The evening world., 1915-08-31
CHAPTER Nv.
The Mission.

objections. Haven't you
heard the scandal about
the stsn,on. the exploring man. who's
here-our colonel's old pair"
mo. rye heard that stanton's At
Touggourt But rye heard no scan
dai." answered Mar. what has he
got TO do with the dancing girisr"
A. no spoke II was az ~ he remem-
bered seeing STATION sitting with
Sanda DeLisle at one OF tho little
tea tables on the terrace OF the hotel
at Algiers; the square. resolute. red
tanned face and the big. square. blue
eyes burning with aggressive vitality.
Everything 10 do with one OF
them" said Four Eyes. That's the
scandal. Seems stantons been play
ing tho fool. They say he's half mad.
anyhow. about a lot OF things-aiways
was. but Il Is BIT worse since .
touch o. the sun he had q year or
two ago. He's of his head about an
ouled Nail tdancinR Rirl)-don't know
whether she came here because Of
him or whether he picked her up at
TouEgourt. but the story Is he could
o. got away before now with his
blooming caravan on that fool Ak
pcdition OF his 10 the Lost Oasis you
read OF In the papers. only he couldn't
bring himself to leave this Ahmara-
or whatever her crack-jaw namc IL.
The chap that was talking to me
says she's the handsomest creature
you'd see In "A lifetime an she's going
10 dance here tonight to spite
stanton"
ITO spite him7' Max repeated not
understa ndlng.
''Yes. you young greenhorn! Any
body'd know you was new to
Africa! These girls. when they
get TO be celebrated for their
looks or any other reason. won't
dance In public as general thing.
They leave that TO the common
ones, who need to do something TO at
tract. Anyhow Stanton wouldn't have
let this Ahmara dance in cafe before
crowd OF nomads from the desert.
She lives with the dancing lot. because
there's some law or other about that
for these girls. but that's all. till to-
night. There's been row. my old pal
told me, because Stanton gives my
lady the tip not to come near him or
pretend to know him while his friend
The Colonel IL hero. She's In such q
beast of rage she's announced to the
- IN
Tonight; and | bet every man In
Touggourt except Stanton and DeLisle
u be here"
Already the great bare cafe was fill
ing up. At last she came. the great
desert dancer, said 10 be the most
beautiful Ouled Nail Of her generation
Max did not see how or whence she
arrived, but he heard the rustling
and indrawing OF breaths thai
,heralded her coming. And then she
was there, In the square left open
for the dancing. All the light in the
room seemed to focus upon her. 90
did she scintillate from head to foot
with spangles. Even he felt throt
OF excit>ment as the tall, erect figure
stood ii the space between the
benches. eying the audience from
under a long veil Of green tissue al
most covered with sparkling bits Of
gold and silver. On her head she
wore a high golden crown, and undel
the green veil fell a long, square
shawl OF some material which seemed
woven entirely of gold. Her dress
was scarlet as poppy petals, and she
appeared to be draped in many layers
OF thin stuff that flashed out metallic
CLEANS. For long moment sh'
stood motionless. Then, when she
had made her effect, suddenly sh'
threw up her veil.
Winding II around her arm, sh'
snatched 1t off her head, and pauset
again, unsmillng, statue-still. excep
for her immense dark eyes, encircie'
with kohl, which darted glances o.
pride and defiance around the silen
room. Perhaps size was looking 70
s5uao one who she half expected
might be there. Max felt the long
dashed eyes Tx themselves on him
Then, receiving no response. the!
passed on and shot a fiery challeng'
! into the eyes OF young caid in
gold embroideded black cloak. whit
bent forward from his carpeted benci
in a dream OF admiration,
She was perfect in her way. iiv
Ing statue OF pale bronze. with the
eyes of a young tigress and tho mouth
of a passionate child. Tho gold crown
secured with a scarf OF glltterini
gauze, the rows OF golden coins tina
hung from her looped black braid
over her bosom ano down to the hug
\ goiden buckle at her loosely belts'