The Washington times., 1922-12-24
AIhrilhn8 Romance q fDesqrtLovp Hal

Tipped, bitter mouth, cold, un-
changing blue eyes that hinted at
nothing but q fierce, merciless and
arrogant spirit, and close cropped,
crisp red hair. probably one of the
reasons for the adjective which II
Addar, doubtless out of previous
knowledge, had added to the Arab
title.
To anyone competent to judge
this man was as obviously Of
English stock as the Hero, .ean
negro standing humbly before him
was Of Abyssinian origin, with a
strain Of cross-bred Arab blood.
For few moments after enter
ing the tent the Red Emir stood
looking over the black with a
curious, subtly menacing and sar-
donic air Of interest. Then he took
a cigar from the box on the table,
lit 1t and sat on the divan, speak
ing fluently in harsh Arabic.
81 have not forgotten you, ne
gro," he said. "You were an exc
. cutioner at the palace Of the
Khalifa eight years ago. How do
you come here with these white
men?"
Ell Addar spoke swiftly but con-
cisely Of his escape from Omdur-
man, Of his fight in the train of
the Khalifa, of his second escape
into the far south after the battle
Of Umm Dabrekat, of his return
in due course, of his attempt to
follow peaceful pursuits and
finally Of his employment by big
game hunters who, now that the
Sudan was becoming more settled,
were coming more frequently and
in increasing numbers to Kordofan
and the adjoining countries.
"You were headman to the ex-
pedition Of these white men,"
said the renegade as Ell Addar
ceased abruptly at motion of the
lear brown hand. "In the desert
you said that they were great
lords in their own hand, and that
for their safety heavy ransom
would be paid. What do you
know of these-great lords?"
There was a significant and
sardonic pause of the jarring
voice before the last two words,
and the strange, slaty greyness of
fear lightened the eavy face of
the headman.
"Lord, l have overheard them
talking together at the end of the
days journey" he said eagerly.
"The' Effendi Marchurst-he that
was dragged by the camel-is rich
and will be 81 me day a great lord
in his own land, wealthy and
powerful"
With a desperate anxiety Ell
Addar related all he had CLEANED
from the scraps of conversation
between Marcrurst and Hoodless,
overheard during the expedition.
He painted a future for March
urst so glowing, yet with such odd,
puerile limitations due to his COM
plete ignorance of life in England,
that had he not been inventing
and lying for his very life it must
have been merely humorous.
The Red Emir, indeed, did
smile once or twice-if a sour
and savage t., list of the lips can
be called a smile-and presently
he raised his hands.
"Liarv' he said. "You speak
of things Of which you have no
kncH iSuSe.
The big frame of the negro
cropped and contracted. His eyes
rolled in despair as he realized
that he had failed to attract this
tiger of the desert to the bait of
great riches he had tried SO
urgently to describe. Another idea
flashed into his mind.
Lord, l have spoken the truth
according to my powers. 1t m.y
be that / am wrong in many things
that have tried to tell" he said,
in a queer whining voice. "But
there Is one who can tell of these
matters better than I. A woman"
The Red Emir stirred.