. Chilled mushrooms"
 Sauce Bordelaise. Artichokes."
 No, Asparagus, vinaigrette.'
 What's the matter with endives? 9
 That's so Well, asparagus witt butter-sauce
 Chilled sweets, coffee, Benedictine and cigars"
 And a magnum of 1900 to start of with" Ryanne, with a sudden change of mood, scooped up the cards anC flung them at Georges head. Do yor want us both to become gibberinl idiots?"
 George ducked. He and the boys gathered in the fiuttering paste-boards
 You're right, Perciyal" Ryanne ad mitted humbly. Tt will not hurt u. to talk out loud, and We are all brood ing too much. am crazy for the wan of tobacco. I'd trade the best dinner ever cooked for a decent cigar"
 George put a hand reluctantly into his pocket. He brought forth, with ex treme gentleness, a cigar, the wrapper of which was broken in many places I've saved this for days" he said With his pen-knife he sawed it deli cately into two parts, and gave one tC Ryanne.
 You're a good fellow, Jones, anC I've turned you a shabby trick. shan't forget this bit of tobacco"
 Its the last we've got. The boys you know, refuse a pull at the water pipe; defiles 'em, they say. Funn! beggars! And if they gave us tobacco we shouldn't have paper or pipes"
 q always carry pipe, but 1 lost i ip the shuttle. I never looked upoI smoking as a bad habit. I suppos, it's because I was never caught befor, without it. And it is a bad habit since it knocks up a chap this wa, for the lack of it. Where do you ge your club-steaks in old N. Y.?"
 And for an hour or more they sol emnly discussed the cooking here anC there upon the face of the globe.
 By judicious inquiries George ascer tained that the trip to Bagdad, barr 1 ing accidents, would take fully thirty five days. The daily journeys pro ceeded uneventfully Mahomed main tained a taciturn grimness. If ht aimed at Ryanne at all, it was il trifiing annoyances, such as forget ting to give him his rations unless ht asked for them, or walking over tho cards spread out upon the sand Ryanne carried himself very well. HaC he. been alone, he would have broker loose against Mahomed; but ht thought of the others, and restrained himself-some consideration was dut them.
 But into the blood of the two mer there crept a petty irritability. They answered one another sharply, anC often did not speak. Fortune alone seemed mild and gentle. Mahomed since that night she had braved him let her go and come as she pleased nor once disturbed her. Had sht
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