The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1915-04-06

| L cOuld pc perfectly happy here II
| were not alone"
Pitchoune barked. He had not
grown accustomed to the desert He
hated it. 1t slipped away from under
his little feet. he could not run on it
with any comfort. He spent his days
idly in his masters tent or royalty
perched on camel, crouching close
! to Sabrons man servant when they
went on caravan explorations.
Yes" said Sabron, 'if | were not
alone. don't mean you, mon vieux
You are a great deal but you really
don't count, you know
Before his eyes the sands were as
pink as countless rose leaves. To
Sabron they were as fragrant as flow
ers. The peculiar incenselike odor
that hovers above the desert when the
sun declines was to him the most de-
licious thing he had ever inhaled. All
the west was as red as fire. The day
had been hot and there came up the
cool breeze that would give them a de-
licious night. Overhead, one by one,
he watched the poisoning out of the
great stars; each one hung above his
lonely tent like bridal flower in
veil Of blue. On all sides, like white
petals on the desert face, we're the
tents of his men and his officers, and
from the encampment came the hum
of military life, yet the silence to him
was profound He had only to order
his stallion saddled and to ride away
for little distance in order to be
alone with the absolute stiffness.
This he often did and took his
thoughts with him and came back to
every night of his life.
There had been much footing of car
avans in the region by brigands, and
lis business was that OF sentinel for
he commerce of the plains. Thieving |
md rapacious tribes were under his !
we ard his care. Tonight, as he stood |
ock:ng toward the west into the glow.
bading his eyes with his hand, he saw |
'oming toward them what he knew to |
le q caravan from Algiers. His ordon- !
,2rce wes s. rative soldier one of the i
ioscrt tribes, black as ink. and scarce
r 'ncre childlike than Brunei and pre-
JUN bly, IS deroted
"Nustapha," Sabron ordered, fetch
ne cut q lounge chair" He spoke in
1ench and pointed, for the man I'M
serstocd imperfectly and Sabron did
not yet speak Arabic
He threw himself down, lighted
resi- cigarette, dragged Pitchoune by
he nape of his neck up to his lap and
he two sat watching the caravan
ilowly grow into individuals of camels
md riders and finally mass itself in
shadow within some four or five hun
ired yards of the encampment.
The sentinels and the soldiers began
O gather and Sabron saw a single
ootman making his way toward the
amp.
Co." he said to Mustapha, "and see
What message the fellow brings to the
egiment."
Mustapha went, and after little re-
urned, followed by the man himself, a
lack bearded, half-naked Bedouin,
wathed in dust-colored burnoose and
arrying bag.
He bowed to Captain de Sabron and
xtended the leather bag On the out
ide of the leather there was ticket
asted, which read: {
"The Post for the - Squadron of
avalry-."
Sabron added mentally:
wherever it may happen to bel" {
He ordered bakshish given to the 6
AN and sent him off, Then he opened | /
lie French mail. He was not more
ian three hundred miles from Algiers. i
had taken him a long time to work g
own to Dirbal, however, and they had S
i'd some hardships. He felt million il
lies away. The look of the primitive c
all bag and the knowledge of how
r it had travelled to find the people !.
whom these letters were addressed
ade his hands reverent as he I'M
stoned the sealed labels. He looked ]
e letters through, returned the bag {
Mustapha and sent him off to dis
lbute the post. :
Then, for the light was bad, bril-
mt though the night might be, he
ent into his tent with his own mail. :
/ his dressing table was small IL :
mination consisting Of fat candle :
t in a glass case. The mosquitoes :
d flies were thick around it. Pit :
Dune followed him and lay down on a
sh mat by the side of Sabron's mill
y bed, while the soldier read his let
:.
nsieur-
regret more than ever that I cannot
tie your language perfectly. But even
my own could not find any word to {
,ress how badly I feel over something
ich has happened.
took the best of care of Pitchoune.
bought I did, but could not make him
,py. He mourned terribly. He refused
eat. and one day I was so careless as
open the door for him and we have
er seen him since. AS far as I know
has not been found. Your man, Bru-
comes sometimes to see my maid, and
thinks he has been hurt and died in :
woods.
H. Y,,ok