The spectator., 1920-06-04

quick fingers the pouch of jewels. To his consternation, there was no sign of them in the garments of Achmet Eek. Puzzled, disappointed and angry. he at last returned to the girl. "The wallet Is gone." he explained. crisply. and dare not delay longer in search of 1t. We must reach the camp before the returning raiders"
 Unsuspicious of the mans true char acter. Jane Clayton saw nothing pc culiar in his plans, or in his specious explanation of his former friendship for the raider. and so she grasped with alacrity the seeming hope for safety which he proffered her and. turning about. she set out with Albert Werper toward the hostile camp in which she so lately had been a prisoner.
 Calling aloud to those who tended the gates, Werpef, grasping Jane Clay ton by the arm. walked boldly across the clearing. Those who opened the gates to him permitted their surprise to 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.
 Jane Clayton wns again confined to the prison hut she had formerly occu- pied. but as she realized that this was but part of the deception which she and Frecoult were playing upon the creduious raiders 1t was with differ ent sensation that she again entered the vile and filthy interior. from that which she had previously experienced when hope was so far away.
 Once more she was bound and sen- tries placed before the door of her prison: but before Werper left her he whispered words of cheer into her ear Then he left and made his way back to the tent of Mohammed Beyd. Ach- met's lieutenant.
 Mohammed Beyd sat cross-legyed upon rug. smoking. The Arab looked up as the European came into his pres ence.
 Greetings. O. brother!" he said.
 "Greetings!" feplied Werper.
 For while neither spoke further. The Arab was the first to break the silence.
 And my master. Achmet Eek, was well when last you saw him?" he asked.
 "Never was he safer from the sins and dangers of mortality" replied the Belgian.
 Tt Is well.' said Mohnmmed Beyd, blowing a little pun of blue smoke straight out before him.
 Again there was silence for several minutes.
 And if he were dead?" asked the Belgian. determinN to lead up to the truth and attempt to bribe Mohammed Beyd into his service.
 The Arabs eyes narrowed and he leaned forward. his gaze boring straight into the eyes of the Belgian.
 'I have been thinking much. Werper. since you returned so unexpectedly to the camp of the man whom you de ceived and who sought you with death in his heart. have thought muCh as said. and the result of my thinking has assured me that Achmet Eek is dead-for otherwise you would never have dared return to his camp. unless you be either braver man or big ger fool than l have imagined. And. If this evidence of my Judgment Is not sufficient. l have but just now received from your own lips even more con- firmatory witness-for did you not say that Achmet Eek was never more safe from the sins and dangers of mortal ity7 Tell me why you have come back here. Tell me what you want and, Werper. if you still possess the jewels of which Achmet Eek told me. there Is no reason why you and l should not ride north together and divide the ran som of the white woman and the con- tents of the pouch you wear about your person. Ehy
 Werper was both relieved and dis turbed by the Arah's attitude. The with which he accepted the death of his chief lifted consid- erable burden of apprehension from the shoulders of Achmet Zek's assas- sin i; but his demand for share of the jewels boded i'll for Werper when Mo hammed Beyd should have learned that the precious stones were no long CT in the Belgian's possession.
 "ies," he said. "Achmet Eek Is dead. He fell in battle with company of cavalry that held me cap tive. During the fighting l escaped, but l doubt If any of Achmet Zek's men live, and the gold they sought Is in the possession of the Abyssinians. Even now they are doubtless marching on this camp. for they were sent by to punish Achmet Eek and his for raid upon GAc Abyssin- Ian village. There are maay of them. and if we do not make haste to escape we shall all suffer the same fate as Achmet Aek."
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