The Washington times., 1922-06-07


~ NDER the awning OF the
tent Diana was waiting
~ for CASTOR and the horses,
pulling on her thick riding
gloves nervously. She was
wrought up to the utmost pitch OF
excitement. Ahmed Ben Hassan
had been away since the previous
day, and 1t was uncertain If he
would return that night or tho
next. He had been vague as to
how long he would be absent.
There had been a constant coming
and going among his followers
messengers arriving on exhausted
horses at all hours of the day and
night, and the Sheik himself had
seemed unusually preoccupied. He
had not condescended to give any
reason for the special activity Of
his people and she had not asked
him.
In the four weeks that had
elapsed since she had promised him
her obedience she had been very
silent. The fear and hatred Of him
grew daily. She had learned to
stifle the wild fits of rage and tn.
angry words that leaped to her lips.
She had learned to obey-a re.
luctant obedience given with com.
pressed lips and defiant eyes, but
given, and with a silence that sur
prised even herself. Day after day
she had followed the usual routine.
dumb unless he spoke to her; and
with his own attention occupied
with matters beyond the four walls
Of his tent he had not noticed or
did not trouble to heed her silence.
Lately he had left her very
much alone; she had ridden
with him almost daily until
the last week, when he han
announced curtly that in the mean.
time the length OF her rides must
be curtailed and that CASTOR would
accompany her. He had not Of.
fered any explanation, and she had
not sought one. She had chosen
to see in it merely another act Of
tyranny imposed on her by the
man whose arbitrary exercise OF
power over her and whose tacit
possession of her CALLED her con.
tinually. And under the sullen
submission a wild fury OF revolt
was raging. She searched fever
ishly for means of flight. and now
the Sheik's absence seemed TO have
given her the chance she had been
waiting for. In the solitude OF the
previous night she had tossed i'm.
patiently from side to side OF the
big couch, vainly trying 70 find
some means Of taking advantage
OF her comparative freedom 10 ef-
feet her escape. Surely she could
find some way Of avoiding Gas.
tons vigilance. Excitement had
kept her awake half the night,
and in the morning she had had
hard work to keep her agitation
hidden and to appear as usual. She
had even been afraid 10 order the
horses any earlier in her ner vous
terror lest the valet should sus-
pect there was any reason behind
the simple request. Alter her
petit defeuner she had paced the
tent. unable to sit still, dr'eadlug
lest any moment might bring the
return OF the Sheik and Illustrate
her hopes. She looked back hto
the room with a sudder as her eyes
travelled over the luxurious ap-
pointments and different objects
that had become so curiously IA.
miliar in the last two months. The
unexpected equipments and the
mans own battling personality
would remain in her recollection
Always dH tiidt SiiS
would never be able 10 solve SO
much had been so inexphcable in
himself and in his mode Of life.
She drew a long breath and went
out hastily into the sunshine.
The horses were waiting, and
CASTOR was standing ready 10 hold
her stirrup. She fondled the beau.
tiful grey horses soft nose and
patted his satiny neck with hand
that trembled a little. She loved
the horse and today he should be
the means Of saving her. He re-
sponded to her caressss, GcptlinG
her with soldering mouth and
whinnying softly. With one last
look at the big double tent and the
rest Of the camp behind It she
mounted and rode away without
another backward glance. Size had
to exercise a rigid control over her
self. She longed to put Silver star
into a hand gallop at once and
shake off CASTOR, but she was still
too near the camp. she must be
patient and, put a certain number
Of miles between herself and the