Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-12-20

white now with fury.
us this jest, O father Of wind?' he cried,
and excited laughter by the taunt implicit in
that appellation.
"An thou'rt the jester" replied Ayoub
with forced calm, "thou'lt find the jest a
costly one"
With shrug Tsamanni turned again to
the dalai.
"a thousand philips said he shortly
"Silence there!" cried the dalai again.
Silence and praise Allah who sends good
prices
zone thousand and one hundred" said
AyOub the irrepressble
And now Tsamanni not only found himself
outbidden but he had reached the outra geous
limit appointed by Asad. He lacked author
tty to go further dared not do so without
first consulting the Basha. Yet il he left the
sOk for that purpose Ayoub would meanwhile
secure the girl. He found himself between
sword and wall. On the one hand did he
permit himself to be outbidden his master
might visit upon him his disappointment On
the other, did he continue beyond the limit so
IDLY mentioned being far beyond all posi-
bility, it might fare no less i'll with him.
He turned to the crowd, waving his arms
in furious gesticulation.
BY the beard of the Prophet this bladder
Of wind and grease makes sport of us He
has no intent to buy. What man ever heard
OF the half of such price for a slave girl?''
Ayoub's answer eloquent; he produced
fat bag and flung it on the ground, where
it fell with a mellow chnk.
There is my SPONSOR he made answer
9rinning in the very best of humors SAVIOR.
ing to the full his enemys rage and discom-
hture, and sayOring it at no cost to himself
shall l count out one thousand and one
hundred philips, dalai"
IF the WAGER Tsamanni is content"
'Dost thou know for whom | buy?" roared
Tsamanni. For the Basha himself Asad-ed-
Din, the exalted of Allah
He advanced upon Ayoub with hands up
held.
What shalt thou say to him. o dog when
he calls thee to account for daring to outbid
him?"
But Ayoub remained unruffled before all
this fury. He spread his fat hands, his eyes
tWinkling, his great lips pursed.
How should l know, since Allah has not
made me all-knowng? Thou shouldst have
said so earlier. Tis thus | shall answer the
Basha should he question me, and the Basha
is just"
And so they stood glazing each at the 9TH
er until the dalai called them back to the
business that was to do.
The price is now one thousand and one
hundred philips. Wilt thou suffer defeat,
Since Allah wills I have no authority to
so further"
Then at one thousand and one hundred
philips, Ayoub, she is
But the sale was not yet to be completed
from the dense and eager thrOng about the
gates rang crisp voice
One thousand and two hundred philips
for the -,ankish girl
The dalai who had conceived that the
limits of madness had been already reached
stood gaping now in fresh amazement. The
mob crowded and cheered and roared be-
tween enthusiasm and derision and even
samanni frightened to see another cham.
plon enter the lists who perhaps would
avenge him upon AyOub. The crowd parted
quickly to right and left. and through it into
the open strobe Sakr-el-Bahr. They recog-
nIzed him instantly, and his name was shout
ed in reclamation by that idoIizing multitude
The Barbary name of his conveyed no in
formation to ROsamund, and her back being
turned to the entrance she did not see him
But she had recognized his voice and she
mad shuddered at the sound. She could make
nothing OF the b. -ng. nor what the purpose
mat surely underlay it to account for the
extraordinary excitement Of the traders
vaguely had she been wondering what das-
tardIy purpose Oliver might intend 10 serve
but now that she heard his voice that wonder
ceased and understanding took its place He
had hung there somewhere in the crowd
awaiting until all competitors but one should
nave been outbidden, and now he stepped
forth to buy her for his own-his slave,
She closed her eyes a moment and praved
God thar ne might not prevail in his intent.
And she was herself again. She heard the
crowd numbering. Ma 'sh'AIIah,' and "Sakr-
elBahr:" and the dalai clamoring sternlv for