The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-04-09
CONTINUED

In his answers to the young French
man. Hammet Abou began to make q
favorable impression on every one
save the Marquise dEsclignac, who
did not understand him. There was
q huge bamboo chair ON dais un.
der Chinese pagods, and the Mar
Quise dEsclignac took the chair and
sat upright rs on throne. Mimi. who
had just been fed. came in tinkling
her little bells and fawned at the
sandals ON Hammet Abou's bare feet.
After talking with the native, TIRE
mont said to his friends:
This man says that IL he joins q
Jewish caravan. which leaves here to-
morrow at sundown. he will be taken
with these men and leave the city
without suspicion, but he must share
the expenses OF the whole caravan.
The expedition will not be without
danger: 1t must be entered into with
great subtlety. He is either" said
fremont. an impostor or q remark,
able man."
He is an impostor. OF course"
murmured the Marquise d'Esclignac.
Come here, Mimi
fremont went on:
Further he viii not disclose to us.
He has evidently some carefully laid
plan for rescuing Sabron."
There was a pause. Hammet Abou,
his hands folded peacefully across his
breast. waited. Julia Redmond wait,
ed. The Comtesse de la Maine. in
her pretty voice, asked quickly:
But, mes amis. there is a mans 8
life at stake! Why do we stand here
talking in the antechamber? Evident,
ly the war office has done all 1t can
for the Capitaine de Sabron. But they
have not found him. Whether this
fellow is crazy or not, he has a won
derful hypothesis"
A brilliant look of gratitude crossed
Julia Redmond's face. She glanced
at the Comtesse de Ia Maine.
"Ah. she's got the heart!" she said
to herself. Il knew it." She crossed
the hall to the Comtesse de la Maine
and slipped her arm in hers.
Has Monsieur de Sabron no near
family"
No said the Marquise d'Esclig.
mac from her throne. He is one OF
those unfamilied beings who. when
they are once taken into other hearts
are all the dearer because OF their
orphaned state"
Her tone was not unkind. It was
affectionate.
Now, my good man." she said to
Hammet Abou. in q language totally
incomprehensible to him, money is
no object in this question, but what
will you do with Monsieur de Sabron
if you find him? He may be an in
valid, and the ransom will be fabu.
lous"
The Comtesse de la Maine felt the
girls arm in hers tremble. Hammet
Abou answered none of these ques.
tfons. for he did not understand them.
He said quietly to fremont:
"The caravan starts tomorrow at
sundown and there is much to do"
fremont stood pulling his mus.
tache. He looked boyish and charm.
ing. withal serious beyond his usual
habit. His eyes wandered over to the
corner where the two women stood to.
gether
Il intend to go with you. Hammet
Abou." said he slowly, 'if 1t can be
arranged. Otherwise this expedition
does not interest me-"
Two women said:
"Oh. heavens," at once.
Robert de fremont heard the note
OF anxiety in the younger voice alone.
He glanced at the Comtesse de la
Maine.
You are quite right, Madame" he
said, "a mans life is at stake and we
stand chatting here. know some
thing of what the desert is and what
the natives are. Sabron would be the
first to go IL IL were a question Of a
brother officer"
The Marquise dEsclignac got down
from her throne. trembling. Her eyes
were fixed upon her niece.
Julia" she began, and stopped.
Madame de la Maine said nothing.
Robert, you are my godson, and
forbid 1t. Your mother"
lis one Of the bravest women I
ever knew" said her godson. my
father was a soldier"
Julia withdrew her arm from the
Comtesse de Ia Maine as though to
leave her free.
Then you two girls" said the Mar.
quise d'Esclignac. thoroughly Ameri
can for moment. must forbid him
to CO." She fixed her eyes sternly
upon her niece, with a glance of en-.
treaty and reproach. Miss Redmond
said in a firm voice:
Tn Monsieur de Tremont's case
should do exactly what he proposes" !"
But he is risking his life," said the
Marquise d'Esclignac. He Is not even
an intimate friend of Monsieur de Sa.
bron,"
fremont said, smiling:
You tell us that he has no broth.
er, marianne. Eh bien. I will pass as
his brother
A thrill touched Julia Redmond's
heart. She almost loved him. If, as
her aunt had said. Sabron had been
out of the question -.
Madame de la Maine" said the
Marqufse d'Esclignac, her hands shak-