Evening star., 1926-11-13
CHAPTER XXXIIT.


inn.
'She came here to get my money"
Antonius said, grinning. 'She stayed
long enough to stab this chief here
and get me something to eat. Yes
and she stole the weapons OF these
Arabians, and sold them. So she got
money after all, though I have none"
Omar gave him an answering smile
and dropped word or two to the
wounded chief. The mans eyes
opened. startled, and he struggled to
arise. Failing, he dropped back, and
spoke to Omar, pleadingly. The lat.
ter placed his fingers to his mouth
and whistled. One of the Arabians
came running around the house.
The chief spoke. sharply, motioning
toward the growing hubbub that
sounded to the north. His follower
ran out and returned at once with his
fellows
They want to take their chief
away-they'll all be put to death if
Herod's soldiers find them," Omar ex-
planned, indifferently. as he gazed
down the street.
Antonius waved his hand LET
MIN go then-I have no wish to ac-
commodate Herod."
The tribesmen carried out their
leader, and Antonius could hear them
shouting as they hastily saddled their
animals and prepared for flight.
A louder trumpet call resounded.
Men and women were lining up.
hundred feet outside the inn, craning
their necks as if awaiting a coming
procession. There was a furry and
Antonius could see q flashing OF
apears above the heads of the crowd.
Foot soldiers" said Omar over his
shoulder. He stood. idly, his arms
folded, his ankles crossed, a half smile
playing upon his lips.
'All l can see is the heads Of their
lances." grumbled Antonius. working
himself nearer to the door.
A shrek came from the throng.
'They clubbed some women out of
The way" explained the stranger.
Six heralds rode by. their shoulders
draped with silk Antonius could see
only the tops of their heads and the
draperies that f1oated in the wind.
There was a deep silence. "Herod
passes, in his litter" Omar explained
after a moment. Behind him, think,
is Herodias. The second litter is
closed"
Another shrieking arose, louder and
more general. THE horse soldiers
are riding down the crowd" said
Omar.
There was scattering of the spec.
tators. Men, women and children ran
for their lives, past the door. After
them, and among them, rode the cav
airy. striking out with whips. A child
fell to the ground, only little way
from where Antonius watched. A
horses hoof fell upon it. and the child
lay still. A woman, bursting through
the crowd, rushed to the side of the
little one and gathered the limp form
to her bosom.
"These petty kings are rough with
their people," the soldier observed.
Omar laughed. 1.-The father of this
Herod." he said, whose name was
Herod also, sent for the principal men
in every village of his kingdom when
he was about to die. And he gave
orders that when his last moment
came they all were to be put to death.
He explained that he wanted his peo
pie to shed genuine tears when he
passed away"
Omar and the soldier chuckled to-
gether over this maneuver of royalty.
did they follow his orders?" the
soldier inquired
Omar shrugged his shoulders. IA
woman interfered," he said. ut was
his daughter. She went down to the
prison as her father breathed his last
gasp and took word that it was his
order that the Jews be freed. When
they were safely away she announced
his dea th."
Women" said Antonius. "are al
ways interfering. But"-his brow
knitted-"I m in favor Of what she
did. l never like to kill men myself
except in battle"
You are soft-hearted." Omar COM
mented
The spectators who had not fed
were surging southwark through the
village now, running and shouting.
Something has happened" Omar
said. looking after the procession Of
the tetrarch. "Herod had planned to
lie In Jezreel tonight and have wit.
nesses brought before him." He drew
his hand over his mouth, frowning
slightly. 1T had seemed" he added
thoughtfully, IAN excellent time for
the Ara bians to be here. But now
the tetrarch marches through with
out halting at ALL"
He walked out into the street,
which was deserted. The noise of the
populace still sounded. but from a
distance. Antonius picked up the jar
which had been brought for the
wounded Arabian, and took long
draught OF wine.
While he waited for Omar to return
he busted himself cleaning his sword
and dagger, on which the blood had
begun to clot. A club, dropped by one
of his assailants, lay across the room,
and he hitched himself across and
took possession of 1t. His eye fell on
a dirk, which also had fallen in the
fight, and he thrust this into his
girdle with a smile of satisfa ction.
What news?" he asked as Omar
came in after protracted absence.
The stranger showed amusement
DO you recall the Samaritan slave
whom Jared lent to you?" he asked.
Antonius nodded. II saw him last
beside the Jordan sorely wounded"
he said.
We'll" said Omar, "he marched in
that procession. too, loaded with
chains and two soldiers goading him
forward with their spears"
why, he scarcely can be able TO
walk vet" the soldier said reflective.
ly. 1T is only short time since the
battle In which he was hurt"
"He will not walk much longer"
the stranger said. He seems about
to fall even now. l think they are
bringing him as a witness. He marched
with the raiders to the Jordan and
saw Jared with them. and Laila."
Antonius uttered sort of grunt as
an idea came to his mind.
Call some of them back he ex-
claimed. II know that Jared and
Laila we're innocent! 1 will give tes-
timony."
omar surveyed him, the corners of
his mouth uplifted. And will you
also tell them that you had agreed to
20 with the raiders into Arabia your
self and help in a great raid on Herod
when you were well?"
IKE soldier gestured with his out
Nread hand. "Once before you sug.
sested that he said, land afterward
I thought il over. I would simply
lie to the tetrarch and tell him that
!, too. was captured by the men from
the desert"
But" said Omar softly, ''he has
he slave in captivity. and the slave