The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-02-27
CHAPTER vIlI.-continued.

-
Achmet Eek thought for moment.
The buried gold was of much greater
value than the price the woman would
bring. 1t was necessary to rid HIM
self of her as quickly as possible and
it was also well to obtain the gold
with the least possible delay. Of all
his followers the Belgian was the most
logical lieutenant to intrust with the
command of one of the parties. An
Arab, as familiar with the trails and
tribes as Achmet Eek himself, might
collect the woman's price and make
good his escape into the far north.
Werper, on the other hand, could
scarce make his escape alone through
a country hostile to Europeans, while
the men he would send with the Bel
gian could be carefully selected with
view to preventing Werper from per-
suading any considerable portion of
his command to accompany him
should he contemplate desertion Of
his chief.
At last the Arab spoke: at is not
necessary that we both return for the
gold. You shall go north with the
woman, carrying letter to friend
of mine who is always in touch with
the best markets for such merchan-
disc, while return for the gold. We
can meet again here when our bust
ness is concluded"
Werper could scarce disguise the
joy with which he received this well
come decision. And that he did en-
tirely disguise 1t from the keen and
suspicious eyes of Achmet Eek is open
to question. However, the decision
reached, the Arab and his lieutenant
discussed the details of their forth
coming ventures for short time fur
ther, when Werper made his excuses
comforts and luxury of long-desired
bath and shave.
Having bathed, the Belgian tied a
small hand mirror to a cord sewn to
the rear wall of his tent, placed a
rude chair beside an equally ruue
table that stood beside the glass and
proceeded to remove the rough stub
BILE from his face.
In the catalogue Of masculine pleas
ures there is scarce one which i'm
parts feeling of greater comfort and
refreshment than follows clean
shave, and now, with WEAKNESS tenn
porarily banished, Albert Werper
sprawled in his rickety chair to enjoy
final cigarette before retiring. His
thumbs, tucked In his belt in lazy sup
port of the weight of his arms, touched
the belt which held the jewel pouch
about his waist. He tingled with ex-
element as he let his mind dwell upon
the value Of the treasure, which, un-
known to all save himself, lay hid be-
meath his clothing.
He unfastened the belt and drew
the pouch from its hiding place. He
was alone. The balance Of the camp,
save the sentries, had retired-none
would enter the Belgian's tent. He
hefted the bag, first in one palm. then
in the other, and at last he wheeled
his chair slowly around before the
table. and in the rays of his small
lamp let the glittering gems roll out
upon the rough wood.
The refulgent rays transformed the
interior of the soiled and squalid can
vas to the splendor of palace, in the
eyes of the dreaming man. He
dreamed of joys and Injuries and pow
er which always had been beyond his
grasp. and as he dreamed his gaze
lifted from the table, as the gaze Of a
dreamer will. to a far distant goal
above the mean horizon of terrestrial
cOmmonplaceness.
Unseeing. his eyes rested upon the
shaving mirror which hung upon the
tent wall above the table; but his
sight was focused far beyond. And
then reflection moved within the pol
ished surface of the tiny glass, the
mans eyes shot back out of space to
the mirrors face. and in it saw re-
Elected the grim visage of Achmet
Eek, framed in the flaps of the tent
doorway behind him.
Werper stified gasp Of dismay.
With rare self-possession he let his
gaze drop without appearing to have
halted upon the mirror, until it rested
again upon the gems. Without haste.
he replaced them In the pouch. tucked