The Washington times., 1922-06-14

be ready to rider" she asked indif-
ferently, with a simulated yawn.
flirting over the pages.
81 cant ride with you today. I
am going to meet Saint Hubert.
His courier only came an hour ago.
1t Is two years since I have seen
him."
Diana slipped off the couch and
went to the open doorway. A de.
tachment of men were already
waiting for him, and, close by the
tent, Shaitan Of the ugly temper
was biting and tidgetins in the
hands Of the grooms. She scowled
at the beautiful, wicked creatures
flat.laid ears and rolling eyes. She
would have backed him fearlessly
herself II the Sheik had let her. but
she was nervous for him every
time he rode the vicious beast. No
one but the Sheik could manage
him. and though she knew that he
had perfect mastery over the
horse, she never lost the feeling
of nervousness, a sensation the old
Diana had never. never expert.
enced. and she wished today that It
had been any other horse but
shaitan waiting for him.
She went back to him slowly.
1T makes my head ache to stay
in all day. May Castor not ride
with me9" she asked difidently, her
eyes anywhere but on his face. He
had not allowed her to ride with
anyone except himself since her
attempted escape, and to her ten.
tative suggestions that the rides
with the valet might be resumed
he had given a prompt refusal. He
hesitated now. and she was afraid
he was going TO refuse again. and
she looked up wistfully. please.
Monseigneur." she whispered
humbly.
He looked at her for q moment
with his chin squarer than usual.
Are you going to run away
again?" he asked bluntly.
Her eyes filled slowly with
tears, and she turned her head
away to hide them. mo. am not
going to run away again." she said
very low.
Very well. I will tell him. He
will be delighted. 10 bon CASTOR.
He is your very willing slave in
spite OF the trick you played him.
He has a beautiful nature. le
pauvre diable. He is not an Arab,
eh, little Diane?" The mocking
smile was back in his eyes As he
turned her face up to his In the
usual peremptory way. Then he
held out the revolver he had been
cleaning with sudden seriousness
"I want you to carry this alws ys
now when you ride. Ibraheim
OMAR is still in the neighborhood."
She looked at It blankly.
But- she stammered.
He knew what was in her mind.
and he stopped and kissed her
lightly. II trust you" he said
quietly. and went out.
She followed him to the door.
the revolver dangling from her
hand, and watched him mount and
ride away. His horsemanship was
superb and her eyes giowed as
they followed him. She went back
into the tent and slipped the re-
volver into the holster he had left
lying on a stool. and, tucking II
and Saint Hubert's novel. which
she took from the bookcase. under
her arm. went into the bedroom
and, calling to Zilah to pull off her
riding boots, threw herself on the
bed to laze away the morning. and
to try and picture the author from
the book he had written.
She hated him in advance: she
was jealous Of him and Of his
coming. The Sheik's Sudden new
tenderness had given rise to n
hope she hardly dared allow her
self to dwell upon. Might not the
power that she had exercised over
other men beStill extended to him
in spite Of the months that he lad
been indifferent to anything except
the mere physical attraction she
had for him7 Was II not possible
that out of that attraction might
develop something finer and better
than the primitive desire she Rad
aroused7 Oriental though he was.
might he not be capable Of q deep
and lasting affection7 He might
have loved her II no outside influ-
ence had come to interrupt the
routine that had become so inti-
mately a part Of his life.
(To Be Continued Tomorrow