Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-22

Killer. For a long hour that passed very
quickly to him, Korak lay with gaze riveted
upon the playing child. Not once had he
had a view Of the girls full face. For the
most part, he saw only a mass OF waVy
black hair, one brown little shoulder ex-
posed upon the side where her single robe
was caught beneath her arm, and shapely
knee protruding from beneath her garment
as she sat, cross.legged upon the ground.
A tilt of the head as she emphasized some
maternal admoniton to the passive Geeka
| revealed occasionally rounded cheek or
piquant little chin. Now she was shaking
slim finger at Geeka reprovingly and
again she crushed to her heart this only
object upon which she might lavish the un-
told wealth of her childish affections
| Korak, forgetful of his bloody mission.
| permitted the fingers of his spear hand to
relax a little their grasp upon the SHAFT
of this formidable weapon 1t slipped, al
most falling; but the occurrence recalled the
| Killer to himself. 1t reminded him of his
| purpose In Sinking stealthily upon the
owner of the voice that had attracted his
| vengeful attention.
He glanced at the spear, with It's we'll
| worn grip. and cruel, barbed head Then
he let his eyes wander again to the dainty
| form below him. In Imagination he saw
| the heavy weapon shooting downward. He
| saw It pierce the tender flesh, driving it's
way deep into the yielding body He saw
| the ridiculous doll drop from its owners
arms, to lie sprawled and pathetic beside
| The Killer shuddered, scowllng at the in
animate iron and wood Of the spear as
though they constituted a sentlent being
endowed with malignant mind
| Korak wondered what the girl would do
| were he to drop suddenly from the tree to
| her side Most likely she would scream
| and run away Then would come the men
of the village with spears and guns and
| set upon him. They would either kill him
| or drive him away.
A ir,,, foe in tbn
craved the companionship of his own kind
| though he hardly realized how greatly He
| would have liked to slip down beside the
little girl and talk with her. though he
| knew from the words he had overheard
that she spoke language with which he
| was unfamiliar.
They could have talked by signs a little
That would have been better than nothing
| Besides, he would have been glad to see
| her face. What he had glmpsed assured
him that she was pretty: but her strongest
appeal to him lay in the affectionate nature
revealed by her gentle mothering of the
| grotesque doll.
| At last he hit upon a plan He would
| attract her attention and reassure her by
a smiling greeting from a greater distance
| Silently he wormed his way back into the
tree. 1t was his intention to hail her from
beyond the palisade, giving her the feeling
| of security which he imagined the stout
| barricade would afford.
He had scarcely felt his position In the
tree when his attention was attracted by
considerable noise upon the opposite side or
the village. BY moving n little he could
see the gate at the far end of the main
street.
number of men. women and children
were running toward 1t. 1t swung open. re-
vealing the head of caravan upon the
opposite side. 1t trooped in molly organi-
zation-blaclS slaves and dark-hued Arabs
of the northern deserts; cursng camel driv-
ers urging on their vicious charges over
burdened donkeys waving sadly pendulous
ears while they endured with stole patience
the brutalties of their masters; goats,
sheep, and horses.
Into the village they all trooped behind
a tall sour old man. who rode, without
greetings to those who shrank from his
path. directly to large, goatskin tent in
the centre of the village.
Here he spoke to wrinkled, black
hag.
Korak, from his vantage spot, could see
it all. He saw the old man asking ques-
tions of the black woman, and then he saw
the latter point in the direction of the tree
beneath which the little girl played.
This was doubtless her father, thought
Korak He had been away, and his first
thought upon returning was OF his little
daughter How glad she would be to see
him How she would run and throw her
self into his arms, to be crushed to his
breast and covered with his kisses
Korak sighed. He thought OF his own
father and mother far away in London
He returned to his place in the tree
| above the girl. If he couldn't have hap
piness of this sort himself, he wanted to
enjoy the happiness of others. Possibly II
he made himself known to the old man ne
might be permitted to come to the village
occasionally as friend. 1t would be worth
irving He would wait until the old Aran
mad greeted his daughter, then he would
make his presence known with signs OF
peace. ., .,
| girl In a moment he would be hesiue her'
and then how surprised and delighted sne
would be! Korak's eyes sparkied III an
tIcipation-and now the old man STOOD De
hind the little girl His stern old race was
| still unrelaXed. -,
The child was yet unconscious OF ms
presence She prattled on to the unre
| snonsive Geeka Then the old man coughed
with a start the child glanced quickly
over his shoulder Korak could see her
full face now. 1t was very beauttui III its
sweet and innocent childishness-ail sot'
and lovely curves He could see her great
| dark ewes He looked for the happy love
light that would follow recognition; but II
did not come Instead terror-stark, par
alyzing terror-was mirrored In her eyes
| in the expression of her mouth IN the tehse'
| covering attitude of her body!
A grim smile curved the thin, cruel lips
of the Arab. The child essayed to crawl
| away; but before she could get out OF ms
| reach, the old man kicked her prutaily
sending her sprawling upon the grass
Then he followed her up to seize ana strike
her as was his custom.
Above them, in the tree, beast crouched
where a moment before had been boy-n
beast with dllating nostrils and barred fangs
"a beast that trembled with rage
The sheik was STOPPING to reach for the
girl when the Killer dropped to the ground
at his side His spear was still in his lett
hand but he had forgotten 1t. Instead his
right fist was clenchedi and as the sheik
took a backward step, astonished by the
sudden naturalization of this strange ap
parition apparently out of clear sky, the
heavy fist landed full upon his mouth
backed by the weight of the young giant
and the terrific power of his more'than
human muscles.
Bleeding and senseless the sheik sank tc
earth. Korak turned toward the child
She had regained her feet and stood. wide
eyed and frightened looking first up into
his face and then horror-struck at the re
cumbent figure of the sheik. In an invol
untary gesture of protection the Killer
threw an arm about the girls shoulders and
stood waiting for the Arab to regain con
sciousness For a moment they remained
thus then the girl spoke.
''When he regains his senses he will Kill
| me 4" she said in Arabic.