The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-08-20

us try to look at the cheerful side Of
the business. Think OF what that girl
has gone through with scarcely a
scratch! Can't you read something in
that? See how strong and self.reliant
she has become under such misfor.
tunes as would have driven mad any
ordinary woman! Can't you see light
in all this? / tell you, there is good and
evil working for and against us, and
that Ahmed's fakir will in the end
prove stronger than your bally old
guru. When / am out Of the Orient ]
laugh at such things, but l can't laugh
at them somehow when I'm in India
Nor II L.
That night Kathlyn signified that
she wished to go down TO the beach
beyond the harbor basin. Bruce &c.
companied her. Often he caught her
staring out at the twinkling lights on
board the simla. BY and by they
could hear the windlass creaking. A
volume OF black smoke suddenly
poured from the boats slanting fun.
mel. The ship was putting out to sea.
why do you risk your life for us?"
she asked suddenly.
Adventure is meat and drink to me,
Miss Hare"
The prefix sounded strange and un.
familiar in her ears. Formally. She
had been wrong, then; only comrade.
ship and the masculine sense of re.
sponsibility. Her heart was like lead.
ut is very kind and brave OF you,
Mr.. Bruce; but ! will not have It."
Have what?" he asked, knowing
full well what she meant.
This going back with u.s.. Why
should you risk your life for people
who are almost s%trangcrs?"
"strangers" He laughed softly.
"Has 1t never occurred to YOU that the
people We grow up with are never
really u friends; that real friendship
comes only with maturity of the mind?
Why, the best nan friend l have in
this world is a young chap I met but
three years ago. 1t is not the know.
ing Of people that makes friendships.
1t is the sharing OF dangers, OF bread
in the wilderness; of getting a glimpse
of the soul which lies beneath the con.
ventioas Of the social pact. Would
you call me a stranger"
20, no." she cried swiftly. at is
merely that l do not want you to risk
your life any further for us. Is there
no way ] can dissuade you?"
"None that l can think of. I am
going back with YOU. That's settled.
Now let us talk of something else,
Don't you really want me to go?"
"Ah, that isn't fair" looking out to
sea again and. following the lights
aboard the Simla.
1t was mighty hard for him not to
sweep her into his arms then and
there. But he would never be sure Of
her till she was free Of this country,
free of the sense OF gratitude, free to
weigh her sentiments carefully and un.
biasedly. He sat down abruptly on
the wreck Of an ancient hull embed.
ded in the, sand. She sank down ait.
tie way from him.
He began to tell her some Of his
past exploits; the Amazon, the ORR.
noco, the Andes, Tibet and China: Of
the strange fiotsam and jetsam he had
met In his travels. But she sensed
only the sound of his voice and the de.
sire to reach out her hand and touch
his. Friendship! Bread in the wilder.
nessi
Ahmed was lean and deceptive to
the eye. Like many Hindus, he an.
peared anemlc: and yet the burdens
the man could put on his back and
carry almost indefinitely would have
killed many a white man who boasted
Of his strength. On half a loaf Of