The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-05-22

By CAROLYN WELLS
Author Of "A Chain Of Evidences" "Ths Gold
Bag" "Ths Clue" "The White Alley" Etc.
CHAPTER XXIV-Continued.
By WELLS

g. Their, from your presence here, tina
O know my cousin is guilty Of the
death of her aunt; but you don't know
you can't know, what that poor CIR
had to put up with. I can't blame her
that In a moment-really Of temporary
insanity-she let herself be tempt
I'D
sim sorry to cut short this inter
view, Mr.. Loria," said Stone. In his
quiet way, "but, truly, I've a most i'm
portant engagement Just now. II ]
could see you, say this evening, and
talk these things over by ourselves
''Surely, Mr.. Stone. must return
TO my work tomorrow, but I'll see you
tonight. VIII you come to my
placer"
"Yes, I will. About g."
"Nine IL U.s." and Loria swung away
as Fleming Stone turned and fastened
into the hotel.
Straight to Mrs. Macdonald he went
and asked where Pauline raj
"She went to visit Memphis and
Sakkara with her cousin" said the
smiling chaperon. THAT Is, she went
with her cousins dragoman, and MIR.
Loria met them. at Bedrashein."
"Oh, did he! Now listen, Mrs. Mac
Donald. Miss Stuart is In danger. ]
am sure of this. / an going to her
aid, but l may not Stone choked,
81 may not succeed o Tell me OF
this dragoman. What does he look
iike?"
Graphically, Mrs. Macdonald de-
scribed the statuesque Ahri, and al
most before she stopped speaking,
Stone was flying along the corridor,
down the stairs, and out at the door.
He caught a train to Bedrashein,
and the first person he bumped into at
the little station was Ahri himself
gaiting for the train to Cairo.
Fleming Stone went straight to the
point. Look here, Ahri," he said to
the ~astonished Arab, who had never
seer him before, what have you done
with Miss Stuart?"
For once the phlegmatic Arab was
caught off his guard.
what do you mean?" he STAN
mered. 81 have not seer her today"
Don't lie to me-" and Stone gave
him a look that cowed him. Nov
listen. You're in Mr. Loria's pay. All
right. He paid you well for the Job
you've just done. Now, I'll pay you
twice-three times as well to undo 1t
Moreover, I'll inform you straight that
you'll never work for Mr.. Loria again
He's a villain, a wicked man. Take
my advice, Ahri. give him up and come
over to me. BY 80 doing. you'll not
only escape punishment for your work
today, but get a fresh start toward a
good position. Z don't believe you're a
bad man at heart, Ahri. At least, ]
don't believe you'll continue to be II
you're better paid to be good
Stone was right about this, and the
talk ended in another expedition OF
two sand carts into the desert. Abr
I'm one, with q native driver, Stone
alone in the other, driving himself
Ahri's cart was driven by the same
Moor that had driven Pauline only two
or three hours before. Stone followed
them, the wicked driver easily bought
over to betray the place where he had
left Pauline.
And there they found her.
Crouched at the base of a small hill,
corn out by weeping and despair,
yacked by fright and terror, she had
fallen into a ftful slumber from sheer
exhaustion. Jumping from his cart,
Stone waved the others back and went
to her. On her face were traces OF
tears. Her gloves and handkerchief
were torn in strips by her agonized
frenzies. Her shoulders were huddled
as II in frantic fear, and her face was
drawn and pinched with anguish. But
inspito of all this, Stone thought he
had never seen her look so beautiful.
Stepping nearer he lifted her to her
feet, and %unheeding the observers, he
clasped her closely in his arms and
whispered %endearing words.
Pauline, her eyes still closed, muir
INJURED, cts only q dream. I must
not wake, l must mott"
"No dream, darling" said the strong,
glad voice In her ear. Does this seem
like a dream?" aud his lips met hers
in a long, close kiss.
Then her eyes opened, wondering.
and lest she should faint from very
Joy. Stone carried her to the cart and
placed her in 1t. Jumping In beside
her. he ordered the other cart to lead
and they started back.
Neither Pauline nor Stone ver for
got that ride. At first she was con-
ttent to ask no questions, happy In his
xncarness and her own rescue from an
awful fate. But, later, she inquired
about Loria.
"You must know the truth soon,
dearest" said Stone, gently, 80 I'll tell
you, in part now. Your cousin Is a
wicked man, Pauline. and you must
rrasp this fact before l 90 on"
"Carr wicked?" and Pauline paled
and trembled as IL struck with a sud.
den blow. 2
@Yes, It was his hand. his will, that
sent you to be lost In the desert. He
showed me a false telegram, saying
row had run away from mel"