Evening star., 1926-11-24

AS Ezra loosened his hold of the
Pharisee. the latter bent his back,
and prayed aloud. The little elder
came busting to where Aaron stood.
He greeted the men who sat about
the fire, but paused to speak to the
shepherd and Antonius.
He didn't want to Gomez" he said
Indignantly, motioning toward the
Pharisee.
Then why didn't you leave him in
the village?" inquired Antonius.
laughing.
For his own sake" returned
Ezra, land also for mine-a little" He
glanced at the man who stood, still
bowling. in the shadows at the en-.
trance Of the cave. He saw me
talking once with the Arabian
Woman," he went on, "and besides, he
Is the only Pharisee in the village"
What difference does that maker"
pursued the soldier.
why, the Pharisees frown upon
Herod and all his works. even more
than the rest of us do. Don't you
know that they are q secret order,
sworn to preserve Judaism against
taint from the Gentiles. and corrup-
ton from within?" The elder raised
his eyes piously. "a Pharisee always
ts saintly"-his voice here gained
some Of its former irritation--"and is
terribly hard to get along with. They
make the rest of us live by their
rules. But" he added. II did not
want him to be taken and tortured"
THE Pharisees," said Aaron, inter
rupting. have done much for the
Jews. They number only six thou
sand in all the land, but they have
held the children of Israel together
against contamination by the heather.
Their rules are strict. but they are
harder upon themselves than upon
us.
Antonius was watching the Phar-
isee curiously. The man was bending
until the higher fr1nges Of his mantle
touched the ground.
why didn't he run away on his
own account?" the soldier asked.
''They won't fight at all. unless they
are attacked" Ezra answered. looking
at the Pharisee with disfavor. And
they won't run away. And If a
woman be drowning, they won't save
her-because they would be defiled."
The old shepherd sighed. 1T must
be a great trial to be SO good" he
said. They pray on encountering
They pray on entering a town, and
leaving It. and on every other oc.
casion-and the longer the prayer, the
better"
The Pharisee seemed bent on prov
ing Aaron's words, for his voice con-
tinued to rise and fall, out of the
shadow.
forward a few PAGES, and stopped. His
eyes first fell upon the soldier. and
he drew back. Glancing at the
Arabian chief. who was observing him
with interest. he moved farther away.
and drew his robes about him.
You are genttles, and unclean." ex-
planned Aaron.
The Pharisee's gaze was on the
robe the shepherd wore--the black
garment that he had procured from
Omars servant.
And l am Unclean, too." said
Aaron sadly. He knows this is not
my mantle-perhaps he recognizes
whence it came. Yet 1 have no other
to wear when 1 am purified
With stately dignity, the Pharisee
turned his back upon them all, and
stalked away toward the entrance.
Ezra ran after him, and standing
upon the tall mans bosom.
Help me keep him. here, some
body" cried the elder.
The shepherd walked to his side.
Let him CO. Ezra" he said. HE will
be contaminated in the eyes Of his
brethren II he stays among uS-and
this soldier. and the man from the
desert, make it worse"
But" walled the elder, "if he re-
ports that he saw me speaking with
Laila. 1 am lost!'
Let him CO." repeated the shep.
herd. He looked with kindness into
the stern face of the PhariSee. "He
will tell nothing against you. for his
mind is fixed upon the Law, and not
on idle words beside the road"
Ezra stepped aside, and his late
captive moved away. vanishing into
the darkness OF the outer corridor.
The little elder sighed. And l had
SO much trouble to get him here" he
lamented.
How did you persuade him to
start?" inquired Jared who had come
out from his alcove.
with this" said Ezra. He pro-
duced a knife from the folds Of his
cloak. II prodded him in the back
Antonius burst into roar of laugh
ter in which. after a moment, Jared
and Aaron Joined.
When they had subsided a little the
soldier asked if Ezra had further news
of the battle in the village.
II have no word" the elder said,