New Britain herald., 1930-09-29

steamer raised the skyline of AL giers. and the scorching breath of the wind appealed to her as typi- flying the hot heart of Africa. Ashore she found herself in a world that might have been lifted bodily out of the Thousand and One Nights. The Old City, the native quarter was a maze of lanes and alleys, linked by few streets of ordinary width, thronged with Arabs from the country in white burnouses; town Arabs in gaudily embroidered vests and baggy brooches; Frenchmen in European dress; motley crowd.
 Next day she procured a guide, and undertook to explore the Old City, grouped under the kasbah. Her first objective, of course, was to find Sidi Marut, Towards Arab friend, but she was not inclined to emphasize her quest unduly, and several days had passed before she casually inquired of the man whether he knew him.
 He admitted this at once reveal ing some curiosity as to Dagger's interest. Everyone knew the Sidi, it seemed; he was great man, a lord. Sometimes he was away for periods; it was said that he visited the remote oasis behind the Tripo- titan desert, where the Senussi dwelt, upholding their fiercely pro- testant Mohammedanism against Christian and fellow-religionist as well. When he was in Algiers he was to be met in a certain sword smiths shop in an alley off the Rue Rab el- Oued.
 In her desire to avoid notice, Dag ger said no more of the Sidi. But after week or two she arranged a shopping trip in the Old City, and contrived matters so that her guide must conduct her to the shop of the swordsmith which the Sidi made his headquarters. Off to one side was ! a forge, where man and a. boy labored with anvil, hammer and bel lows; in front there was a small room, hung with swords of every sort.
 Behind this showroom was an- other space, somewhat larger, which was occupied by several men, drinking coffee. One of them was the shops proprietor, dignified Arab of the pure breed. who came out to wait upon Dagger; the others were of the same stamp, distinctly above the mercantile class. Their faces were long, aquiline; their boards white and we'll trimmed. One was treated with what seemed U Dagger to be a subtle measure of deference
 She bought several weapons, and asked to be permitted to see the work of the smith in the side room. The proprietor assented very cour- teously, and Dagger watched for while the most fascinating process she had ever beheld; the beating and tempering of crude metal into a thing of beauty and merciless st ength. She became so interested that she forgot the coffee drinkers, and was startled when a voice spoke behind her in the English of an Oxford man:
 Do you understand the process, Ma dame?"
 She turned to confront the man she had fancied was accorded defer elce.
 "Quite we'll" she answered. smil- ing.
 Tt is unusual for a woman to be interested in such work" the Arab continued, Especially a woman of the west. for whom the sword has lost its romance.'
 "Oh, no,' Dagger protested. "The sword can never lose it's romance. It is the symbol of war" The Arabs eyes flashed. 'Ho,, well-said" He spoke swift ly in Arabic to the proprietor, who likewise stiffened. ''I am telling my friend what you say" he explained. ITO us of the desert the sword is that. More, it is the symbol of q mans honor-or a womans virtue" 'I might say that it is my name," said Dagger. resolving suddenly to plunge deep. For to my friends I am Dagger"