Evening star., 1926-10-12

c1NlllZeO WOII0, L0e OFerIOrO
many kings.
The place was the village Of Jezreel,
In the valley of Esdraelon, fertile
place In Palestine.
The season was December.
LoW-hanging clouds concealed the
mountain tops to the eastward, and
a dreary rain fell upon the struggling
houses of the village.
Laila, the Arabian woman, stood
before her dwelling a red mantle over
her head, and peered toward the open
plain. There was nothing to interrupt
her view. The house, one story high
end built of clay, stood apart from
the rest of the village. Before it the
ground sloped abruptly downward to
the wheat fields, that began 500 feet
below.
She raised her hand and arched 1t
over her eyes.
"Come-tell met" barked an
impatient voice inside the door.
The woman turned, and stepped
through the low portal into the house.
A fair-haired man was lying on the
earthen floor, his head and back
supported by cushions, one leg bent
carelessly sidewise and the other held
stiff1y before him a swathing Of band
ages.
DO you see them?" he demanded.
Il see nothing" she said, wearily.
1.-THE rain
He gestured with his upraised hand.
silence! Too many words. Bring some
food"
She stood looking at him as he
turned his head fretfully on it's
cushion. His eyes We're blue, and his
skin, burned red by the Summer
of Galilee, still was strangely fair in
that land Of dark men and women.
1o IL
harness of Roman soldier. His
shield. square-cornered, curved. and
oblong, stood against the wall. Beside
1t was his helmet, and in it's sheath
his short, two-edged sword.
He wore his leather tunic and belt.
The hilt Of an Oriental dagger showed
above the girdle, and in it glinted a
great ruby.
Food, woman" he roared, as she
failed to move.
She twisted her hands, nervously
my wheat flour is gone," she said
at last. Il have only the barley
loaves."
He sat upright, his eyes blazing
Must | throw this at you, and
pierce your yellow skin?" His
unsheathed dagger suddenly was in
his hand, it's point at his fingertips.
its hilt against his wrist. Get food
can eat"'
The woman's wide, dark eyes were
ffXed upon him somberly. Her
delicate nostrils quivered, and her full
lips were compressed.
"Since you came, I have earned
no money, and the last of what had
has been spent" she said. IF you
would honor another household with
your presence, might bring you
food"
Still balancing the dagger in his
palm. he inspected her between
narrowed eyelids.
Come he ordered
The woman took a step nearer to
him. With his left hand he touched
her jeweled anlxlet. That" he said,
will provide bread and meat and
wine for a month" He took her hand,
and holding up her thumb. turned 1t
30 a huge silver ring. hammered in the
fashion of Egypt, could be seen in the
light of the high window. And this"
said he, will entertain my comrades
when they come"
His gaze rapidly moved around
the room. Somewhere" he added,
there is a store of other gold and
silver When my leg heals I shall
find it."
She shook her head. These are all
i have" She indicated the anklet
and her ring
enough for now. Go and bring me
food"
He waved his iron weapon again.
Without another word she turned, and
plodded her way out into the rain, to-
ward the houses that crowned the
summit of the knoll Leaning far to
one side, he could see her walking,
her scarlet mantle over her head, her
slender. graceful figure swaying as
she surmounted the boulders and
leaped over the tiny chasms that
made her passage difficult.
Restoring his dagger to its sheath.
he turned on his side, and began
painfully to hitch his way across
the hard-packed clay floor. With
grunts and many curses, he moved
q foot or two, and stopped, moved
and stopped again. One leg-the one
that was bJund in wrGpp.ngs-- drag
ged stiffiy after him. Twice he paused
90 rub it.
At last, breathing heavily, he
reached the farther corner. where
soft, thick woollen rug was fastened
TO the wall. He pulled this aside. and
inspected the bricks behind it-bricks
of sunbaked earth. with bits of straw
protruding from them. With eXplor-
1ng nnSeFS ne leiI OI lLe MdLl. iIlCu
by inch. An exclamation Of disgust
told that he had not found what he
sought.
He lay back and considered. The
ground beneath him was solid: few
energetic pokeS of his thumb proved
that The rough wall rose to the roof.
without a break. His eyes lifted to
the ceiling.
A great square of white wool was
20 Cro al him hy IFS fOIlr
corners, bellying downward in the
center. Around its edges could be
seen the mas of dry reeds and wheat
straw and twigs of trees that made
the lowermost layer of the roof. This
was supported upon cross poles that
reached from wall to wall.
The man, with much effort, began
to get upon his feet. He succeeded at
last, supporting himself against the
the corner of the ceiling cloth. AS he
did so his weight came for a moment
upon his bandaged leg.
With a howl, he collapsed upon the
floor, and, moaning. held his thigh.
He still was there when the woman
1laila returned.
Send for the shepherd-Ive broken
the bone in my leg again" he COM
nanded, as she appeared in the door
way.
Laila did not answer, but stepped
aside. An aged man came after her
with burden on his shoulders,
covered for protection from the rain.
He dropped the bundle and held out
his hand for the money the woman
extended to him.
And take this" she said, handing
him another small. irregular metal
token, "and bring Aaron. the
shenherd TO set the bone that