Evening star., 1926-11-18
Continued from Yesterdays starr
CHAPTER XXXVIH.

On. AarOn'S tone was one OF re-
lief. He lifted his voice and respond
ed: Peace be unto you, Ezra"
And unto you, peace" came the
Voice from below, in the terms of the
ancient formula.
Bar the door, the shepherd called.
There was g. clatter, and Ezra re-
l'orted that the portal was closed and
locked. Aaron opened the trap and
swung down into the room. Ezra
stepped into the soldiers range of
vision.
The two men placed each his right
hand on the others left shoulder and
kissed the right cheek; then the left
hand on the right shoulder and kissed
the left cheek. Each inquired after
The others health.
Here" called Antonius from above
lie had been watching the exchange
of greetings with impatience. You
men have no time for ceremony.
Somebody will come"
Without needing him they proceed
ed with the exchange of compliments
that good breeding demanded in Pal
estfne. Then Ezra sat down and
Aaron stood before him with his
hands folded. The little elder begged
him to be seated also, beside him.
Somebody will come" warned An
tonius from the ceiling again.
S'Ilu lIIe SIlepiISId
ftently. II have not seen the good
elder for some days. and 1 wish to do
him honor"
Ezra now came TO the object of his
visit. Swift runners have gone to
Herod to tell him that there is indeed
p. plot against him." he said. II have
been told that Jacob the publican is
accused"
II have heard So" said Aaron dryly.
Hnt~ nt-iac np hn np,11 hrvrn a
been sent on every byroad in search
OF Laila." the elder went on. THE
three ArabianS that were taken at the
inn, sorely wounded, have been put to
The torture again and again, but their
lips are sealed and they will tell moth
ing
They are good fighters also" Of
fered AntoniuS from above.
Men from the village have been
driven, by the lash, as guides into the
mountains, leading parties of Herods
guards who seek Jared and his fam
hy," Ezra proceeded. He hesitated.
And the report is abroad that a Ro-
man soldier has confessed matters to
the tetrarch's agent that should not
have been told" TIe looked timidly
upward at Antonius' face, framed in
the opening of the trap door.
His countenance cleared a little, for
the soldier laughed. Even Aaron re-
laxed and smiled. "He did, indeed tell
what he should not have told" the
shepherd confirmed, but 1t was all
lies. l heard him"
Ezra breathed deeply in relief II
was sure he would not reveal my part
in Jared's escape" he said, NOR other
matters"
do you know what happened?" An
toniuS demanded. THAT miserable
scribe stole all my pieces of gold"'
Ezra's face was expressive of much
resignation. mo natter he said.
They were lost to me anyway"
ITO YOU" roared the soldier. "They
were mine"
The elder hastily changed the sub
iect. There has been a conference
Of the elder men of the village" he
said, land it has been thought best
that the soldier be taken away from
.IeZreel secretly. We surmised that
YOU had hidden him in the roof, but
n is hard to feed him there and to
bring drink to him SO long as HerodS
troops are about. And" he added. 'if
We do not feed him he will doubtless
tell what he knows"
Antonius' voice was upraised
promptly. "Tell?" he cried. "If l am
not well fed I'll shout from the house
tops about
Not so loud" said Aaron. Speak
quietly. You are like Il mischievous
boy"
Il must have my food and drink"
muttered Antonius, even If l can't
keep my fingers on any gold"
The shepherd drew his fingers
through his beard "It will be difficult
20 move this soldier, for the whole vii
lage is under suspicion, and there will
t'e guards abroad day and night" he
said.
1T is whispered" Ezra continued,
dropping his voice. that Herod has
said that every man and woman in
.IeZreel Will he taken to prison If the
plot against him is not soon dis
"losed. He says it is strange that the
trabians have been here twice with
out numbering and without looting
II IS well known that they love to
Nlay and steal. He believes we all
may be in league with them
Then" said Aaron, "if Herod feels
as you say, eavesdroppers will be set
10 listen at every house and men will
lie In wait by the wayside to overhear
conversa tionS. This soldier and l.
TOO, must lies in the ceiling until
Herods men are gone
II won't stay here without food"
announced Antonius.
Ezra was preparing 10 offer 4 sug-
ratified. II was the labor of only an
instant for Aaron to swing to his hid
ing place and to shut the trap. The
latch ratified again. Ezra FASTENED to
he door and opened it.
Antonius placed his eye TO the peep
hole. He could not see the door. but
ne heard Ezra's voice say familiarly.
Come"
The door shut and the bar thumped
into place.
Master" said a new voice. "a sol
der of Herod's guard is being placed
in every house in JeZreel. 1t has been
commanded that no one may go about
he streets without permission. Who
ever moves abroad after sunset is to
he slain. No one may enter or leave
the village without a writing from the
captain of the guard"
rs that all your sSage?" Ezra
asked
1T is ALL" said the man.
Then remember" the elder said
that you have been in the inn. and
the only person you saw was your
master"
II hear and obey" said the servant
The bar of the door ratified. Light
streamed into the room and was i'm
open the trap.
MY good friend" he said. ''it is
time for you to leave. We must re-
main here and run our chance"
Then" said the elder, farewell.
It l can bring food and drink / shall
10 so. If hot"
Antonius interrupted. IF not" he
said. I've been hungry before. and l
suppose the shepherd has too. We
can be hungry again.
The Ettle elder went away. pulling
tAe door partly shut behind him.
The two men in their hiding place
shifted themselves. stretched out and