Evening star., 1926-11-15
zzzE : : 1ra11a =; :
t61926. by Eugene MacIenn. }

a lamp. The open flame f1ickered il
the wind as Ezra turned to close the
door.
NO one Is abroad" he said. breath
ing heavily. as Ii he had been run
ming. mo one saw me go, nor come
Here"
| He knelt beside Antonius. and drew
out his purse. Here" he repeated
his voice choking little. Here are
your five pieces Of goldr'
! Eight, said" responded Antonius
/ without looking at the coins extended
/ to him.
| Ezra dropped the money. and seized
Antonius' hand in both of his. mo
no, no. he cried in anguish. Five
1t was you said. and then six an6
then seven! / have brought seven
| See?"
Still holding to Antonius with his
left hand. he delved into his robe with
his right and produced two more coins
Seven broad gold pieces-a fortune
a ransom fit for Caesar" He took the
five pieces that had fallen, and spread
them, with their fellows, upon the
ridge of Antonius' leg.
The soldier eyed them, a smile
broadening on his face. With a swift
motion of his hand he gathered them
! together.
'All right" he said. generously
"Seven pieces. For this I tell the
commissioners nothing. Although
| he tucked the money beneath his
| thigh-'I wouldn't have told Herod's
men anything anyway His eyes
twinkled at the dismay in Ezra's face
But" began the elder. "but-"
DO not lament your money" the
soldier interrupted, with great good
| cheer 1T will be put to a good use
shall buy things with it-for me-"
| Ezra arose. and sighed
you see." Antonius went on, 81
| told a good friend today that needed
money. And he said to get it from
the first visitor to the inn. And, Ezra
| you were the first"
chat friend of yours" said the
elder, sadly, was an evil man. l have
wasted the gold l saved to buy me
another field"
He unbarred the door, and without
saying farewell to Antonius, went out
into the darkness. His lamp, forgot
| ten, remained burning on the floor
The soldier picked it up and placed it
on his other side. in case Ezra should
remember and come back for il.
Seven pieces of gold. and lamp.
Antonius said, to himself. II shall
buy a house, and some slaves
and" o
He lost himself in pleasa MT imagin
ings, and so fell asleep.
A spla shing of rain in his face
awakened him in the morning. He
had neglected to close the door. and
the wind was whipping the cold drops
! upon him as far as his waist. He sat
| up suddenly, and shivered.
Then he gave an exclamation. Op
posite him, squatting upon his heels
was Aaron. the shepherd, who had SET
his broken bone. and taken away
his sword.
hills,' he said.
Il did" returned the old man. But
I returned in the middle of the night
on a mission. Here"'
He reached behind him, and drew
out short. broad sword-the weapon
that Antonius had hurled at him, and
that he had borne away
Il return your sword" he said. "It
Is yours, not mine"
He handed it to Antonius, who
smiled broadly. with pleasure. The
soldier fiOurished the heavy blade.
my two pieces of gold" he said. "Are
YOU not afraid to face me, when l am
armed?''
Il am not afraid" said Aaron,
steadily. "They were not your pieces
of gold. but Jared's. They have been
returned to him."
But word has come that the
tetrarchs commissioners are looking
for you-that you have been accused
of taking part in the plot against
Herod. Do you not fear being seized?"
The old man repeated, calmly: II
am not afraid. 1t may be that | will
be taken. but I shall not speak" He
arose, and striding to the door. closed
and barred 1t, after assisting Antonius
to move himself out of the way. II
came to ask your aid-nothing more
than that you will remain silent if
Herod's officers question you
The soldier looked at him expec-
tantly. Have you money to offer
me for silence?"
Il have no money" Aaron said,
settling himself again upon the floor.
Nor do you need money toward that
end. Jared is an innocent man-yet he
wanders hunted through the hills.
His wife and daughter and their serv
ants face starvation, except for what
is brought to them secretly and by
night. No man can give witness that
he accompanied the Arabians to the
Jordan. save you, and his Samaritan
slave. and the other bearer Of your
stretcher. Those who know of it will
not speak. And. soldier'-he pointed
his long foretinger at Antonius-"I
am assured in my heart that YOU also
will proteCt him -
''lie did not go willingly" said An
.tonius. his forehead knotted.
1T is best that Herod be not told
that he went at ALL the shepherd
said. IAN informer has given him
word-but there are no witnesses"
WHO informed him." the soldier
asked.
The shepherd shrugged his shoul-
ders. Il do not know-but this much
Is certain-Jacob the publican was
taken by the soldiers, your comrades,
to the prison. He saw you, and Jared,
and Jared's daughter, with the Arab.
ianS, when he guided them across the
mountains to the Jordan. He had
cause to hate the Arabian woman who
attended you-and a messenger who
came last night into the mountain
said that Herods officers also are
seeking her"
True enough" Antonius rejoined
But if Jacob was the informer. how
then did he chance to tell that I was
slain, in the battle by the river?"
'tFThat iS hovnnd n1v l-ppu-1oIro