The Washington times., 1922-07-05

ly worshipped her.
It was very airless even out-of-
doors. She peered into the dark
ness, and there was little light
from the crecent moon, and she
could zee nothing. She moved a
few steps forward from under the
awning to look up at the brilliant
stars twinkling overhead. She
had watched them so often from
Ahmed Ben Hassan's arms; they
had become. an integral part OF the
passionate Oriental nights. He
loved them. and when the mood
was on him. watched them untir-
ingly, teaching her to recognize
them, and telling her countless
Arab legends connected with
them, sitting Under the awning far
into the night, till gradually his
voice faded away from her ears.
and long after she was asleep he
would sit motionless, staring up
into the heavens, smoking endless
cigarettes. Would II be given to
her to ever to watch them again
sparkling against the blue.black-
ness Of the sky. with the curve OF
his arm round her and the steady
beat Of his heart under her cheek?
A stab OF pain went through her.
Would anything ever be the same
again? Everything had changed
since the coming Of Raoul de Saint
Hubert. A weary sigh broke
from her lips.
Madam is tired?" respectful
voice murmured at her ear.
Diana started. She had forgot
ten the valet. 1T Is hot. The
tent was sitting" she said evasi-
vely.
Gaston.s devotion was of a kind
that sought practical demonstra.
ton. Madame veut du cafe?" he
suggested tentatively. 1t was his
universal panscae, but at the
moment II sounded almost srotes-
que.
Diana felt an hysterical desire
to laugh which nearly turned into
tears, but she checked herself.
mo. II is too late"
I'm one little moment I will
bring IT," CASTOR urged per
suasiveiy. unwilling to give up his
own qualification in serving her.
mo, Castor. II makes me
nervous" she said gently.
CASTOR heaved quite a tragic
sigh. His own nerves were steel
and his capacity for imbibing large
quantities Of black coffee at any
hour Of the day or night unlimited.
"Une limonade?" he persisted
hopefully.
She let him bring the cool drink
more for his pleasure than for her
own. 'Monseigneur is late" she
said slowly. straining her eyes
again into the darkness.
He will come" replied Castor
confidently. "kopec is restless.
he is always so when monseigneur
is coming"
She looked down for a moment
thoughtfully at the dim shape Of
the hound lying at the mans feet.
and then with last upward glance
at the bright stars turned back
into the tent. All her nervous
fears had vanished in speaking to
CASTOR, who was the embodiment
OF practical common sense: earlier,
when unreasoning terror had
taken such a hold on her, she had
forgotten that he was within call,
faithful and devoted. She picked
up the fallen book. and lying
down again forced herself to read.
but though her eyes followed the
lines mechanically she did not
sense what she was reading, and
all the time her ears were strained
to catch the earliest sound of his
coming.
At last II came. Only a sugges-
ton at first-a wave OF thought
caught by her waiting brain, an
instructive intuition, and she start
ed up tense with expectancy, her
lips parted, her eyes wide, hardly
breathing, listening intently. And
when he came 1t was with unex-
pected suddenness, for. in the
darkness, the little band Of horse
men were invisible until they were
right on the camp, and the horses
hoofs made no sound The stir
caused by his arrival died away
quickly. For a moment there was
a confusion of voices, a Jingle OF
accoutrements, one Of the horses
whinnied. and then in the ensuing
silence she heard him come into
the tent. Her heart raced suffo.
catingIy. There was a murmur Of
conversation, the Sheik's low voice
and Gaston's quick animated
tones answering him, and then the