The Washington times., 1919-01-12
(Continaed from Preceding PageJ

would use II when the time came.
What was to happen? She did not
know. and for the time did not seem
to care.
The odor of musk and ambergris
once so distasteful to her was no
longer unpleasant and seemed a part
Of the spell that had fallen upon her.
She grew more drowsy without re-
luctance. She seemed to be sinking
irto some substance deliciously soft
and cool, pretty lights and fireflies of
various colors danced before her eyes
In the darkness, and seemed to lead
her on to follow them. She yielded
and sank back, then started up as
something hurt her side. 1t was the
dagger in her waist band.
The sudden pain helped her In her
struggle back to consciousness, and
with an effort she sat upright, trying
TO focus her gaze. 1t passed around
the room, finally settling upon the
sherbet cup beside her. She gazed
at 1t in a moment of comprehension
and then assuring herself that no one
was looking, took of the lid and
raised the kulleh to her nostrils.
There was a faint, rather sickly odor
that she had noticed before, and she
guessed why she had-become so
drowsy. But she knew enough to
empty the stuff under the deewan
and put the cup back into its place,
and then to pour herself out a cup
of the coffee which stood steamirg
On a brazier nearby. The shock OF
her discovery had now awakened her.
and the black syrnp-like coffee in a
moment restored her to her senses.
Zeyneb had drugged her-but at
whose orders? The Sheykh's? She
fell into a fit of trembling terror
which lasted for some moments and
then her courage returned to her
This could not have been q revenge
of Zeyneb's unless she had received
her orders. And whose orders unless
those of Conrad Won Hengel? Last
night he had written that he would
see her, and all day she had waited,
expectant, dreading the interview
until the strain of nervous tension
had suddenly relaxed. Won Hengel,
deciding that It would be impossible
to persuade her to accompany him
willingly upon his expedition. had
chosen this means to take her away
into the desert while she slept, trust
ing to her helplessness and his own
powers of persuasion to overcome
her scruples-
There seemed no other reply to her
questions And this conclusion which
she reached. after moment Of analy-
sis, seemed at once to have gal
vanic effect in awakening her to
sense of immediate and subtle danger.
She thanked God that for some
reason she had forgotten to finish her
kulleh of sherbet. II she had done
so she would now have been uncon-
scious and completely in Won Hem
gels power. She was certain that
her awakening had not been OBJ
served, and after quick glance
around the Kaah, and into the corri-
dor, sank again into a recumbent
position, her thoughts working rapid
ly. For the present at least 1t was
safer to stimulate drowsiness. She
must let them carry her out of the
harem, il that was their plan. Some
how, her opportunity must come.
And yet she was afraid-terribly
afraid-of Won Hengeps cleyerness.
How could she hope to outwit such
a man as he had proved to be?
She waited. her lids half-closed.
and after a while she saw Zeyneb
silently enter the corridor and peer
at her for a long moment. Constance
did not move. Zeyneb smiled and in
"a little while reappeared with Kah-
ldeegeh and the other black slave
girl. Constance closed her eyes now
and breathed deeply, all her muscles
relaxed. While she could see them,
she heard their voices in whispers
alongside of her and felt the breath
of one of them leaning over, examin-
ing her carefully, while Zeyneb picked
nm the sherbet kulleh and laughed.
A few more words were spoken by
Zeyneb and Constance felt hands
move under her arm-pits as she was
lifted into an upright position. She
stirred. sighed, seemed 20 make an
effort to open her eyes and then let her
head fall sideways upon the shoulder
of Kahdeegeh. In a moment the three
of them were carrying her out of the
harem down hallway, past hanging
and into another room, where they lai
upon a deewan and presently left he
The room was dimly lighted and
moment Constance yentured to ope
ewes and gaze about her. This wa
the guest chamber in which she hat
Won Hengel the day before yesterda.
this room there was an oriel al one
opposite the deewan upon which sh
was a wooden screen which seemed Z
-arate the room from the mandart
somewhere, not far away. it seemed
her, she heard the sound of mas
voices. those Of the Sheykh and c