The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-04-16

her north with them. She
s6srsd to arrange the payment OF
suitable ransom II they would return
her to her friends unframed. but the
Arab only laughed at her.
sYou will bring q good price" he
said. at the court Of the Sultan Of
Fuiad, north Of Taswara. and for
the rest shall have partly settled
the score which I have against the
Englishman."
30 Victoria Custer disappeared
from the sight Of men at the border
Of the land Of the waziri. nor was
there any other than her captors to
know the devious route that they
followed to gain the country north
Of Uziri.
when at last M. tho son of M.
opened his eyes from the deep sium-
Der that had refreshed and invigor-
atsd him he looked up expectahtly
for the face that had been lowering
above his. and a. he realized that
the cave was tsnantless except for
h,e,ssif, . sigh that was half sob
broke from the depths Of his lonely
heart, for he knew that Nat-ul had
k>ea With him only In his dreams.
Yet II had been so real! Even now
~ could feel the touch Of her cool
hand upon his forehead and her siim
anrsrs running through his hair. HIS
check giowed to her hot kisses. ana
IN MA nostrils was the sweet aroma
Of her dear presence.
The disiilusionment Of his waking
brought with It bitter disappointment
ana a return Of the fever. Again M
iapssd into semi -consciousnsss and de-
lirium, % that he was not aware Oh
the khaki.clad white man that crep'
varily into the half-darkness OF MS
lair shortly after noon.
II was Barney Custer. and behind
him came Curtiss. Butzow and mar
dossu others Of the searching party.
They had stumbled upon the half DEAD
.rerkos beside the spring. and there
.,.o they had found Victoria Clusters
hat. and plainly in the soft earth no.
@vean me boulders Of the hillside they
had seen the now made path 10 tho
cave higher up.
when Barney saw that the pros
trsss figure within the cavern did not
STR At his entrance . stirling rear
RS. IA his throat for he was sure
that he had found the dead BODY OF
IA. sastsr; but a. his eyes became
unore accustomed to the dim light OF
the interior hs realised his mistake
Al first with Q sense Of infinite re-
lisf and later with misgivings that
amountsd almost to . wish that II
h.A bsen Victoria, safe in death; for
among the savage men Of savage Az
rioa there are fatss verse than death
for women.
ma others had crowded In beside
him. ana one had lighted a torch OF
ary twiss which for . few SECONDS
,,,uua,natsd the interior of the cave
hr,shtly. In that time they saw that
the man was the only occupant and
that he was helpless from fever.
Desids him lay the stone spear that
had alain old Raffles-each OF them
raco~nised II. How could 1t have
been brought to him?
"rhe zebra killer" said Brown
~What's that beneath his headf Looks
IKE . khaki coat"
Barney drew II out and held It up
~Cod!" cried Curtiss. ITS hers"
He must have come down there
after We loft, got his spear. and stolen
your sister," said Brown.
Curtiss drew his revolver and
pushsd closer toward the unconscious
M.
"TAs beast" he growlsd. Shoot
iass TOO good for him. Get out OF
TIE WY. Barnsy; I'm going to give
him al slx chambers"
no" said Barney quietly.
-whyS" demanded Curtiss. tryins
y push Dast Custss.
/, .Dsseuss ! AssS sA'svs that h