South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-07-14

that I'm a Let us ave a fair
field and no favor. That much 1 think
1 have armed Tomorrow you'll be
ready to travel again, and tomorrow
morning 1 shall bid you good-by."
But surely" he said with an un-
easy little laugh. I'VE car keep in
touch with each other. There are all
sorts of lawless tribes nearer Tim
buctoo; and 1 owe you too much to
let you go unprotected f.
Don't you see." she interrupted.
her eyes flashing with indignation,
that Ii Is just this protection that /
am anxious TO avoid2 Haven't women
been protected too much? Oh, no: I'm
not a s~uffragette." as he raised his
brows with q k-0k as il Of sudden un-
derstanding; "at least. not a militant
she added; but I do want T. prove
my absolute independence.
Captain Thornton was forced to ad-
nit that there was at least a grain OF
truth in this.
Then can't o see my point OF
viewE Would you like anyone, for
instance, to think that when you won
your ID. S. o. at Ladysmith"-she had
heard all about hat from the en-
thusiastic orderly-"you knew the
whole time that you could always
beat a safe retreat II things grew
really desperate? OF course not.
That's why 1 must be churlish enough
TO decline your escort. and challenge
you, right here as the Americans
would say, TO a race by different
routes 10 Timbuctoo."
Captain Thornton held out his
hand to her. May I shake hands on
that and say hat / admire your pluck
II 1 hate your logic? Some day 1
hope you will give me at least half a
nance of proving my gratitude, but
for the present j am only your very
humble and obedient servant"
Good night. Captain Thornton" she
said. bringing this last interview hur-
fected by the pressure Of a hand
which did not leave her own as soon
as 1t might have done.
Next day saw the two caravans
leaving the oasis farther and farther
behind on the most arduous stage OF
the journey from Morocco to Tim
buctoo. The desert seemed ilIimit-
able; the caravans. now separated and
following divergent tracks, looked
like mere caterpillars crawling over
the crust of the earth. I'm glad we
sent Hassim with them said the
captain. sitting on his camel as com
fortably as his still bandaged arm
would permit and following with un-
conscious anxiety the QllllnlSnlnE
trace of the other caravan as il grad
ually disappeared in the shimmering
haze.
The loneliness OF the desert gripped
his soul as IL had lever done before
Had he done right In allowing her 70
proceed alone2 He asked himself the
question a hundred times that day
and never found a satisfactory an
swer.
Scarcely had the little lust on tbs
hozizon in the direction whence they
had come indicated TO the trained eve
the approach Of another party. Lone
before the Englishman could make
out its character the halfbreed in.
terperter came tearing from the came.
enclosure to Captain Thornton. with
the fear OF death in his face. "Tauregs
m'sieu! Tauregs, m'sieu must PAY
tribute. or they kill every onei'
Tribute be hanged exclaimed
Thornton. jumping to his feet,
Get all the men in that en%clousur,
at once. And you. Ayedda, see that
the camels are secure
Don't FIRE till you hear me shoot
commanded Thornton through the in.
terpreter. now that everyone was II
position within the walls OF the enclo
sure.
The raiders. little suspecting tina.
English guns were ready 20 speak
pulled up within shooting distance
Then, satisfied that the Arabs. as the,
imagined them all TO be. were pre-
pared TO hght II out, they sent In
thick shower OF spears. and charged
The momen had come to reply. 4
rifle shOt whistled through the deser
air, and the leader OF the charginS
: horde fell lifeless TO the sands. Al
most before he touched the surface
volley from the defenders emptied TIVE
other saddles. Taken compietel,
aback by this unwonted opposition
and entirely Ignorant as 10 the full
strength OF the little garrison benin,
those deadly walls. the raider.
thought better OF their plan and re
tired IN disorder. Flushed with theil