Evening star., 1923-04-25

reported as among the missing when
the gangs reported for work. No one
| knew. or dared Inquire into what had
become of them. If Ben-Ali knew.
none were the wiser for IL. The
young women of Kater were in dread
of him; but even he, with all his pow :
er. found the wooing of a maiden a
very hazardous undertaking, owing to
the very strict custom of Arabia in
this respect. the honor of its maidens
being we'll known slogan. that was
|zealously adhered to.
The Arabians, who were adroit,
commenced with the men folks of the
coveted maiden. bending these rela-
tives to their service by fair means or
foul. to work upon the maiden's obe-
dience.
Ben-Ali had watched the budding
beauty of JilBett with eager eyes,
determining she should be his bride.
Daniel Bannock made vigorous OBJ
lection. He knew we'll the disposition,
AS well as the chafacter and reputa-
tion of the crafty Arabian, the des-
perado OF Katar. He had been ac-
cused of smuggling opium into the
country; the charge was not proven,
however--the man who had brought
1t to the attention of the authorities
was among the missing when the day
of trial came
Jl-Bett spurned the advances of
Ben-Ali. This did not discourage him
in the least. After the manner of his
race, he applied himself the more as
siduously TO controlling the will of
the stubborn old grandfather. Slim
ulants, as we'll as the product of the
poppy, were strictly taboo in katar.
but gradually it became apparent
Daniel Bannock was being kept sur
reptitiously supplied with the latter.
His ghastly face. and the trembling
of his hands. which had once won
world wide fame for him for being SO
steady and SO true, told their own
story mutely, but piteously.
The company no longer brought
gems for him to cut or polish. jill
Bett was the very last person to dis
cover the cause of her old grand
fathers condition.
All of hey pleadings with the old
man not to let Ben-Ali come to their
home were quite useless. He would
promise faithfully. only TO break his
word over and over again. The Arab
always paid his visit when he knew
Jil-Bett was at work in the oceans
depth, and so overpoWering had be-
come his influence, he had gained
from Bannock the promise Jil-Bett
should wed him ere the fruit of the
date tree ripened and was gathered
again.
Jil-Bett's grief. her pleadings. aye!
her prayers. were of no avail. 1t
dawned upon the girls mind quite
suddenly the way and means the
Arab had employed to cause her
grandfather to become so subservi-
ent TO his will. Bannock vowed to
her she should wed Ben-Ali. jill
Bett vowed just as solemnly that she
would not.
He has worried terrible evil upon
you. grandfather" she would sob
bitterly. as she twined her arms about
his neck. 1T is not too late to quit /;
take no more Of those dreadful pow
ders that make you turn from me.
Jil-Bett, who loves you so dearly. and
become A raging creature whose only
solace is Ben-Alis poppy powder.
dear"
All her prayers and pleadings fell
upon deaf ears.
You must overcome your dislike
for Ben-Ali, especially as you are to
marry him so soon" he would NUT
ter incoherently.
Jil-Bett's arms would fall from
about him. Know this. grand
father" she would answer vehement
You could choke out what life there
is in me. but with my last breath l
would still refuse to wed a person
whom SO abhor No power on earth
can force me to do so.''
I'VE shall see when the time
comes!' screamed the old man. shak-
Ing a trembling finger at her.
IT was on morning after Just
such a scene Jil-Bett set out at early
dawn to her work. 1t was fully an
hour too early, but she felt heart
sick and desoIate; she wanted to sit