Evening star., 1923-04-30

= TAP1.ES saw that he was quite
correct IN his surmiSe. The
~ man and woman indicated were
leaning forward, watching him
Il i7teutly. This did not strike him as
81 unusual procedure; it was certain
| ]y the habit Of most of these fisher
-"lks to come down to the dock t.
SO the steamers from far-off coun-
Fries; come in; II was the only ex-
rItement they had, aud was vel,
worth witnessing.
Even from that distance Staples
could see this Mrs. Nudge was nc
"rdiuary person: she wore her sin,
Dle Garb with an air Of refinement
= fc lid not think 50 we'll Of the man
= II" stood beside her, whom he
dubbed in his mind as an uucoutl1
boob. II was evidently the mating
''t q lady with q clown. lie smiled
- the words OF an old saw recurred
20 HIM
''Out Of TIE way hamlcts. and poll
ti's, make strange bcd-fellows."
\ moment later Staples was stand
ing before her. Lifting his hat. he
inquired if snc was Mrs. Nudge. He
was not prepared to see her draw
back from Eiln in absolute terror
covering as though he had struck
her Il sudden blow.
lie made haste TO allay her alarm
explaining tho mate had pointed her
out from the deck Of the steamer as
an English speaking person. WhC
could Very likely inform him concern
ing an elderly man who vas supposed
10 live in Katar-Daniel Bannock, BY
trade. iapldary.
The womanS face cleared. Her
""mposure returned a once. OH, Yes
she could tell him all about the Ban
nocks: TO ono knew the old lapidary
and his granddaughter, Jil-Bett, bet
. ser than she.
At this juncture they were joined
f.y a man who looked in ulsmay from,
one to the other.
This is my husband. sir she an
ncunced To Staples, and TO the man
she said hurriedly: ''The stranger. Is
not III search Of us--he is lnquirihs
1o- the Baunccks.
Yes, yes, responded the nan
What is it he would know.
If the old man is still at his trade.
cutting precious stones. said the
woman. and I'm telling him yes
when he finds work to do.
SURELY hc can lind work. if any
rua can They arc few and far be
1ween who are 50 shiIiful." remarked
staples.
Right ou are. sir" returned the
pleased at this fulsome compliment
~ his old ueighbor.
His wife, as usual. lost her pru-
dence when old Bannuck vas dis
cussed. We'll, lie wouldn't find work
lacking if it were not for his habit
lier husband shook his fist menac-
ingIy at her behind Staples back. 1t
was his turn to shut Mrs. Nudge Oft
~egarding the disclosure she was
about I" make, taking the words
ulihiy out of her mouth. He noticed
fEc stranger was leaning forward
auSiously, intensely interested.
''Women-folk make Il lot o'nothin',
declared Mr.. Nudge. 'JIabit--indeed :.
When mans old why shouldn't he
smoke his pipe all day long In the
-unshine-Nithout women 'fastentn'
him that he's lazy. Huh. restin
isn't Iaziness--Arn right. SIR
staples nodded. tho mans explana-
-iunof Bannock's habit, had stilled the
1,ueasinesS lie was experiencing.
Turning u his wife. Nudge re-
''farked-- 'No doubt this ere gent
- from u great newspaper, an has
cropped off here To hear the old man
@pin some OF his wonderful yarns
.hout the sea: am ! right, sir":'
I'm not telling tales out of school,
J." answered. but he led the inquisi
tive Nudge to believe he thought him
ricver at guessing.
You'll find his place at the. further
nd of tho road" directed Mr.. Nudge.
'F'irst, ia the place where the govern
nent officials arc housed; the next,
lpug. square building is the hospital;
further on is the tavern where the
l.ugllsh speaking divers put up, and
right next to it is the adobe place of
r'te. Bannocks. We live-''
Staples waited to hear no more:
using his hat again, he turned alb
fIptly away, striking into the path
fi'inted out; his swinging stride soon
''irried him out OF their sight.
At every few steps he looked care
fu - h.s
vas followed by any of the Arabs he
dd noted }oitering about the dock.
The precious gem. which lie carried
arefully concealed about his person.
ad been II source of much worriment
- him. He felt that not one of those
-'rabs would hold human life of ac-
count II the determination came to
rob him.
, 1t was certainly lonely road upon
AVrhich he was entering, and he car
I'isd no firearms, nothing, in fact, to
l'efend himself In case an attack was
made upon him.
At this juncture, to his alarm, he
hsheld two Of the natives approach
ING from an abrupt turn in the road
lu5t ahead of him. He advanced with
i,rm tread, passed the two, who stop
Jed short; he knew they Were looking
after him, but perhaps that was their
rustom.
Hehad no difficulty in locating Dan
last asleep on the doorstep. His pipe
had fallen from his hand, lying in
pieces at his feet.
AS Staples stood before him. re-
Garding him curiously. he saw with
astonishment that. although he was
ast asleep. undoubtedly. his eyes
were wide open, staring straight
ahead Age. in this climate. must
produce such an unusual condition,
lie concluded.
While he pondered as to whether
he should awaken the old man or
wait patiently for him to drift back
from the land of dreams, Bannock. as
hough sensing another's presence,
s;owly wakened.
He passed his hands over his eyes
lerkily. as though not quite sure
" neither or no his vision was playing
him a trick.
Staples advanced, saying: Il think
/ have the pleasure OF addressing
Mr.. Bannock, the well known lapi-
r3ryist."
The old man rose totteringly to his
'eht, staring at the stranger. drawing
his right hand slowly over his fore
nead, as though to brush the cob
webs from his BRAIN and sight.
II was not until Staples had spoken