The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-07-09
CHAPTER xi.
a Sacred Trust.

A Sacred Trust
His eyes had grown accustomed TO
the glare of the beautiful sands, but
his sense OF beauty was never satisfied
with looking at the desert picture and
drinking in the glory and the lowell
ness OF The melancholy waste. Stand
ing in the door OF his tent In fatigue
uniform, he said to Pitchoune:
a could be perfectly happy here II
were not alone
Pitchoune barked. He had not
grown accustomed to the desert. He
hated It. II slipped away froIi under
his little feet; he could not run on II
with any comfort He spent his days
idly in his masters tent or royalty
perched on camel. crouching close
20 Sabron's man servant when they
went on caravan explorations.
Yes, said Sabron. IF | we're not
alone. | don't mean you, mon vleux.
You are great deal. but you really
don't count, YOU know
I'efore his eyes the sands we're as
pink as countless rose leaves To
SaDron they were as fragrant as flow
ers The peculiar incenselike odor
HAT bowers above the desert when the
sun declines was to him the most de-
icious thing he had ever inhaled All
the west was as red as fire. The day
mad been hot and there came up the
cool breeze that would give them a de-
icious night Overhead, one by one.
he watched the blossoming out OF the
great stars. each one hung above his
lonely tent like a bridal flower In a
veil OF blue. On all sides, like white
petals on the desert face, were the
tents OF his men and his officers. and
from the encampment came the hum
81 military life. yet the silence to him
was profound. He had only to order
bis stallion saddled and TO ride away
for a little distance In order 10 be
alone with the absolute stiffness
This he often did and took his
thoughts with him and came back to
his tent more conscious OF his solitude
every night OF his life.
There had been much looting OF car
ayans in the region by brigands. and
his business was that OF sentinel for
the commerce of the plains. Thieving
and rapacious tribes we're under his
eve and his care. Tonight as he stood
looking toward the west into the glow,
shading his eyes with his hand, he saw
coming toward them what he knew 10
be a caravan from Algiers. His ordon.
nance was a native soldier, one Of the
desert tribes. black as ink. and scarce
" more childlike than Brunei and pre-
spmably as devoted
Mustapha." Sabrcn of6srec. rietch
me out lounge chair He spoke in
French and pointed. for the man un-
derstood imperfectly and Sabron did
not yet speak Arabic
Ie threw himself down. lighted a
fresh cigarette. dragged Pitchoune by
the nape Of his neck up to his lap, and
the two sat watching the caravan
slowly grow into individuals OF camels
and riders and finally mass itself in
shadow within some four or FIVE hun
aTed yards OF the enoampment
The sentinels and the soldiers began
TO gather and Sabron saw single
footman making his way toward the
camp
Co be said TO Mustapha. and see
what message the fellow brings to the
regiment"
Mustapha went. and after little re
turned. followed by the man himself. 8
black.bearded. half-naked Bedouln
svathed in dust-colored burnoose ant
carrying bag.
lie bowed to Captain de Sabron and
extended the leather bag. On the out
side OF the leather there was a ticke
pasted. which read:
The Post for the Squadron o
Cavalry
SAFFRON added mentally:
wherever 1t may happen to be-
He ordered bakshish given TO thl
man and sent him of Then ne opene,
the French mail He was not NOR,
than three hundred miles from Algiers
1t had taken him a long time to worl
down 70 Dirbal. however. aud they ha,
had some hardEhips He felt million
miles away The look OF the primltiv
mail bag and the knowledge OF hoy
5af " mao ifdfeteu 10 una the peopi
TO whom these letters were addresses
made his hands reyerent as he IN
fastened the sealed labels. He looke
the letters through. returned the ba
TO Nuefapha and sent him OFF TO dis
tribute the post.
Thea. for the light was bad. bri
liant though the night might be. b
wepf into his tent with his own mai
On Ills dressing table was small 4
Illumination consisting of a fat candl
sci .n glass case. The mosquitoe