The Washington times., 1922-05-28

lying near her, open, partially
unpacked. The missing baggage
camels had been captured first.
then. She was at least to be
allowed the use Of her own be-
longings. A gleam Of anger shot
into her tired eyes and she swung
round with a sharp question; but
the Arab girl shook her head
unoomprehendlngl drawing back
with frightened eyes; and to all
further questions she remained
silent. with down-drooping mouth
like q scared child. She was lit
tie more. She evidently only
half understood what was said
to her and could give no answer
to what she did understand. and
turned away with obvious relief
when Diana stopped speaking.
She went across the tent and
pulled aside a curtain leading
into a bathroom that was as big
and far better equipped than the
one that Diana had had in the
Indian tent. and which, up to
now. had seemed tho last word
in comfort and luxury. Though
the girls knowledge Of French
was limited her hands were deft
enough. but her ignorance Of the
intricacies of a European woman's
toilette was very apparent, and
constantly provoked in her
girlish giggle that changed hur-
riedly 10 a startled gravity when
Diana looked at her. ALaushter
was very far from Diana, but
she could not help smiling now
and again at her funny mistakes.
The girl, with her big, wonder
ing eyes, her shy, hesitating
French and childish curiosity. in
some indefinable way gave back
to Diana the self-control that had
slipped from her. Her pride
reasserted itself, rigidly supprnos-
ing any sign OF feeling or emo.
ton that could be noticed by the
gentle. inquisitive eyes fixed on
her.
The hot bath that took the sore
ness out OF her limbs brought
back the color to her face and lips.
She even tubbed her head, rub
bing the glistening curls dry with
fierce vigor, striving to rid her
self OF the contamination that
seemed to have saturated her. YET
the robes against which they had
been pressed were spotless' and
the hands that had held her werc
fastidiously clean, even to the
well-kept nails.
She came back into the bed.
room to find Zilah on her knees
poring over her scanty but di.
verse wardrobe with bewtlder-
ment, lingering the evening
dresses with shy hands. and final
ly submitting tentatively to Diana
the tweed skirt that had been
packed with her other things tnr
the journey when Oran should be
reached But Diana put it aside
and pointing to the riding clothes
she had wore the previous day.
In them she felt more able to face
what might be before her, the
associat tons connected with them
seemed to give her moral
strength, in them she would feel
herself again-Diana the boy, not
the shivering piece Of womanhoOd
that she had been with tears AID
agony last night. She bit her lip
as she stamped her foot down into
the long boot.
She sent the girl away at last.
and noticed that she avoided pass
ing into the adjoining room, out
vanished instead through the cur
tains leading into the bathroom.
Did that mean that in the QUAR-
room the Arab Sheik was waiting?
The thought banished the selt.cor.
troll she had regained and sent her
weakly on to the side Of tho bed
with her face hidden in her hands
Was he there? Her questions TO
the little waiting girl had only
been convened with the where.
abouts Of the camp to which she
had been brought and also Of the
fate Of the caravan; Of the mar
himself she had not been able 10
bring herself to speak The
strange fear that he had IN
spired in her filled her with rage
and humiliation. The thought Of
seeing him again brought a shame
that was unspeakable. But she
conquered the agitation that
threatened to grow beyond re
straint, pride helping her again.
1t was better to face the newt
able Of her own free will than be
fetched whether she would or not.
For she knew now the strength
Of the man who had abducted her,
knew that physically he was help