Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-01-03
CHAPTER XIII
Ont of the FrNing Pan

Out Of the Frying Pan
THOUGH her clothes were torn and
! her hair disheveled Albert Werper
realized that he never before had look
ed upon such a vision of loveliness as
that which Lady Greystoke presented
in the relief and Joy which she felt
. in coming so Unexpectedly upon
friend and rescuer when hope had
seemed so far away.
II the Belgian had entertained any
doubts as to the woman's knowledge
of his part in the perfidous attack
upon her home and herself, 1t was
quickly dissipated by the genuine
friendliness of her greeting. She toIu
him quickly Of all that had befallen
her since he had departed from her
home, and as she spoke of the dea'i
of her husband her eyes were veiled pN
the tears which she could not repres'
"I am shocked said Werpor III
well.simulated sympathy. "hut am
not surprised. That devil there and
he pointed toward the body Of Achmet
Zek-"has terrorized the entire coun-
try. Your wazlri are either extermt
mated or have been driven out OF their
country. far to the south. The men
of Achmet Eek occupy the plain about
your former home-there is neither
sanctuary nor escape in that direc'
tion. Our only hope lies in travelling
northward as rapidly as we may, OF
coming to the camp of the raiders be.
fore the knowledge of Achmet Hek's
death reaches those who were left
there, and of obtaining, through some
ruse, an escort toward the north.
'T think that the thing can he ac.
complished. for I was guest or the
raiders before I knew the nature OF
the man, and those at the camp are
not aware that I turned against him
when discovered his villainy.
Come. We will make all possible
haste to reach the camp before those
who accompanied Achmet Eek upon
his last raid have found his body ana
carried the news of his death to the
cutthroats who remained behind. 1t Is
our only hope, Lady Greystoke, ana
YOU must place your entire faith in
me if / am to succeed.
Wait for me here moment Whlle
take from the Arabs body the wal
let thai he stole from me" and Wer-
ner stepped TO the dead mans side and,
kneeling. sought with quick hnGers
the pouch of jewels.
To his CONSERVATION there was no
sign of them in the garments Oh
Achmet Zek Rising, he walked PACK
along the trail, searching for some
trace of the missing pouch or its con-
tents; but he found nothing. even
though he searched carefully the VI
cinity Of his dead horse, and for
few PAGES into the Jingle on either
side. Puzzled. disappointed. ana am
grv. he at last returned to the Girh
"The wallet is gone" he explained
crisply. "and dare not delay longer
in search of il. We must reach u"
camp before the returning raiders
Unsuspicious of the mans true chaF'
acter. Jane Clayton saw nolh!hE PEE
culiar in his plans, or in his speclouS
explanation of his former friendship
FOR the raider, and so she grasped
with alacrity the seeming hope Tor
safety which he proffered her and
turning about, set out with Albert
Werper toward the hostile camp IN
which she so lately mad been pris'
oner
It was late in the afternoon Of the
second day before they reached their
destination; and as they paused upon
the edge Of the clearing before the
gates of tho walled village, Werper
cautioned the girl to accede ia what.
ever he might suggest by his con
versation with the raiders.
IT shall tell them" he said. that
I apprehended you after you escaped
from the camp, that | took you 20
Achmet Eek, and that, as he was on
gagged IN a stubborn battle with tho
Waziri, lie directed me to return TO
camp with you, to obtain here suf-
ficient guard and 20 ride north with
YOU as rapidly as possible. and dis
pose Of you at the most HuNauta-
geous terms to a certain s'avo-hrokcr
whose name he gave me-"
Again the girl was deceived by the
apparent frankncss Of IN" Rcgiau,
She realized that desperate situations
required desperate handling, and al
though she trombled inwardly at the
thought of again entering the vile
and hideous village of tho raiders, she
saw no better course than that which
her companion had suggested.
Calling aloud TO those who tended
the gates, Werper, graspinG Jane Clay
ton by the arm. walked boldly across
the clearing Those who opened the
gates to him permitted their surpris,
10 show clearly in their expressions
That the discredited and hunted lieu.
tenant should be thus returning fear
lessly of his own volition seemed to
disarm them quite as effectually as
his manner toward Lady Greystoke
had deceived her.
The sentries at the gate returned
werper's salutations and viewed with
sstonishment the prisoner whom he
had brought into the village with him.