The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-04-23


burden. and when safely hidden from
the sentry's view lowered the girl to
her feet, with low, "Sh-sh," when she
would have spoken.
Then he led her a little farther into
the forest, halted beneath large tree
with spreading branches, buckled a
cartridge belt and revolver about her
waist, and assisted her to climb
into the lower branches.
Tomorrow" he whispered, "as-
soon. as I can elude them, will re-
turn to you. Be brave, Lady Grey
stoke I'VE may yet escape
s'Thank you," she replied in low
Tone "You have been very kind, and
very brave"
Werper did not reply, and the dark
ness of the night hid the scarlet flush
of shame which swept upward across
his face. Quickly he turned and made
his way back to camp. The sentry.
from his post. saw him enter hi own
tent; but he did not see him crawl I'M
der the canvas at the rear and Sneak
cautiously to the tent which the pris-
oner had occupied, where now lay the
dead body Of Mohammed Boyd.
Without an instant's hesitation he
seized the dead wrists and dragged
the body upon its back to the point
where he had just entered. On hands
and knees he backed out as he had
come in, drawing the corpse after him.
Then he lifted it to his shoulder, and
risking all on quick sally, ran swift
ly across the narrow opening which
separated the prisoners tent from
that of the dead man. He stopped and
raised the bottom Of the tent wall.
backed in and dragged the thing that
| had been Mohammed Boyd after him.
To the sleeping rugs Of the dead raid
err he drew the corpse, then he fun
bled about in the darkness until he
found Mohammed Beyd's revolver;
kneeling beside the bedding, and in
sorting his right hand with the weapon
beneath the rugs, piled number of
| thicknesses of the closely woven fab
ric over and about the revolver with
his left hand Then he pulled the trig-
ger, and at the same instant he
-coughed.
The muffied report could not have
been heard above the sound Of his
cough by one directly outside the tent.
| Werper was satisfied. A grim smile
| touched his lips as he withdrew the
weapon from the rugs and placed it
carefully in the right hand of the dead
man, fixing three of the fingers around
| the grip and the index finger inside
the trigger guard
Then he returned to his own tent,
| entered, fastened down the canvas,
and crawled into his blankets.
The following morning he was
awakened by the excited voice of Mo-
manned Beyd's slave calling to him
at the entrance of his tent.
"Quick! Quick!" cried the black in
frightened tone. "Come! Moham-
med Boyd is dead in his tent-dead
by his own hand"
II come" Werper called to the slave,
and drawing on his boots. rose and
went out of his tent.
For a time he pretended to believe
murder had been committed, but at
East permitted himself to be convinced
that Mohammed Boyd had indeed
killed himself in remorse for the death
| Of the white woman he had, all I'M
known to his followers, loved so de-
| votedly.
AaI, Va1p TnH1a n
Boyd both dead, the raiders were
without a leader, and after a brief
conference they decided to return into
| the north on visits to the various
tribes to which they belonged.
AS they rode off Werper sat his
horse In the center Of the clearing
watching them disappear one by one
| into the jungle and thanked his God
! that he had at last escaped their vii
/ famous clutches.
When he could no longer hear any
sound of them he turned to the right
and rode into the forest toward the
tree where he had hidden Lady Grey
stoke. and drawing rein beneath it
called up in gay and hopeful voice
pleasant "Good morning.
There was no reply, and though his
eyes searched the thick foliage above
him he could see no sign Of the girl.
Dismounting, he quickly climbed into
the tree, where he could obtain view
Of all it's branches. The tree was
empty-Jane Clayton had vanished
during the silent watches of the
jungle night.
CHAPTER XVII.