Evening star., 1926-10-15

woman on the plain of Esdraelon, y
said the stranger.
He dropped the curtain and stood
leaning against the door post. THE
troop that comes will bear off various
captives," he said. shall they take
Maryam to be your slave?
The soldier again made his gesture
Of uncertainty, rubbing his scalp with
outspread fingers.
"Why should the Arahians make
war on Rome?" he asked.
did / say they were to do so?
countered Omar. "IS Galilee Il part
of Rome. or is Judea?"
Doubtfully Antonius said: 'No. But
Caesar rules them"
eff he did not rule them. would you
willingly fight against the jews"
asked the stranger.
surely" the soldier replied.
Then" his companion went on,
nothing stands in the way of the
plan | have hinted 10 YOU. Attend me
closely" He dropped his voice as
he went on. Beyond Caesars empire
lies the kingdom of the Parthians.
II know them AntoniuS said.
"They are archers, who fight on horse
back and carry long spears. Hard
enemies for legion with these short
weapon in the corner.
Exactly" Omar said. You have
touched upon the very difficulty. Their
kinsmen are the Arabians, who also
fight in the manner of desert people
But if y soldier-a Roman soldier
Antonius, in short. should join them
and be their drillmaSter and teach
them how the Romans dress and drlli
and fight. could the Jews suspect that
they We're not Roman hired soldiers
if they should see them on the
march,
Antonius knitted his brows. Il do
not understand"
II shall tell you. The Parthlans
and their Arabian cousins plan to
march into Palestine in a great raid
greater than the one that is cdming
now. II they would enter Jerusalem
and Caesarea and the other rich cities
of the land in the gutse OF Roman sol
diers, no one would be the wiser
until they were ready to take the
booty and the captives and so Their
way Do you understand now?
And YOU wish me to train them. as
the Roman legions are trained?" asked
the soldier.
You. and other warriors VINO nave
fought for Rome
Antonius pondered. He turned his
head away. his eyes fixed in thought
upon the white ceiling cloth.
The girl Maryam." he said at last
"is Very beautiful. And the gem Is
rich. Show il to me again.
Omar extended it in his open hand.
,Antonius took it and held it t" the
Sight. "A fortune" he said. Il have
noted the girl before. also. Would
the plunder of her house he held
for me?'
TT could be arranged" the stranger
said, taking back the emerald. Now
| shall go. Think. when Won are alone.
Rome would lose no land-and no
Roman soldier is near, to be hurt.
He went out the door. Antonius
D. "atched him. Vacantly. as he draped
lck the door curtain and stepped out
Il the soldiers vision.
After a time Antonius reached un-
der the cushions and drew out his
wallet. He played lovingly for q time
with the three heavy pieces of gold,
examining them one by one. testing
their weight with his hand and clink-
ing them together.
Finally he put them away again and
raised his voice.
"I.aila +" he called.
There was a pause. and the Arabian
woman appeared in the door.
Bring me food" the man ordered.
She vanished, but presently reap
peared. She carried a portion of the
flesh that she had cooked in her oven
the afternoon before.
You slept when this was ready,
she said so did not awaken you"
She laid the meat on a wide dish
that she drew from chest on the far
side Of the room. Bringing it TO An
fori,,n she placed the platter on his
Ian. He drew his dagger ami with it