Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-07-07

his way back into the tree. IL was his
intention TO hail her from beyond the
palisade, giving her the feeling of Sc
curity which he imagined the stout
barricade would afford.
lie had scarcely left his position In
the tree when his attention was at
tracted by a considerable noise upon
the opposite side of the village. BY
moving little he could see the gate
at the far end OF the main street.
A number OF inen. women and chill
dren were running toward II. 1t swung
open, revealing the head of caravan
upon The opposite side. 1t trooped In
molly organization-black slaves ana
dark hued Arabs of the northern des-
erts cursing camel drivers urging on
their vicious charges; overburdened
donkcys, waving sadly pcndulous ears
while they endured with stole patience
the brutalitics of their masters; goats,
sheep and horses.
Into the village they all troopcd be-
hind Il tall, sour old man, who rode,
without greetings 10 those who shrank
skin tent in the center of the village.
Here he spoke to wrinkled black
hag.
Korak from his vantage point could
see IL all. He saw the old man asking
questions of the black woman, and
then he saw the latter point in the
direction of the tree beneath which
the little girl played.
A grim smile curved the thin, cruel
lips of the Arab. The child cssayed
10 crawl away, but before she could
get out of reach the old man kicked
her brutality, sending her sprawlng
upon the grass. Then he followed her
UP to seize and strike her as was his
custom.
Above them in the tree beast
crouched where moment before had
been boy-a beast with dilating nos
trils and barred fangs-a beast that
tremblcd with rage.
The sheik was STOPPING to reach
for the girl when the Killer dropped
to the ground at his side. His spear
was still in his left hand, but he had
forgotten it, Instead his right fist was
clinched, and the shcik took a back
ward step, astonished by the sudden
naturalization of this strange appari-
ton apparently out of clear sky, the
heavy fist landed full upon his mouth,
backed by the weight of the young
giant and the terrific power OF his
more than human muscles.
bleeding and senscless, the shelk
sank To earth. Korak turned toward
the child. She had regained Der feet
and stood, wide eyed ana frightened
looking first UP into his face and then
horror struck ut the recumbent figure
of the shcik. In an involuntary ges-
ture of protection the Killer threw an
arm about the girls shoulders ana
stood waiting for the Arab to regain
consciousness. For moment they re-
manned thus, then the girl spoke.
when he regains his senses he Will
kill me-" she said in Arabic.
Korak could not understand her. He
shook his head speaking to her first
in English and then In the language OF
the apes. But neither of these were
Ineligible to her.
she leaned forward and touched the
hilt of the long knife that the Arab
wore. Then she raised her clasped
hand above her head and drove an i'm
aginary blade into her breast above
her heart.
old
would Kill her.
The girl came to his side again and
stood there trembling. She did not
fear him. Why should she? Hefhad
saved her from Il terrible beating ut
the hands of the sheils. Never in her
memory had another so befriended her.
She looked up into his face. Ii was Il
boyish. handsome face, nut brown like
her own. She admired the spotted
leopard skin that circled his 1.-THE body
from one shoulder to his knees.
And Korak looked ut the girl. lie
had always held girls in a species OF
contempt. Boys who associated with
them were in his estimation, molly
coddlcs. He wondered what he should
do.
lie stood for several minutes buried
IN thought The girl watched his face,
wondering what was passing in his
mind. She, too WAS thinking of the
future.
She feared To remain and suffer the
vengeance Of the shcik. There was no
one in all the world TO whom she
might turn other than this half naked
stranger who had dropped miraculous
~ from the clouds to save her from
one of the sheiks accustomed heat
ings. Would her new friend leave her
now? Wistfuly she gazed ut his IN
tent face. She moved a little closer TO
him, laying slim, brown hand upon
his arm.
The contact awakened the lad from
his absorption. He looked down at
her, and then his arm went about her
shoulders once more, for he saw tears
upon her lashes.