Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-26
Choc of the Foreign Legion
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and held his place, crouching beside
his master, though shivering IN every
The driver managed to unload his
passengers in a back yard, unob-
served. and Radoub. with Choc at
his heels. found himself In the streets
Of Oran with nothing but the sea
between himself and freedom.
He had little fear of detection in
these bustling streets, where every
imaginable sort of business seemed
going forward to the clatter OF every
European tongue.
Tall. white-clad Arabs sta1ked along
and hare-legged Arab women, with
faces yelled: negro porters, with glis-
tent0H skins and red fez caps; Span
iards, Portuguese. Frenchmen, Ital-
fans, Spahis back from Senegal sail
ors up from the warships in the har-
Dor, and English travellers just ar
which Radoub made his way. with
Choc at his heels, and not the faint.
est notion in his head as to what
course he was going to pursue. :,
The obvious course was the mail
boat which runs between Oran and
Marseiiies, but there were difficulties
In the way. The boats were sure TO
be watched for deserters. Mail boats
and railway trains were simply roads
to arrest.
He had an idea In his head OF
boarding some small trading vessel
and either slowing himself away or
making friends with the captain. and
he was taking his way toward the
harbor with view to this, when, at
street corner, he ran into the arms
of Casmir. 1t was Casmir who rec
ognized him, and not he Casmir. For
Casmir had dyed his face with walnut
Juice. and. the suit of gray jean that
he wore being too large for him, he
had stuffed himself out at the waist
with old newspapers. giving himself
corporation that was the very best
disguise in the world. He looked like
q disreputable old Spaniard.
Mon Dieur said Radoub. "Casmfr!"
Then he burst into a laugh. Only
short time ago he had been warning
Casmir. on the parade ground of the
legion, against running away!
They walked along the street to-
gether. and Casmir explained matters.
He had run away. 1t seemed, on the
same night that Radouh had made his
evasion. had boldly taken the train
for Oran. and. with the good luck
that comes with daring, had found
the matter perfectly easy.
i was never stopped or questioned
once" said he. But here it Is diff
that they are watching the boats.
went down to the steamboat quay yes
terday, and there was an official at the
gangway of the boat for Marseillles
He was demanding the papers Of all the
passengers--the men. To leave this
bird, 1t seems, and / am neither"
Come into this cafe. and let US talk"
said Radoub.
They entered shabby cafe that was
close by. and Radoub called for doffee
and food for them both.
How much money have your" said
he:
"a hundred francs" replied Casmir.
Il had hundred and forty to start
with. 1 had received money order
morning was talking to you. 1t cost
me sixty francs to get this rig. 1t
was that money order that fixed me
in my idea Of boiling. and l am be-
ginning to wish now that had never
received it."
Courage" said Radoub.
He said nothing for few minutes,
and then he began to disclose his plan.
There were ships always leaving Oran
for the French and Spanish ports
Ship captains of the lesser mercantile
marine were venal folk; for eighty
francs, say, the pair OF them might
be able to get passage on some bark;
place In the hold. on top of the
cargo. would do.
"Ah," said Casmir, Frightening UP,
now you are talking! If any man
can do the trick you can; you have
the gift of CAB and a way with you
that have not"
Well. then" said Radoub, Tets go
down to the wharves now, right away,
and try and fix up the business"
But Casmir demurred.
There's no use in our going about
the streets together" said he, for IL
one Is caught the other will be
nabbed. too. I'll meet you here in an
hour II you will go and try to do the
business. The cafe won't run away
and you may be very sure that I
Radoub saw at once the reason in
this, and Off he started, leaving Chloe
with Casmir.
Choc was fond Of Casmir. who had
often fed him with scraps: all the
same, Radoub borrowed niece Of
string from the dingy waiter and tied
the end OF 1t around the dogs neck.
Then he paid the bill and started
on. leaving Casmir seated and holding
the dog by the string.
hadoub came along the quay side,
walking In a le!sure!y manner and
smoking cigarette. Besides the
warships in the harbor there were
two small. bark-rigged vessels. one
discharging grain. the other with
closed matches and evidently a full
cargo.
Radoub was walking toward the