The Washington times., 1919-03-09

"He has done US real service. Mr.. Jes-
sup" said Daoud in a careless aside, "bu:
he means to have his payment just the
same"
I'VE won't quarrel over IT, said Alan.
with smile. but see he hasn't let me
very far out Of his sight"
At this moment one Of the Arabs came
up and spoke to the Sheriff. and DaOud inn
mediately rose.
They have found a wounded Sheykh
who wishes to speak with you. Mr.. Jes-
sup"
~Von Hengel?'
1T must be-" said Daoud with frown.
Alan rose. and with Abdullah close be-
side him, followed the Arab toward tbe
upper end of the Wadi. where among the
bushes at the foot Of the eliffs they found
him, bleeding from a dozen wounds. and
propped against a rock. in the spot to
which he had crawled to die.
Careful. Mr.. Jessup." whispered Dsoud.
But Alan went forward and stood beside
him.
The man was done for, at the point Of
death. his hands unarmed; all that was
chivalrous in Alan awoke at the plight Of
this man, once his friend. who whatever
his shortcomings. at least had proved
valiant enemy. So he spoke to him kindly.
TOO bad. Conrad, old chap, that you had
to lose"
81 wanted to tell you something. Alan"
he began, hoarsely. IL wanted to tell
you The hand at his breast went in
side Of his kamis and quickly came out
with an automatic in it. But Daoud fred
irst-a stream of FIRE into Won Hengefs
breast
''Prussian dog" he muttered = thought
as much"
Alan stared speechless for a moment at
the body and then turned away.
Thanks. Effendt" he said. I owe you
one"
You see. as Northby Pasha had said.
Alan was a lucky man. The Arabs buried
the dead. left the wounded where they lay
and mounted their camels.
1T will not do to wait longer, Effendl
said the Sheriff with an air Of finality. Re
Inducements may come a any moment
from Yambu. We must be on our way to
Damgkoh."
So Alan and Daoud. reading his meaning
in his tone, turned their backs on the
scene Of the encounter anu began the Jour
ney to the Turkana. S
Alan had every reason in the world TO b.
happy like Daoud who smoked innumer-
able cigarettes on the way and carried on
a patter Of conversation with AbduIlah
Sadi But then. Daoud was by nature light
hearted. Alan wasn't.
Two hours ago, upon the cliffs fighting
Conrad Won Hengel, he had been gloriously
happy, and the preceding day and night,
with their suspense and promise Of danger.
had been among the pleasantest he had
ever spent in his life. But now with the
sacred documents in his belt, the Black
Stone definitely lost, Won HengePs conspir-
acy knocked into a cooked hat and the
arch enemy removed. the old feeling Of
weariness was coming over him again
WEAKNESS and disappointment.
He had admired Won Hengel in times
past. becaIse he was so many things that
Alan was not, because he had so many
admirable qualities that Alan lacked. and
he thought that even in spite OF all that
had happened in the past month, he had
admired him most for the fight that he had
made there on the rocks. But the finale
of the adventure had been disillusion and
a disappointment. How much better If he
had died the game fighter that he was
than to have marred his exit by such
And then, Amneh. II was rotten luck
that she had had to CO. just with victory in
sight Weak, feminine to her finger-tips.
and the very creature of terror, she had
summoned courage in spite of her frailty
to guide Dawson to his rescue and take a
brave part in it! He could never forget
that-never.
And then she was very sweet to him,
seemed to like him such lot, and depend
upon him. He could have made something
of her, he had thought-at least, he could
have restored her self-respect and made
her happy. The world owed her that.
And then-his own future-what could
that amount to now that this most inter
esting experience was over? The same
dull round of the prosaic. the useless and
the commonplace-coul he ever go back
to them now? The thought of trust COM
panies and boards of directors palled him
terribly.
He wouldn't go back There must be