Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-27

A..
attempted to abduct 0S'
as Meriem was brought forth from the
aarkness OF the hut's interior the two men
tuIheu, with every appearance Of disinter-
lIssu,s' 70 glance at her II was with
,,i.Cy u,.l,culty that Malbihn suppressed an ejac-
ulation of astonshment The pirl's bea,,tv
Ialriy took his breath from him but in
Kovudoo N 'uiHe" W
WellY" he said to the old chief
as as sne not both young and good look
mgr asked Kovudoo.
she Is not old" replied Malbihn; but
wen wen So she VIII be burden. We did not
come from the north after wives-there are
more than enough there for us"
Meriem stood looking straight at the
WHITE men. She expected nothing from
them-they were to her as much enemies
as as the black men. She hated and feared
'hem all. MaibIhn spoke to her in Arabic.
-, We are friends" he said would YOU
IKE 10 nave us take you away from here o.
Slowly and dimly, as though from n
great distance, recollection Of the once ia.
millar tongue returned 70 her
y should like to go free" she said. "and
go back to Korak"
You would like to 60 with us?" per.
sisted Malbihn.
NO" said Merlem.
Malbihn turned to Kovudoo. "she does
not wish to go with u.s." he said.
you are men," returned the black.
Can you not take her by force"
IT would only add to troubles" re.
piled the Swede. mo, Kovudoo we do
not wish her; though. II you wish to be
rid OF her. we will take her away, because
OF our friendship for you"
Now Kovudoo knew that he had made
sale They wanted her. So he com.
menced to bargain, and In the end the per.
son OF Meriem passed from the possession
of the black chieftain into that of the two
Swedes In consideration of six yards of
American, three empty brass cartridge
shells, and shiny new jackknife from New
Jersey.
And all but Meriem were more than
pleased with the bargain.
kovudoo stipulated but single condi.
ton, and that was that the Europeans were
to leave his village and take the girl with
them as early the next morning as they
could get started. After the, sale he did
not hesitate to explain his reasons for this
demand. He told them Of the strenuous at
tempt of the girls savage mate to rescue
her, and suggested that the sooner they
got her out of the country the more likely
they were to retain possession of her.
Meriem was again bound and placed un-
der guard, but this time in the tent of the
Swedes. Malbihn talked to her, trying to
persuade her to accompany them willingly.
He told her that they would return her to
her own village, but when he discovered
that she would rather die than go back to
the old sheik. he assured her that they
would not take her there-nor, as matter
of fact, had they any intention of 80 doing.
As he talked with the girl the Swede
feasted his eyes upon the beautiful lines
of her face and figure. She had grown tall
and straight and slender toward maturity
since he had seen her in the sheik's village
on that long-gone day. For years she had
represented TO him certain fabulous re.
ward. In his thoughts she had been but
the personihcation of the pleasures and
luxuries that many francs would purchase.
Now as she stood before him. pulsing
with life and loveliness, she suggested
other seductive and alluring possibilities.
He came closer to her and laid his hand
upon her. The girl shrank from him. He
seized her. and she struck him heavily in
the mouth as he sought TO kiss her
Then Jensen entered the tent.
"MalbihnH" he shouted. You foolG'
Then Malbihn released his hold upon the
girl and turned toward his companion.
His face was red with modification.
what the devil are you trying to do?"
growled Jensen. Would you throw away
every chance for the reward? II we NAL
treat her we not only couldn't collect a
sou, but they'd send us to prison for our
pains. I thought you had more sense,
Malbihn."
I'm not a wooden man., growled NAL
bihn.
HYou'd better be-" reioined Jensen; "at
least until we have delivered her over in
safety and collected what will be coming
to US"
"oh, hell" cried Malbihn whats the
use? They'll be glad enough to have her
back. and by the time get there with
mouth shut Why not?'
Because I say not" growled sensseh-
1--WE always let you boss things, Svnn; but
here's case where what l say has got
to go-because I'm right and you're wrong,
and we both know it,
You're getting mighty virtuous all of
sudden" growled Malbihn Perhaps you
think have forgotten about the innkeeper's
daughter, and little CeieiIa, and that mig
ger at
"shut up" snapped Jensen. TITS not
a matter of virtue. and you are as we'll
aware of that as !. don't want to quarrel
with you: but so help me God. Sven, you're
not going to harm this girl II have to kill
YOU 10 prevent II! I've suffered and slaved
and been nearly killed forty times in the
last nine or ten years trying TO accomplish
what luck has thrown at our feet at last,
and now I'm not going to be robbed of the
fruits of success because you happen to be
more of a beast than a man. Again warn
you, Sven" and he tapped the revolver
that swung In itr holster at his hip.
Malbihn gave MS Irlenu All ugly looh'
shrugged his shoulders and left the tent.
Jensen turned to Meriem,
'If he bothers you again call me-" he
said ~ shall always be somewhere near.
The girl had not understood the conver-
sation that had been carried on by her two
owners for II had been In Swedish. but
what Jensen had just said to her in Arabic
she understood. and from 1t grasped an ex-
ceIient idea of what had passed between
the two The expressions upon their faces,
their gestures, and Jenssen's final tapping
of his revolver before .iaIbihn had left
the tent had all been eloquent of the Sc
riousness of their alteration.
Now toward Jensen she looked for
friendship, and with the innocence of youth
she threw herself upon his mercy begging
him TO set her free that she might return
10 Korak and her jungle life. But she
was doomed 10 another disappointment. for
the man only laughed and told her roughly
that il she tried TO escape she would be
punished by the very thing that he had
just saved her from.
All that night she lay listening for sig
nal from Korak. All about the jungle life
moved through the darkness. To her sen
sItiye ears came sounds that the others in
the camp could not hear-sounds that she
as we might interpret the speech
of a friend. but not once came a single
note that betokened the presence OF Korak.
But she knew that he would come. Moth