The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-08-27
CHAPTER xx-contInued.

After a moment. In which the Mar
uuise dEsclignac gazed at the bougain-
yillea and wondered how anyone could
admire its crude and vulgar color, Miss
Redmond asked:
Did you ever think that the Due de
fremont was In lover"
Turning shortly about to her niece.
her aunt stared at her.
In love. my dear!'
with Madame de Ia Maine"
The arrival OF Macame de la Maine
had been bitter blow TO the Mar
duise d'Esclignac. The young woman
vas. however. much loved in Paris and
quite In the eye OF the world. There
was no possible reason why the Mar
quise d'Esclignac should avoid her
You have been hearing gossip,
Julia"
Il have been watching a lovely
woman" said the girl simply. "and a
man. That's ALL You wouldn't want
NE to marry a man who ioyes another
woman, ma tante. when the woman
loves him and when ! love another
man?'
She laughed and kissed her aunt's
cheek.
Let us think OF the soldier" she
murmured, 'let us think just OF him.
ma tante, viii you notg''
The Marquise dEsclignac struck
her colors.
la the hallway Of the villa, in a
snowy gibbeh land his clean-washed
appearance was much In his favor),
Hammet Abou waited to talk with the
grandmother" and the excellency.
He pressed both his hands to his
forehead and his breast as the ladies
entered the vestibule. There was a
stagnant odor Of myrrh and sandal
wood in the air, The marble yesti-
bule was cool and dark, the walls
hung with high-colored stuffs. the
windows drawn TO keep out the heat.
The Due de fremont and Madame
de la Maine came out OF the salon
together, fremont nodded to the
Arab
Il hope you are little less" and
he touched his forehead smiling, to
day. my friend"
Il am as God made me, Monsieur
What have you got today?" asked
lula Redmond anxiousiy. fixing her
eager eyes upon Hammet.
II seemed terrible TO her that this
man should stand there with vital
secret and that they should not all be
at his feet. He glanced boldly around
AT them.
There are no soldiers here?"
No. no, you may speak freely"
The man went forward TO fremont
and put paper in his hands, unfold
ing II like chart.
This is what monsieur asked me
fora plan of the battlefield. This is
the battlefield, and this is the
desert"
fremont took the chart. On the
page was simply round circle, drawn
In red ink. with few Arabian charac-
ters aud nothing else Hammet Abou
traced the circle with his fingers
tipped with henna.
That was the battle. Monsieur"
But this is no chart, Hammet
Abou."
The other continued, unmoved:
And all the rest is desert. like
this
fremont. over the mans snowy
turban. glanced at the others aud
shrugged. Every one but Julia Red
mond thought he was insane She
came up to him where he stood close
10 fremont. She said very slowly In
French. compelling the mans DARK
eyes 10 meet hers:
feu don't wish to tell us. Hamme
Abou, anything more. Am / no
right? You don't wish us to know tn,
truth"
Now 1t SAs the American pitte,
against the oriental. The Arab, Will
Difference. oa'hed his forehead be
fore her
II made true plan" he sal
coolIy. your excellency could give
tomorrow to the government"
Just what should be done. Julia,
said the Marquise d'Esclignac. in Ems
fish. This man should be arreste
at once"
Ma tante." pleaded Julia Redmond
She felt as though slender threa
was between her fingers, threa
which led her to the door of lab,
rinth and which rude touch Nigh
: cattss her to lose forever.
l. yoi. had money would you star