The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-05-15

more n SAT silently wrapped In hol
own thoughts, now Of Stone, now oI
Carr, and again OF herself.
At Bedrasehin they left the train.
Pauline looked anxiously around but
saw nothing Of her cousin.
II do not see him." said Ahri, grave.
ly, meeting her inQuiring glance; but
! obey his orders. He said, IL he be
not here, we 60 to the desert to meet
HIM"
"To the desert? How? where?"
This way. Here are our carts"
Ahri led the way to where two sand
carts stood waiting, evidently for them.
They were a little like English dog
carts and drawn by desert horses.
"Youtak that one, Miss Stoort, and
this" directed Ahri. standing with
outstretched hand, like a commanding
officer.
Bewildrede, but knowing the respon.
sibilfty of Carr's servant, Pauline got
into the cart he indicated. She did
not at all like the looks Of the gaunt
black Moor who drove her, but thought
best to say nothing. She had learned
never to show fear Of the native serv-
ants, and she held her head high, and
gave the driver only a naughty stare.
Ahrt after she was arranged for,
sprang into the other car, and they set
of. M
The road was through the village,
through palm groves. past large ex.
panses OF water, and at last through
desert wastes, among foothills that
quickly cut off the view of the road
just traversed. "'
Pauline's cart was ahead OF the 9TH
er, and looking back she could not see
The other one. in which Ahri rode.
A strange feeling began to creep
into her heart, Covertly she glanced
at her driver. The hard bony face was
not turned her way, but she had an
uncanny ems that the man was grin.
ming at her. Sternly she babe him stop
and wait for the other cart.
"No Ingleese," he rejoined, with a
logged expression on his ugly counte-
nance.
81 command you," and Pauline laid
hold of his arm, II insist that you
stop!"
mo I~ngleese," he repeated, and
now he gave her a distinctly impudent
look and spurred the horse to faster
pace.
Pauline considered. She was fright.
ened beyond words to express, but she
knew she must not show fear. Taught
lily she held her proud little head aloft,
and tried to think what was best to do,
Something was wrong, that she knew,
but whether It was Ahri who was at
fault, or this dreadful man beside her,
or-or-she stifled back the thought of
Loria. , a#e~as ss. |~ .ts~ .-,tAtT
He would save her, she knew he
would, cried her worried brain, but in
her heart was black doubt. All the,
unadmitted fears she had known Of
late. all the depressed suspicious, all
the insistent doubts, these came flock
ing, clamoring for recognition. .
On they went-where they might be
she had no idea. Nothing could be
seen but the never ending hills, not
high, but of sufficient height to cut off
~ Wv" Va ohJIhih6 OuI IuclT 6auuy
slopes. Miles and miles they ira
versed. The sun was under a cloud
and Pauline had no knowledge of theI
direction they were taking. But from
the mans grim, stony face, and cruel
eyes, she knew she was in dreadful.
even desperate danger. Courageously,
she insisted over and over that they
stop. The reply was only a shaken
head and a reassertion that English
was an unknown tongue. This Paul
inc knew to be a lie. from his inteili-
gent expression at her words. At last,
desperately trying to control her trem1
bling hands, she offered her purse, IL!
he would stop. 80. J
To her surprise, he consented, and
ierked his horse to a standstilI. Paul
Inc handed over the purse, and the
driver got out Of the cart, Indicating
by gestures that she should also
alight, and rest herself. +,
The cart was small, and the ride had
been uncomfortable. SO after a MOI
ment's thought Pauline jumped out.
She reasoned that the mar having her
money. had no desire to prolong the
trip, and in a moment they would GO
back to Bedrashein. Often had she
heard OF these robberies. and she felt
that, cupidity satisfied, she had Little
to fear.
But no sooner was she on the ground
than the Moor sprang again into his
cart and, whipping up his horse, sped
away across the desert sand and i'm a
minute rounded a hill and was out OF
sight. ~" ~ v~r
Pauline looked after him an instant,
and then, realizing to the uttefmost
what 1t meant-that she was ahan-
doned to her fate in a trackless des-
ert-fell in a little heap IN the sands
and tainted away.
1t was about IL o'clock on the
morning of that same day, that Carr
Loria went to Shepherds hotel and
asked for Fleming Stone.
The two men met, and eyed each
other appraisingiy. There was no
light chat, each was of serious face
and In grave mO0A ..L g FL. Z. tf#