The Washington times., 1922-07-06

beside MIN, ner nanus CiusShB
the breast of his soft shirt.
"Ahmedr What is 1T
You are hdrt--your wound"
she cried, her voice sharp with
anxiety.
y He caught her cropping hands.
and rising. pulled her gently to
her feet, his fingers clenched
round hers. looking down at her
strangely. Then he turned from
her without q word. and wrench
ing open the flap of the tent.
flung It back and stood in the
open doorway staring out into
the night. He looked oddly slen-
der and tall silhouetted against
the darkness. A gleam of per-
plexity crept into her frightened
eyes. and one hand went up to
her throat.
What is it?" she whispered
again breathlesSly.
1T is that we start for Oran
tomorrow" he replied. His voice
sounded dull and curiously un-
like, and with a little start Diana
realized that he was speaking in
English. Her eyes closed and
she swayed dizzily.
You are sending me away2"
she gasped slowly.
There was a pause before he
answered.
Yes"
The curt monosyllable lashed
her like a whip. She reeled un-
der it. painting and wild-eyed.
"Why7"
He did not answer and the
color famed suddenly into her
face. She went closer to him,
her breast heav!ng. trying to
speak. but her throat was
parched and her lips shaking so
that no words would come,
"It Is because you are tired Of
me?" she muttered at last
hoarsely. AS you told me you
would tire. as you tired of-those
other women?" Her voice died
away with an accent Of horror
in It.
Again he did not answer. but
he WINGED, and his hands that
were hanging at his sides clenched
slowly.
Diana flung one arm across
her face to shut him out from
her sight. Her heart was break
ing. and she longed with a feel
ing Of sick misery to crawl to
his feet, but q remnant Of pride
kept her back.
He spoke at length in the same
level. toneless voice. "I will take
you to the first desert station out.
side of oran. where you can Join the
train. For your own sake I must
not be seen with you in oran. as I
am known there. II you should
by any chance be recognised or
your identity should leak out, you
can say that for reasons Of your
own you extended your trip, that
your messages miscarried any
thing that occurs to you. But II
is not at all likely to happen.
There are many travellers passing
through Oran. CASTOR can do oil
business and make all arrange
ments for you. He will take you
to Marseilles. and IL you need him
he will go with you to Paris, Cher.
bourg, or London-which ever you
wish. As you know. you can trust
him absolutely. When you do not
need him any longer. he will come
back to me. IL will not trouble
you any more. You need never be
afraid that will come into your
life again. You can forget these
months in the desert and the un.
civilized Arab who crossed your
path. To keep out of your way is
the only amends I can make"
She flung up her head. Quick,
suspicious jealousy and love AND
pride contending nearly -choked
her. why don't you speak the
truth?" she cried. wildly. "why
DON'T you say what you really
mean?-that you have no further
use for me. that 1t amused you to
take me and torture me to satisfy
your whim, but the whim is
passed. 1t does not amuse you
any longer. You are. tired Of me
and SO you get rid of me with all
precautions. Do you think the
truth can hurt me. Nothing that
you can do can hurt me now. You
make me the vile thing I am for
your pleasure, and now for your
pleasure you throw me on one
side. How many times a
year does CASTOR take your dis
carded mistresses back to France:"
Her voice broke into a terrible
lonok,