Evening times-Republican., 1920-12-17

A.a.ls4aercniel swept the top OF the
wall as clean as he could. He heard
i.lle little pieces fall with perilous-
~ loud tinkling sound, and flattened
himself upon the wall, and strained
his eyes thru the darkness of the
garden, but no alarm was raised. The
shadows seemed empty.
He hoped to the Lord that no dis
t,lrbanee would break out in the
garden, for the man below would be
eff In the canoe like flash. He had
no illusions about the one-eyed
mans loyalty, but the fellow was al
ready In the secret; he was needy
and resourceful and as trustworthy
as any dragoman that he could have
gone to. And drasoman would
have had a reputation and a patron
age he'd fear to lose. This metan-
choly Arab, hawking crocodiles for a
Greek Jew, had more to gain than
lose.
BY now he had caught the end
OF the rough hook over the top of
the wall, and let down the knotted
rope into the garden below. 1t was
long enough, thank goodness, he
thought, wondering under what cir
clmstances and in what company ne
would ascend, 1t again. Then with
one more keen look into the garden,
and a reassnrlng touch of the pocket
where his revolver bulged, he gripped
tile rope and swiftly lowered himself.
Keeping close to the fall he press
etl toward, the buildings on the right,
which he had been told was the
wing of the harem. and as he step
ped forward a flat black shadow near
tie wall came suddenly to life. 1t
srrang to its feet, revealing a
shroaded little FORM wrapped and
hooded in black. and ran to him with
steps that stumbled In excitement
.QuiclS, duick!" breathed an almost
inaudible voice of terror, and Billy
flung one strong arm about the girl
and dashed toward the dangling rope.
Gripping it with one hand he flung
the light figure over his left shoulder,
and with a cheerily whispered Hang
tight" he threw himself into the
ascent. 1t was arm wrenching, mus.
cle-racking work. with that dead
weight upon him, but the touch Of
those soft arms clinging childishly
abo,it his neck seemed to double and
treble his strength, and with incred-
ible quickness hc lifted her to the
tor, OF the wall, and then, catching
hel. by the wrists he lowered her In
ito the upreaching clasp of the Arab.
An instant more and he had re-
veis,ed his rope ladder and climbed
down beside her as she stood waiting,
and in the throbbing triumph OF that
moment he flung his arm grippingly
abemt her to sweep her into the boat.
But as she raised her face to his.
the smouding mantle fell away, and
he found himself staring down into
the exultant face and bright, dark
eyes of a girl he had never seen be-
fore.
! Z Back OF them beyond the wall,
pandemoniun, was breaking out.
CHAPTER XII
He was dumb with the shock.
Then. "Who are you?" he demanded.
''And where is she--where is Arlee
Beeeher?"
On her own face the astonishment
grew. What you mean? Frederick
ne not send your" she gasped, and
then as the o,ltcries grew louder and
louder behind them she gripped con-
yulsiyely at his arms. "Oh, quick!
come away--quick. auick!' she be-
sought.
E. II came for Arlee Beecher an
American girl Isn't she held : here?
Isn't she back there?"
What you going to do7 What z
fiercsly. Tell me-
He had caught her and uncon-
sciotsly shook her as if to shake the
words out Of her. Fnriously she
struggled with him.
let me go. Mo, no. she is not
there! No one is there! You are gone
crazy. to stay! They Will kill me IL
they catch f,e-they will fire over
the wall oh, for Gods sake, help
me quick!"
"Sfte's not there?'' he repeated
cIuukiuly, duu lueH Ut lef NenemenI
mo. no! I tell YOU no!'' he drew q
breath Of deep astonishment and
chaglin, and turned to stow her
safely, low in the boat. Hurriedly he
and the one-eyed man bent over
their paddles, and very swiftly the
long, lark canoe went gliding down
the stream, but not any too swiftly,
for III an instant they heard a
triumrh hant yell behind them, and
then Light, thudding feet along the
path.
Ste,adily Billy urged the canoe for
ward with powerful strokes that
seemed to be lifting it out of the
water at each impulse, and they
swept past wall that reaching tc
the river bank must block their
pursu,srs for q time, and tho there
was a path after that, there was soon
another wall, and no more pursuit
along the water edge. But every