The Washington times., 1922-06-20

hts passing whims and fancies.
All his life he had taken
what he wanted; nothing on
which he had ever laid eyes of de-
sire had been denied him., His
!, wealth had brought him every
! thing he had ever wished, His
passionate temper had been char
acteristic even when he was a
child, but these strange fits OF un.
reasonable irritabiiity were new.
and he searched for cause vain
ly. His keen eyes looked through.
the darkness towards the south.
Was II the nearness Of his hered.
itary enemy, who had presumed
to come closer than he had ever
done before to the border of the
country that Ahmed Ben Hassan
regarded as his own. that was
causing this great unrest? He
laughed contemptuously. Nothing
would give him greater pleasure
than coming into actual collision
with the man whom he had been
trained from boyhood to hate. Az
long az Ibraheim OMAR remained
within his own territory Ahmed
Ben Hassan held his hand and
kept in check his fierce followers,
whose eyes were turned longingly
towards the ,,debatable land. but
once let the robber Sheik step an
inch over the border, and 1t was
war, and war until one or both of
the chiefs were dead. And II he
died who had no son to succeed
him. the huge tribe would split up
in numerous little families for
want Of leader to keep them to-
gether, and It would be left to the
French government to take over.
II they could. the vast district that
he had governed despotically. And
at the thought he laughed again.
No. 1t was not Ibraheim OMAR
who was troubling him. He
pushed the hound aside and went
into the tent. The divar where
Diana had been sitting was strewn
with magazines and papers. the
imprint of her slender body still
showed in the soft, heaped-up
cushions, and a tiny, lace-edged
handkerchief peeped out under
one of them. He picked It up and
looked at It curiously. and his fore
head contracted slowly in the
heavy black scowi. He turned his
burning eyes toward the curtains
that divided the-rooms. Saint Hu-
bert's words rang in his ears.
English" he muttered with a
terrible oath. And I have made
her suffer as swore any Of that
damned race should IL they fell
into my hands. Merciful Allah!
why does It give me 30 little
pleasure?"'
CHAPTER VII.
Diana came into the living-room
one morning about q week after
the arrival Of the Visconte de
Saint Hubert. She had expected
to find the room empty, for the
Sheik had risen at dawn and rid
den away on one Of the distant
expeditions that had become %
frequent. and she thought his
friend had accompanied him, but
as she parted the curtains between
the two rooms she saw the French
man sitting at the little writing
table surrounded by papers and
writing quickly, loose sheets Of
manuscript littering the floor
floor around him. II was the first
time that they had chanced to be
alone, and she hesitated with q
sudden shyness. But Saint HUI
bert had heard the rustic Of the
curtain. and he sprang to his feet
with the courteous bow that pro-
claimed his nationality.
Your pardon. madame. Do I
disturb your Tell me If I am in
the way. am afraid have been
untidy." he added. laughing
apologetically. and looking at the
heap of closely written sheets
strewing the rug.
Diana came forward slowly, a
faint color rising in her face. I
thought you had gone with mon
seigneur."
"I had some work to do--some
notes that I wanted to transcribe
before forgot Myself what they
meant; I write vilely. have had
q hard week. SO, 30 I begged a
day off. I may stay7 You are
sure I do not disturb your"
His sympathetic eyes and the de-
ference In his voice brought an
unexpected lump into her throat
She signed to him to resume his
work and passed out under tae
awning. Behind the tent the usual
camp hubbub filled the air. A knot
of Arabs at q little distance were
xvatnhine one of the rough-it tders