Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-03-11


ing flame; her lips smiled; her hands
held each other tight.
II hope he'll tell about the King and
the binoculars she said.
! What was that?" asked Dennis.
wanting Margot's voice for his own
comforting.
She put finger to her lips-hushed
| him sweetly y
IT AURENCE'S tale went on. About an
H ibex with horns so inches across.
on ridge, a darkening sky behind
him.
MY first shot missed him, my sec
ond snapped. my third got him through
the head--my third and last We
skinned him and left the carcass to the
wolves That ibex is in the museum
today. I can look at him and see the
Tian Shan Mountains standing gray
and stark :"
II was through that part Of the coun-
try" said Dennis. After ibex, too
Good huntingi"
Listen" said Margot. Hes telling
| about his men now That isn't in the
| book. I thinks it?"
/ Cant tell you. Haven't read 1t, y
said Dennis.
| Laurence was saying earnestly. u
| never saw a better lot than those ma
| tives-good tempered. willing, game
| You could count on them to the last
ditch. No white men ever showed
themselves better sports. / had one
unhappy experience. only one, with
/ them. But that was tragedy. My
head shikaree one night got into ar
argument with pony boy from Asku
Before realized that 1t was anything
more than a friendly row. they were
clinched and snarling. The boy jerke6
+! out knife-and lost my head Shika.
rec. Nothing to be done about it. Self
defense-perhaps. The boy said so
| That's the oldest alibi in the world
and seldom fails. lin which connection
! I ran across story in those mountain:
| Of a sahib
This isn't in the book" said Marsot
eagerly.
! MOP" said Dennis. Sounds interest.
ing"
That voice came between them like q
sword.
"A sai,ib." said the voice coolly. who
travelled through the Tian Shan Noun
tainS some years ago-six. to be exact.
Marquis eyes lifted to Dennis face.
six years-waSnt that? Why, yo,
| were there then. Denny,"
Yes" said Dennis.
Gould he mean you do you Think
HE may" said Dennis. Although
| Why"
How queer OF Launce. Not to speal
OF II at dinner, whatever 1t is"
Listen" said Dennis. You'll get IT,"
This white man. this sahib." sale
| iaurence'S voice, very casual anG
charming. went OF after wapiti with
| a native hunter Kalmuck boy-anC
returned later alone. He said that In
a disagreement over stalking. the Kal.
muck had attacked him; that he hac
shot the Kalmuck-in self-detense--snc
killed him. :"
Margot sat wide eyed. Denny" shs
Said-a whisper, no more.
There's more coming. I think" sale
Dennis, Watt"
THAT sahib." said Laurence. cleared
his throat slightly and went on. that
Sahib vas an American named Denri;
Colladay. Nothing was ever done about
the thing. / merely mention II as one
more instance Of the successful defenSt
of self-defenSe"
Dennis smiled curiouSly at the floor
without word.
Denny" said Marxot.
Its quite true" said Dennis quietly
That was what LAuce meant wher
he said he hoped you'd md IL interest.
ins--heartng him talk tonight"
"unQueStionahlv.
He meant you 10 hear that--liS,
this"
Like thiss"
sitting here with me"
Seems to have been his idea"
e.
The radie--pecple all over the ecuntr,
This vast country Of curs." sa!c
Dennis
Don't Taught" said MarSos.
I'm not, really. 10 you want me Il
tell you about the~~ShootinSe"
LaurenccS voice went OH beside them
evenly. leiSurely. He Was talking nov
about the king and the binoculars. An
other amusing aneedote.
No" said Margot.
Am damned without q hearing p
| moi You don't require q hearing
What do YOU mean. Margote"
She walked away nom the radio, over
Ia the ttre, Dennis followed and StCS,d
beside her, When she looked up at him
her eyes were dark with anger and hurt
Nothing could make me believe you
did it~~aS he told it
! "Rut did The fellow rushed NE
| with knite~and shot him"
Because YOU had to"
! "Ot courSe~~no time for argument,
lie Was mad as hull, and as strung,
had To drop him. or take his knife
between my ribs, We'd got OF to q bad
start; he'd been sulking oil day an
| ill-tempered fellow, Anyhcw~~ancl some
decision Of mine ANNOYED him nesoge
We had been cut an hour"
"Yeu don't have tc exp,aing"
| sorry" said Dennis stittty, ~ as
sure YOU Shcaldnt~~eSceps that It's
! YOU"
1 Denny" said Margot.-a sharp and
| sudden cry, "INNnt be absurd mean
| YOU don't have to explain ~ n,e~~that y
(, Just what l mean. pnnt yau think
know youe IN YOU think I've known
| YOU for years far nothings A t,A,l could
! see how decent You are, haWe~~Stratght
It's the plainsst thing about YOU, And
| how kmdl"
On the heels Of that. Laurence
laughed~~in that moment and IN that
| rt,oM a startling sound, lie said. clear
inE his threat once mnre and speaking
| \ tribe louder, $50 l kave the King Ut
| Mele my binoculars very gVcd ulaes
| they We're, too ami the King gave me
couple et wonderful rugs and We
ealled II square"
! NIARoors tses wa> pale, Her
''A eyes burned, She said HE told
II - u u we're iust one ut lct A
interestlna anecdotes mhes spn0 On %