The Washington times., 1922-05-28


surmounted by crisp. close-cut
brown hair. 1t was the handsom-
est and cruelest face that she had
ever seen. Her gaze was drawn in
stinctively to his. He Was
looking at her with fierce burn.
ing eyes that swept her until
she felt that the boyish
clothes that covered her slen-
der limbs were stripped from
her. leaving the beautiful white
body bare under his passionate
stare.
She shrank back, quivering,
dragging the lapels of her riding
Jacket together over her breast
with clutching hands, obeying an
impulse that she hardly under
stood.
''Who are you?" she gasped
hoarsley.
81 am the Sheik Ahmed Ben
Hassan."
The name conveyed nothing.
She had never heard 1t before.
She had spoken s'ithout thinking
in French, and in French he re-
piled to her.
why have you brought me
here?" she asked, fighting down
the fear that was growing more
terrible every moment.
He repeated her words with a
slow smile. "Why have l brought
you here? Bon Dieu! Are you
not woman enough to know"
She shrank back further,
wave Of color rushing into her
face that receded Immediately.
leaving her whittier than she had
been before. Her eyes fell under
the kindling flame in his. II
don't know what you mean" she
whispered family, with shaking
lips.
II think you do" He laughed
softly, and his laugh frightened
her more than anything he had
said. He came toward her. ard
although she was swaying on her
feet, desperately she tried to
evdde him. but with quick
movement he caught her in his
arms.
Terror. agonizing. soul-shaklrg
terror such as she had never inn
agined, took hold of her. The
flaming light of desire burning
IN his eyes turned her sick and
faint. Her body throbbed with
the consciousness OF a knowledge
that appalled, her. She under
stood his purpose with a horror
that made each separate nerve
In her system shrink against the
understanding that had come to
her under the consuming fire OF
his ardent gaze, and in the fierce
embrace that was drawing her
shaking limbs closer and closer
body. She writhed in his arms
as he crushed her to him in
sudden access OF possessive pass
ion. His head bent slowly down
to her, his eyes burned deeper,
and, held immovable, she endured
the first kiss she had ever re-
A4 Nf 10
scorching lips, the clasp of his
arms, the close union with his
warm. strong body robbed her
OF all strength, of all power Of
resistance.
With great sob her eyes
closed wearily, the hot mouth
pressed on hers was like a mar
Cotic, drugging her almost into
tnsensibility. Numbly she felt
him gather her high up into his
arms, his lips still clinging closely.
and carry her across the tent
through curtains into an adjoin-
Ing room. He laid her down on
soft cushions. DO not make
me wait too long," he whispered,
and left her.
And the whispered words sent
. shock through her that seemed
TO wrench her deadened nerves
apart, galvanising her into sud.
den strength. She sprang up
with wild. despairing eyes. and
hands Clenched frantically across
her heaving breast; then. with a
bitter cry, she dropped on to the
floor, her arms flung out across
the wide. luxurious bed. 1t was
not true. IT was not true, It
could not be-this awful thing
that had happened to her-not to
her, Diana Mayo! 1t was a
dream, CHASTITY dream that
would pass and free her from
this agony. Shuddering, she
raised her head. The strange room
swan before her eyes Oh, God, 1t
was not a dream. 1t was real,
It was an actual fact from which
there was no escape. She was
trapped, powerless. defenceless.