Evening star., 1926-10-20
CHAPTER IN.

Continued from Yesterdays starr
) CHAPTER IX.
~ MAR thrust the slave aside
and strobe into the room
Around his bare upper arm
~ was a thick band OF
hammered gold. On one wrist
was a bracelet. cunningly carved In the
was a silver chain, wound around a
central jewel and fastened with q
great stone beetle.
Antonius gazed at him in admiration
"Laila said YOU were prince" said
he. Il have seen kings not so richly
appareled."
Omar continued to smile. "Our An.
tonius will soon be clad as / am" he
said to Laila. And Laila-she will
dress in robes cunningly spun in gold,
and this slave here"
spected the crouching figure at the
door.
THAT is no attitude for a man with
| muscles and shoulders such as his,
| he added. Eve must equip him with
a sword, and helmet, and a wrought
breastplate such as his forefathers
wore.
The bondsman lifted his eyes,
doubtfully.
You are in a benevolent mood to-
day." said the soldier. But how do
you know what this servants fore
| fathers wore--how do you know who
! they Were?"
Omar settled himself upon a, cushion.
| "If you had dwelt long in this land,
| could see the mark of the Assyrian in
| his face-and the mark of the Jew.
| He pointed at Laila. She is descend
ant of Abraham. and his son
| 1shmael, yet her brow and her jaw
and her nose are not those of her
cousins In Palestine"
| Laila involuntarily raised her hand
and touched her chin. The stranger
| laughed. "Her features came to her
from Egypt. for Ishmael's mother and
his wife were from the Nile" He
pointed at the slave. "Laila and the
bondsman are cousins. too
The woman and the slave stared at
one another.
Men hate one another for things
they cannot cure" Omar went on.
| This woman despises the Samaritan
because he has met misfortune. If he
were in his own land, he would despise
her-because she is not wholly of his
people. The folks of Jezrel turn aside
from them both-yet you, the Roman,
| scarce can tell them all apart He
| laughed again. "These little hates Of
| little men and women are the reason
| why yOu soldier, are able to ply your
| trade" He lifted his jeweled dagger
and played with it. And they are the
reason why l travel abroad"
He extended his foot, and 'Antonius
could see that the image of an Egyp-
tan beetle adorned the buckle of the
finely wrought sandal.
Are you an Egyptian. or Par
| thian-or what are you?' asked the
soldier.
Omar waved his ha nd. Il am a
ira veler and come from all lands" he
said. He leaned forward, looking more
| closely at Antonius.
| "Why do you carry your wealth
| in a belt around your waist?" he
asked.
| Antonius started, and Laila. drew
nearer. How do you know where l
carry my money! demanded the
Omar extended his finger, and
pressed on Antonius' tunic, just
| beneath his leather belt. Two knots
are there, that never were part of any
mans f1esh," he said. And as you
moved Just now I heard the clink of
gold.'
|
gesture of puzzlement. You speak
truly" he said, though never have !
met a man so keen to see as you are. y
"It Is nv trade said Omar. He
turned his eyes toward Laila. She was
steadily gazing at Antonius' belt line.
where the strangers finger had
pressed. After a moment she started,
caught Omar's mocking glance, and
confusedly drew back.
Omar shifted his attention back to
!Antonius. You have no fear of this
! Samaritan touching your food, or your
belongings?" he sked
The soldier lifted his shoulders
what do l care if he touches them?
Samaritan, Arabian, Hebrew-they
are all one to me-
For the first time Omar addressed
the slave Are YOU willing to serve
Antonius?"
The bondsman moved his head in
differently. II am a slave, and l must
serve my master. though he he clean
of unclean, Samaritan or Roman
Omar pointed to one of the jars that
stood on the floor. "Give him cup of
wine" he commanded.
Laila silently obeyed, and the
slave, after a timorOus glance at the
three who watched him, drained the
cup.
Another" said Omar,
Again I-aila poured from the jar,
and the bondsman, fitting back his
head. took another deep draught.
Now give him money, and send
him out to buy clothing-somethins
better than the poor loin cloth he
wears"
Deep wonderment lay in the face OF
the Samaritan. He looked from Omar
to Antonius. and from the soldier to
Laila. The woman, at nod from the
soldier. was reluctantly drawing her
purse from her robe.
Here" said the stranger. His hand
moved quickly, and bright object
flashed as it spun through the air
AS it fell. at the bondsman's feet
they all could see that it was broad
piece of silver. Laila put back her
purse 1T is money that l owe An
tonius-and that presently he will
earn" smiled the glittering man who
called himself the Persian.
Slowly the slave picked up the coin
and at a nod from Omar, arose and
sped away.
II will explain" said the stranger
settling himself more comfortably
THE slave has led a hard life. since
he first fell into bondage. If his
service for YOU brings him robe to
wear. 1t is luxury for him--and he will
serve YOU more willingly. If he is
treaAed as man instead of a beast. he
will fight for you. 1t seemed to me
when last | spoke with YOU that YOU
need a more loving attendant than
his white teeth shone in a smile-'the
lovely Arabian who stands here"
Antonius smiled also. 'Laila hates
me- said he.
The woman lowered her head and
leaned against the wall.
Still" said Omar, "she needs you
the publican will not take her away
/ L.. or h