The Washington times., 1922-05-25
By e. M. HULL.

Nt1S hdu Ucc QulIc IlkHI euouI
- tho capabilities Of the horses.
~ They responded without any
apparent effort to the further do
mand made of them. The one in
particular that Diana was riding
moved in a swift, easy gallop that
was the perfection of motion.
They had been riding for some
hours when they came to the first
oasis that had been sighted since
leaving the one where the mid day
halt was made. Diana pulled up
her horse to look at II, for IL was
unusually beautiful in the lu1uri-
BUSINESS and arrangement of its
group OF palms and leafy bushes.
Some pigeons were cooling softly,
hidden from sight amongst tho
trees, with a plaintiye melancholy
that somehow seemed in keeping
with the deserted spot. Beside the
well, forming q triangle, stood what
had been three particularly fine
palm trees, but the tops had been
broken off about twenty feet up
from the ground, and the mutilated
trunks reared themselves bare and
desolate-looking. Diana took off
her heavy helmet and tossed it to
the man behind her. and sat look.
ing at the oasis, while the faint
breeze that had sprung up stirred
her thick. short hair, and cooled
her hot head. The sad notes Of the
pigeons and the broken palms. that
with their unusualness vaguely
suggested a tragedy, lent an air OF
mystery to the place that pleased
her.
She turned eagerly to Mustafa
Ali. why did you not arrange
for the camp to be here? 1t would
have been a long enough ride"
The man fidgeted in his saddle,
lingering his beard uneasily, his
eyes wandering past Diana's and
looking at the broken trees. mo
man rests here, Mademoiselle. It
is the place of devils. The curse
OF Allah IS upon It," he muttered,
touching his horse with his heel,
and making it sidle restlessly-an
obvious hint that Diana ignored.
1T like it," she persisted obsi-
nately.
He made a quick gesture with
his fingers. 1T Is accursed. Death
turks beside those broken palm
trees" he said, looking at her Curl
ously.
She jerked her head with a sud
den smile. For you, perhaps. but
not for me. Allah's curse rests
only upon those who fear IL. But
since you are afraid, Mustafs Ali,
let us go on" She gave a little
light laugh. and Mustafa Ali kicked
his horse savagely as he followed.
The distance before her spread
out cleanly with the sharp distinct
ness that precedes the setting sun.
She rode on until she began TO
wonder IL II would indeed be night
fal before she reached her destina-
ton. They had ridden longer and
faster than had ever been intend
ed. It seemed odd that they had
not overtaken the baggage camels.
She looked at her watch with a
frown. Where is your caravan,
Mustata An?" she called. "1 see
no sign of an oasis and the dark
ness will come"
"If Mademoiselle had started
earlier" he said sullenly.
"It had started earlier It
would have been too far. Tomor.
row we will arrange it otherwise"
she said firmly.
Tomorrow" he growled indis-
tinctly.
Diana looked at him keenly.
What did you say7" she asked
haughtily.
His hand went to his forehead
mechanically. Tomorrow is with
Allah" he murmured with unctu-
Gus piety.
A retort trembled on Diana's lips,
but her attention was distracted
from her annoying guide to a cci-
lection Of black specks FAR off
across the desert. They were too
far away for her to see clearly,
but she pointed to them. peering
at them intently. "Seew she cried.
us that the caravan7"
"As Allah willis he replied moro
piously than before. and Diana
wished, with a sudden feeling OF
irritation, that he would stop rele-
eating his responsibilities TO the
Deity and take n little more active
personal interest In his missing
camel train.
The black specks were moving
fast across the level plain. Very
soon Diana saw that II was not the
slow, leisurely camels that they
were overtaking, hut band of