The evening world., 1922-05-16

her way out OF the labyrinth, when,
on rounding a particularly sharp turn,
the rocks fell away suddenly and sne
rode out into open country. She
breathed a sigh OF relief and called
out chee=iiy to the grey, but, as she
leeked ahead. her voice died away, and
she refined him in sharply with u
duickening heart beat. Across the
desert about a mile away she saw
party Of Arabs coming toward her.
There were about fifty Of them, the
leader riding a big, black horse some
little distance in front of his follow 70
ers. In the clear atmosphere they
seemed nearer than they were. II
was not what she wished. She had
hoped for an encampment, where
there would be women or a caravan
of traders whose constant communi-
cation with the towns would make
them reaIizc the importance Of guild
ing her to civilization unharmed. This
band of lighting men, for she could
see their rifles clearly, and their close
and orderly formation was anything
but peaceful, filled her with the
greatest misgivings.
Only the worst might be expected
from the wild, lawless tribesmen
toward a woman alone among them.
She had fled from one hideousness to
another which would be ten times
more horrible, Her face blanched
and she set her teeth in desperation.
The human beings she had prayed
for were now a deadly menace. and
she prayed as fervently that they
might pass on and not notice her.
Perhaps il was not too late, perhaps
they had not yet seen her and she
might still slip away and hide in the
twisting turnings of the defile. she
backed Silver Star further into the
shadow of the rock. but as she did so
she saw that she had been seen. The
leader turned in his saddle and raisei
his hand high above his head, end
with a wild shout and a great cloud Of
dust and sand his men checked their
horses, dragging them back onto their
launches, while he galloped toward
her alone. And at the same moment
an icy hand clutched at Diana's heart
and a moan burst from her lips.
There was no MISLEADING him or the
big black horse he rode, For a mo-
ment she reeled with sudden faint
ness, and then with a tremendous ef-
fort she pulled herself together. drag
ging her horses head round and urged
him back along the track which she
had just left, and behind her raced
Ahmed Ben Hassan, spurring the
great black stallion as he had never
done before.
with ashy face and wild. hunted
eyes Diana crouched forward on the
grey's neck, saving him all she could
and riding as she had never ridden In
her life. Utterly reckless. she urged
the horse TO his utmost pace. regard
less OF the rough, dangerous track
Perhaps she could still shake or her
pursuer among the tortuous paths OF
the hills. Nothing mattered but that.
Better even an ugly toss and a broken
neck than that he should take her
again. Panic c-stricken she wanted to
shrek and clenched her teeth on heI
lips to keep back the scream that rose
in her throat. She dared not look be-
hind. but straight ahead before iner
riding with all her sklll, hauling the
grey round perilous corners and bend.
ing lower and lower in the saddle tC
aid him. In her terror she had for.
gotten what little distance the hilli
stretched from where she had entered
them, and blindly she turned into tn,
track by which she had come, leaving
the main hills on her right hand anS
emerging on TO the open desert OF
the south side OF the range. Their
was nothing now but the sheer spec
of her horse to save her, and hoy
long could she count on II?
Then with little glimmer OF hop
she remembered that the Sheik wa
riding The Hawk, own brother to tn
grey, ana she knew that neither ha
ever outpaced the other. She ha
ridden hard all day, but II was prob
able that Ahmed Ben Hassan had rid
den harder: he never spared hi
horses. and his weight was consider
ably greater than hers. Would IL NJ
be possible for Silver Star. carryin
the lighter burden, to outdistance TT
Hawk? II was a chance, She wou
take IL. but she would never give II
The perspiration was rolling down III
face and her breath was coming Ia
kgAAoAoA haNaNhisg ~"
after she had left the hills behind. II
Sheik's deep voice came clearly aorol
the space between them.
III you do not stop will shoot 20,
horse. i give you one minute"
She swayed a little in the saddl
clutohing the grey's neck 20 steaC
herself and for a moment SHE clos'
her eyes, but she did not falter for 4
instant. She would not stop; nothiI
on earth should make her stop no'
Only, because she knew the man, 81
kicked her feet clear OF the stirrup
He had said he would shoot and
would shoot. and II the grey shied
swerved a hairs breadth she wou
probably receive the bullet that W
meant for him. Better that! Yt
even better thati
Silver Star tore ON headlong a
the minute seemed a lifetime Tn
before even she heard the report
bounded in the air and fell with
crash. Diana was fiung far forwa
and landed on some soft sand. /
a moment she was stunned by (
fall. then she staggered dizzily TO Il
feet and stumbled back to the pre-
irate horse. He was lashing G
wildly with his heels, making dc
uarata efforts 10 rise And aS 4