Evening star., 1926-10-30
9 ! |: : : Iaf1u(1z&!Ez = s
Gle2o. By Eugene MacI.ean. 4,

"Fled?" repeated the soldier. irri.
tably. "She fed with my money, and
my 1eweled dagger. The Samaritan
slave tells me he left her with you.
Omar assented, soberly. 1T was
even SO. Then she took her way down
into Jezreel, and only this hour I
learned that she has fed again"
when did she fee? And where"'
"Jacob the publican had arrested
her for non-payment OF her tax" the
stranger replied. But she evaded
jacob The soldiers voice was
upIifted to a roar. He called the
officer, who still remained with his
men outside. THAT publican who
ran away and left you in the mire
by the little river is in JeZreel now"
he said. when the commander ap-
peared. He seized the woman who at
tended me-the Arabian woman,
Laila. She ran away from him, and
he is in pursuit Of her.
The officer spun on his heel. and
after a few sharp orders moved at a
trot at the head of his squad toward
the village.
Omar looked inquiringly at An
tonius. The soldier gave q gasp.
IF you are In PAIN" said the
stranger, II may be able to relieve
YOU"
"A fresh wound-in my side"
Antonius said, his mouth drawn.
Omar dipped into the small pouch
that he carried always under his left
arm and drew forth vial carved
from a bit Of lapis laZuli. Directing
the soldier to open his mouth, he
dropped q light green fluid on
Antonius' tongue. Replacing the vial,
he cfn VyofOhnI Tn, Pow.
moments Antonius' face grew quiet,
and he heaved a sigh Of relief.
"The pain passes" he said. You
have great skill"
"a remedy of which I learned the
secret long ago. said Omar. He
settled himself more comfortably
against the wall Tell me what has
befallen the Samaritan slave" he
said.
I'VE left him with a wound in his
breast at the bank of the Jordan"
said Antonius, indifferently. 1.-TWO of
my comrades were slain. / myself was
wounded by spear"
by whom?"
by the chief of the Arabians,"
said Antonius. II was about to thrust
my sword into him, but he discovered
me in time"
He laughed a little.
1T Is a soldiers life." he said. sT
went with them willingly. The slave
came up to us In an hour, and helped
bear my litter after Jared, Maryam' 9
father, fell to the ground. Then. at
night, 1 heard a command-in Latin.
Caesars soldiers had come. And be-
hold Since 1, too, am a soldier of
Caesars, suddenly 1 was in the camp
of my enemies instead of my friends" :"
He worked a cushion into position
to support his head.
1.-THE Arabians encamped at a spot
where their horses had been left
behind, in charge of one of their
number" he went on. when the
soldiers appeared there was shouting
Three of the Arabians were slain
before they could reach their steeds
Il was lying at one edge of the
camp, the slave beside me. A man
came stealing past us. The Samaritan
seized him. 1t proved to be Jacob the
publican, who begged for mercy. Just
then came a soldier. to whom called
in Latin. He took charge of this
Jacob.
1.-The Arabian chief came to me.
tried to stab him-so quickly do
circumstances change in war. He
thrust his spear into me and
nearly slew the slave. Then the tribes
men rode up the hill toward Gilboa
1 lay behind. cursing that l could not
aid my comrades"
He stopped to laugh. This publican
was told to lead the company through
the dark. He led then to a swamp,
and stole away. They were hours
getting out Of the mire. If they catch
him, he will go before the procurator
at Caesarea. and then woe betide
him.
Omar nodded. "An interesting en-.
gagement," he said. But 1 fear that
I cannot count on you Sgain to go
into Arabia to train troops in Roman
methods"
"If go without an army" Antonius
said, cheerfully. they will fay me
alive. 1 lose the jewel you promised
me, and"-he motiOned in the
direction Of Maryam's house-"I fear
I lose the lovely Maryam as my
slave"
1.-THE fortunes of war;" said Omar.
But all is not yet lost
Money, maid, dagger and this
Arabian woman gone," commented the
soldier. What else is there to lose?"
Omar laughed. Dipping into his robe
again, he held forth to Antonius the
dagger that Laila had stolen-the one
with the ruby in the hilt.
Continued in Tomorrow's Star.)