The Washington times., 1922-06-27

wrist. How many men had
Ahmed Ben Hassan in the camp
In which he kept your" g.,
II do not know"
Il do not know! do not know!'
he echoed with a sudden savage
laugh. you will know when
have done with YOU" He crushed
her wrist until she WINGED with
pain, and turned her head away
further that she might not see his
face. Question after question re-
lating to the Shelk and his tribe
followed In rapid succession. but
to all of them Diana remained
silent, with averted head and ,.orn-
pressed lips. He should not learn
anything from her that might in
jure the man she loved, though
he tortured her, though her life
paid the price for her silence. AZ
It probably would. She shiyered
involuntarily. shall tell you
what they would do to himf" She
could hear the Sheik's voice plainly
as on the~night when she had
asked him what Gaston's fate
would be at the hands of Ibraheiin
OMAR. She could near the horri.
BILE meaning he had put into the
words. she could see the terrible
smile that had accompanied them.
Her breath came faster, but her
courage still held. She clung des.
perately to the hope that was sus-
tanning her. Ahmed must come
In time. She forced down the tor.
turing doubts that whispered that
he might never find her, that he
might come too late. that when he
came she might be beyond a mans
desire.
Ibraheim OMAR ceased his nues-
tioning. Later you will speak,"
he said significantly, and drank
more coffee. And his words re.
vived the agonizing thoughts she
had crushed down. Her vivid
imagination conjured up the same
CHASTITY mental pictures that had
appalled, her when she had up.
piled them to CASTOR. but now IL
was herself who was the central
figure In all the horrors she
imagined. until the shuddering she
tried to suppress shook her from
head to foot. and she clenched her
teeth to stop them chattering.
Ibraheim OMAR kept his hold
upon her, and presently. with {
horrible loathing. she felt his hand
passing over her arm. her neck,
and down the soft curves Of her
slim young body. then with a NUT.
tered ejaculation he forced her TO
face him.
What are you listening for7
You think that Ahmed Ben, Hassan
will come? Little fool! He has
forgotten you already. There are
plenty more white women in Al
giers and Oran that he can buy
with his gold and his devil face.
The loves of Ahmed Ben Hassan
are as the stars in number. They
come and go like the swift wind
in the desert, a hot breath-and
It's finished. He will not come,
and 10 he does. he will not find
you. for in an hour we shall be
gone"
Diana writhed in his grasp. The
hateful words in the cultural voice,
pronounced in vile French. the ,eer-
ing, vicious face with the light Of
admiration growing in the blood
shot eyes. were all CHASTITY night.
mare. With a sudden desperate
wrench she freed herself and flei
across the 'tent--panic.strick ut
last. But in her blind rush she
tripped, and with a swiftness that
seemed incompatible with his un-
wieldiness Ibraheim OMAR ecl.
lowed her and caught her In his
arms. Struggling he carried her
to the divan. For a moment he
paused. and instructive Diana law
still. reserving her strength for
the final struggle.
zone hour. my little gazelle, one
hour" he said hoarsely, and bent
his face to hers.
With a cry Diana flung her head
aside and strained away from him.