The Holly chieftain., 1915-07-02

They all turned their heads. A queer
change seemed to have come into the
professors face. His teeth were
cleaning between his parted lips, his
head was thrust forward a little. his
eyes We're filled with a strange, hard
light. He was a transformed being.
unrecognizable, perturbng. Even
while they watched, the girl floated
close to where he sat and leaned to-
wards him with queer, mocking
smile. His hand suddenly descended
upon her foot She laughed still more.
There was a little exclamation from
Lenora. The professors whole frame
quivered. He snatched the anklet
from the girls ankle and bent over it.
She leaned towards him, torrent OF
words streaming from her lips. The
professor answered her in her own Ian
guage. She listened to him in amaze
ment. The anger passed She held out
both her hands. The professor still
argued. She shook her head. Finally
he placed some gold in her palms. She
patted him on the cheek, laughed into
his eyes pointed behind and resumed
her dance. The anklet remained in the
professors hand.
Say, we'll get out OF this" Quest
said. The girls have had enough"
The professor made no objection.
Congratulate me-" he said Il have
been a collector of Egyptian gold orna-
ments all my life. This is the one
anklet l needed to complete my collec-
ton. 1t has the double mark of the
Pharaohs. | recognized it at once.
There are a thousand like it, you
would think, in the bazaars there. In
reality there may be, perhaps, a dozen
more in all Egypt which are genuine"
g. They all looked at one another.
Their relief had grown too poignant
for words.
EARLY start tomorrow" Quest re-
minded them.
Lenora, a few nights later, looked
down from the star-strewn sky which
seemed suddenly to have dropped SO
much nearer to them, to the shadows
thrown across the desert by the dane
ing flames of their fire.
Laura lOse W uel leel
Say, I'm going to get drink" she
announced.
The dragoman who had been hover
ing around, bowed gravely and pointed
towards the water bottles.
She took the horn cup from the
dragoman.
Have some yourself, if you want
to. Hassan," she invited
Hassan bowed gravely, filled a cup
and drank it off He stood for a mo-
ment perfectly STILL as though some
thing were coming over him which he
failed to understand. Then his lips
parted. his eyes for a moment seemed
to shoot from out of his dusky skin.
He threw up his arms and fell over on
his side. Laura, who had only slipped
her cup, threw it from her. She. too.
reeled for a moment. The professor
and Quest came running up. attracted
by Lenora's shrek.
They're poisoned" she cried
The Veedemzoo." Quest shouted.
"My God, Pull yourself together,
Laura. Hold up for minute"
campment and reappeared almost i'm.
mediately. He threw Laura's head
back and forced some liquid down her
throat.
IT'S camphor." he cried You'll be
all right. Laura. Hold on to yourself"
He swung round to where the drago-
man was lying, forced his mouth open.
but 1t was too late-the man was dead.
He returned to Laura. She stumbled
to her feet She was pale, and drops
Of perspiration were standing on her
forehead. She was able to rise to her
feet, however, without assistance.
81 am all right now" she declared
Quest felt her pulse and her fore
head. They moved back to the fire.
eve are within dozen miles or SO
of the Mongar village" Quest said
grimly. do you suppose that fellow
could have been watching?'
They all talked together for time
in low voices. The professor was in.
clined to scout the theory Of Craig hav.
ing approached them.
"You must remember" he pointed
out, that the Mongars hate these fel.
lows. It was part of my arrangement
with Hassan that they should leave US
when we got in sight of the MongE
encampment. 1t may have been meant
for Hassan. The Mongars hate the
dragomen who bring tourists in this
direction at ALL"
They talked little while longer and