Evening star., 1926-11-02
CHAPTER XXI.

''I am glad" said Omar, that my
humble offering is appreciated"
The soldier who stood beside him
glanced at the white kidskin tunic. the
scarlet mantle and the jeweled sword
that Omar wore.
You are a trader, perhaps" he
SAID.
~ trader-after a fashion" the
stranger replied. You were speaking.
were you not, Of taking my trays-in
trader"
The soldier laughed. And I think
I shall do So he said. land sell
faem and share the money with Am
sanlus."
f-nar quietly moved into the room.
"One time" he said, softly Il told
Antonius here that no man ever took
from me anything that is mine-un-
less I gave it freely. Also l showed
him one reason why"
Facing the soldier, he stretched out
his arm and lifted the Roman shield
from the others shoulder. The shield
was curved and bound with heavy
iron Taking it between his two
hands, Omar pressed upon the edges.
In q moment there was a loud crack,
and with a twist of his powerful
wrists Omar held the shield in two
sections. broken completely through
the middle.
Soldier" he repeated. handing back
the broken parts, mo man takes from
me that which is mine"
The Roman looked ruefully at the
wreckage in his hands. You could
have proved it to me in a less costly
way than this" he said. Il shall be
triced up and whipped when the com
mander sees my shield
Omar stepped to the door and Whis-
tied upon his fingers. A servant ap-
peared--one of those who had brought
Antonius his breakfast.
Bring one of the two Roman
Shields" he ordered.
AS the man trotted away, Omar
turned to the trio inside the house.
My men brought to me the arms of
the soldiers who were slain beside
the Jordan" he said Il shall give
you a shield to replace the one [
broke. But. solder'--he laid his fore
finger on the Romans breast-"do not
seek ever again to tamper with any
thing that is mine"
The soldier drew back a pace, II
never shall" he said. His gaze was
fixed in Fascination upon the black
eyes Of the stranger Il shall do what
YOU command me and be your follower
whenever you desire"
Omar smiled. well said. soldier.
And now YOU may take these'-he
motioned at the brass trays upon the
ground-"and sell them. if you will.
Divide the money with Antonius."
With that he was gone. The sol
diers and the girl watched his mantle
Hutter through the doorway and then
looked at one another blankly.
II fear that man." said Maryam.
her voice shaking.
"a I do - ca Id tho SOldfpr at the
door.
AS he spoke Omar's servant came
and thrust into his hands a shield.
fashioned exactly like the broken one
that now lay upon the ground. Hold
ing it before him and carefully exam
ming ii. the soldier took his depar-
ture
"A strange thing" said Antonius.
thoughtfully. Il brought to Omar
his first news of the battle beside the
Jordan. And vet here he has the
shields Of the men who were slain"
The girl shuddered. 'He did not
look at me. and he did not speak to
me. yet my flesh quivers as | think
of him.
She moved to the door upon her
hands and knees and looked out.
''He has gone" she said. returning.
"My father has told Of strange things
that were done In the old days. when
the Jews were captive in Babylon
of strange men of evil power, who
We're the priests and soothsaYers and
who led the children of Israel into
wicked ways" She shivered again.
''To this day our speech is not in the
ancient tongue Of our fathers. 1t Is
only in the synagogue and in the tenn
pie that Hebrew is spoken now"
Her eyes were upraised and shin
ing. "They corrupted our voices with
their charms and defiled our temples
and bowed down our heads. But the
God of Israel shall triumph" She
stood up and stretched her arms above
her head. THE stranger and the ont
law sit in the market places of Israel,
end the barbarian gives his law 10 the
elders. and the descendant of a slave
sits on the throne Of David. But be
hold, Il new time comes.
She drew her hands slowly down
ward and clasped them at her breast.
Antonius stirred uneasily.
You speak in the tone Of
priestess uttering a curse" he com
planned.
"a humble maiden praying for her
people, she said in her normal
manner
But IL this language IS not Hebrew.
then what is it?" he demanded.
She shook her head. 1T Is not He
brew. 1t is the tongue the Jews
learned in Chaldea. and to this day
the people of Palestine do not know
the language in which solomon save
forth his laws and David chanted his
psalms. The rahhis and the priests
must translate the Scriptures from
the old tongue into the new, 1t is
the spell that was cast upon us by
me priests of Babylon"
She leaned far over in order that
she might whisper the remainder of
her fear. II think this stranger who
Just was here is a priest Of Bel or
Of Ashtaroth."
She drew back to watch the effect
upon him. Antonius only shrugged
his shoulders.
II do not care if he is Il priest"
said he. nor of what god. He has
been good 10 ne"
The girl Laid her hand upon his arm,
But what price will he ask? What
will he take from you when the time
comes for settlements
The soldier waved his hand indiffer-