Evening star., 1926-11-16
. : : lraf1u :: :
tN1e2s. by Eugene MacLsas. }

rather examine the witnesses himself,
and give judgment?"
"1f he still held Jared in his power
yes" said Aaron. He would torture
him. perhaps wiring out false confes-
sion from the agony of the flesh. and
| s'av him. But Jared is gone.
THE tetrarch hopes to prove a
! plot. That would mean many execu-
| tions. He also would need to calls for
| troops from Caesar. He will not dare
! proceed with wholesale punishment
without permission from Rome, and.
| God be praised. Caesar will not ap-
| prove his judgment unless the finding
he made in a Jewish court. or by the
| Roman magistrate at Caesarea
| Phillppi'"'
Antonus SLAPPED his leg. And his
informer stands accused before that
/ self-sane ma Gislrate as traitor to
| Caesars troops
Aaron grave. his chin bowed upon his
| breast Antonius smiling. his eyes to
the ceiling. and chuckling now and
again.
They still were resting SO, when a
knock came upon the door.
| Aaron leaped to his feet, and with
an agile swing, disappeared into the
cavity in the roof. The rude door of
twigs moved back into place.
The knock was repeated more
loudly.
who is 1t. and what do you want?'
| shouted Antonlus.
He laid his two swords--his own.
and the one that I.aila had purloined
! from the Arabian chief-at his right
side. With his left hand. he reached
| up. and opened the bar of the door.
| The heavy oaker slab swung in
| ward, and a group of men appeared
| in the doorway. The foremost was a
soldier OF the tetrarch's guard. At
| his elbow was saliow-cheeked man.
carrying huge ink pot at his belt.
| and bearing scroll Of parchment and
| brush. AS writing material.
The guard stepped aside.
The scribe eyed the soldier on the
| floor. Get up. and bow before the
officer of the tetrarch." he ordered
Antonius looked upon him blandly.
my leg is broken, and | cannot rise, ="
he said.
The guard thrust out his spear. and
| moved aside the mantle that covered
| Antonius' legs. The wrappings on
the injured limb were disclosed. The
scribe motioned the guard away.
Very WELL" he said. You may
answer lying down. Tell your name.
and what you do here
My name is Flavius.' answered
Antonius. his eyes round and in
nocent. Il am Roman soldier in
jured in a fall"
"Flavus? Flavius?" The commits
sioner looked at his companions in
the rear. I'VE have word of no
F'lavius" He stroked his beard
There is report of soldier named
Antonius,' he went on. 'He is
separately reported as dead. in bat
tie beside the Jordan, and as being
alive with broken leg. Soldier. your
accent proves that you are Roman
Are you not also Antonius. who dwelt
in the house of Laila, the Arabian
outcast?"
'Antonius?" There was pathos in
the soldiers tone. Poor Antonius
He was carried by Arabians across
the mountains. and I have heard they
slew him there. He is my comrade.~
The commissioner frowned There
is doubtful something about your
tale: DO you know this Laila?'
"Laila?" repeated Antonius. as
that the man who-'
she is a woman snapped the in
quisitor. "Do you know Jared, the
villager. or any of his family?"
NO" said Antonius, sadly. Il
know only an excellent man. pub
lican. named Jacob. who has been
gone from the village now for some
days. A kind man and generous"