The Washington times., 1922-06-29

felled him. One blood.covered hand
hung down almost touching the
rug. Diana lifted It in her own.
and the touch Of the nerveless
fingers sent sob into her throat.
She caught her lip between ner
teeth TO stop It trembling as she
laid his hand down on the cushions.
Saint Hubert came to her. rolling
up his shirt-sleeves significantly.
Diane. you have been through
enough" he said gently. Go
and rest while I do what can for
Ahmed. I will come and tell you
as soon as I am finished"
She looked up fiercely:: IT'S no
sood telling me to so away. because
won't. must help you. can
help you. shall 70 mad II you
don't let me do something. Sec!
My hands are quite steady" She
held them out as she spoke, and
Saint Hubert gave In without op.
position.
The weakness that had sent her
trembling into his arms the day
before had been the fear Of danger
to the man she loved. but in tire
face of actual need the courage
that was so much q. part Of her
nature did not fail her. He made
no more remonstrances. but set
about his work quickly. AMI all
through the horrible time that fol-
lowed she did not after. Her face
was deadly pale. and dark lines
showed below her eyes, but her
hands did not shake. and her voice
was low and even. She suffered
horribly. The terrible wound that
the Nubian's knife had made was
like a wound in her own heart.
She WINGED as II the hurt had been
her own when Saint Hubert's gen.
tie. dexterous fingers touched the
Sheik's bruised head. And when
II was over and Raoul had turned
aside to wash his hands. she
slipped on to her knees beside him.
Would he live? The courage that
had kept her up SO far had not
extended to asking Saint Hubert
again. and a few muttered words
from Henri, to which the Vicomte
had responded with only a shrig,
had killed the words that were
hovering on her lips. She looked
at him with anguished eyes.
Only a few hours before he had
come to her in all the magnificence
of his strength. She looked at the
long limbs lying now 30 still. 80
terribly. suggestively still. and her
lips trembled again. but her pain.
filled eyes were dry. She could
not cry. only her throat ached and
throbbed perpetually. She leaned
over him whispering his name,
and a sudden hunger came to her
to touch him. to convince herself
that he was not dead. She glanced
hack over her shoulder at Saint
Hubert, but he had gone to .hc
open doorway to speak to Yusef,
and was standing out under the
awning. She bent lower over the
unconscious man; his lips were
parted slightly. and the usual
sternness Of his mouth was re-
laxed.
Ahmed. oh. my dearr' she whis-
pered unsteadily. and kissed him
with lips that quivered against the
stiffness Of his. Then for q mo.
ment she dropped her bright head
beside the bandaged one on the
pillow. but when the Vicomte came
hack she was kneeling where he
had left her. her hands clasped
over one Of the Sheik's and her
face hidden against the cushions.
Saint Hubert put his hand on
her shoulder. Diane. you are
torturinR yourself unnecessarily.
We cannot know for some time
how It will 60 with him. Try and
get some sleep for a few hour..
You can do no good by staving
here. Henri and I will watch.
will call you II there is any change.
my word Of honor"
She shook her head without look.
ing up. ."I can't go. couldn':
sleep"
Saint Hubert did not press IL.
Very we'll" he said quietly. 'bu:
II you are going to stay you must
take off your riding-boots and nut
on something more comfortable
than those clothes"
She realized the sense Of what
he was saying, and obeyed him
without a word. She even had
to admit to herself certain SEN
sation OF relief after she had
bathsd her aching head and throat.
and substituted n thin. silk wrap
for the torn. stained riding suit.
Hcnri was pouring out coffee
when she came back. and Saint