Evening star., 1933-06-09
CHAPTER xxxIIr.
The Legion Arrives.

struments. The breath Of the bugleS
albeit foreign bugies. was as breath
from home.
eign Legion. Otho's Regiment.
It was entirely possible that tners
marching far below, through the Me-
kazzen city, marching up to this very
citadel, who had known Otho. AL ol
them would know OF Otho Bellen1e, any
how-the man who had defeated the
Senegalese boxer fwflo had fought arlt
beaten the champion of Europe) in whal
must have been one of the finest ano
stubbornest fights ever seen. That wa
what the Echo d'Oran had called It
anyhow.
some of the men. and to find out if any
of them had known him? II the de-
tachment left Mekazzen before she did
it might be the quickest way OF getting
q letter to him.
But why should the detachment leave
Mekazzen before she did? Why snoulo
she not leave with them-or at least
more or less under their convoy and
protection?
This Mai Riccon, whose acquaintance
Herr Schlaeht was anxious tor ner 70
make, might prove most useful.
If he would help her to escape, coulo
she not follow the detachment wherever
n went until it reached civilization
aeain-or within q camel journey OF
civilization? Anything to get away from
this sinister, terrifying prison.
After all. this Riccoh was an omcer
and a gentleman" of sorts, presumably,
and he and his men were europeans
with whom a white woman would De
safe. Yes, surely, she could manage
Mai. Riccoli if only he could, ano
would, procure her camel ana wnat
little else was necessary.
swiftly completing her toilet. sne
locked her ncongruous-looklngo oressms-
case unbarred her door, and ran Gown
the steep and narrow flight Of steps to
the noint of vantage whence she could
see the soldiers march into the cftadel.
Yes-there they came, an ofncer rio-
ing ahead--he must be the pecunT
MAI Riccoli-then the buglers blowing
their march, then the little column WIN
a tall non-commisSioned oH1cer IN Iront.
HOW swaggeringly smart, self conn.
dent outstanding and alert, STEADY ana
strong, marching along, like the boys
of the Old Brigade"-hke the guaLos
themselves for style, bearing ana ois-
But. oh. how dusty and dirty, weary
in spite of their brave Swagger.
Margaret felt rush and glow OF emo
tion. A feeling in the throat, and
tear. Very foolish.
Otho'S regiment.
later that day, q tall, broad-should-
cred Young legionnaire stood on sentry
outside the guard room by the quarters
allotted to the detachment.
Washed, shaven, brushed ana cleaned,
his accoutrements as bright and smart
as "spit- -and-polish" could make them,
he looked the picture OF q soldier,
tough. hard, fighting man, an old cam
paigner, though o young man.
Blue-eyed, handsome, fair though
sunburnt, with aristocratic features, he
looked a very forceful person. man
of great strength Of character as well
A woman, bearing o jar Of water on
her right shoulder, crossed the vast
courtyard, passed near the sentry, drew
her veil across her face and one eye.
and had q good look at him with the
other.
Handsome, she decided. white and
beautiful as Sueira," Is they say on
Mogador. What did 1t matter to her
whether he were French, Spanish, Eng
lish or German? She was not the Lady
El lisa Beth el Ain. Anyhow, the SOL
dier was one Of the white kind; the
Christians. What was It they said about
them in Mogador? The Christian cares
6or nothing but money: not interested IN
"a pretty girl, even? Well, her mistress.
the Lady FL lisa Beth Ell Ain would be
interested to know there were Chris
Stian; perhaps English, soldiers IN the
\ A man, & young Moor, In . beautiful
=, 1fkn
stoga, big turban, and riding boots,
semerged from o nearby entry and also
passed the sentry.
As dark as the latter was fair, the
Moor was, in his own style, equally
handsome, clean-cut and stamped with
the seal of breeding. Smaller and lighter
though he was. his walk and upright
graceful bearing spoke Of agility, speed
and strength.
In passing, he, too, glanced at the fne
soldierly figure and handsome face Of
the sentry who. now pacing his beat.
pas sed close to him. No feature Of the
Moor's impassive face changed In the
slightest, but as he quickly looked away,
his large bright eyes blaZed.
Allah Kerim!" he whispered, and as
he turned in at the entry through which
the girl had disappeared, he stood still,
stared before him at nothing, and then
laughed softly to himself
Praise be to Allahl I must find our
excellent and obliging friend, Jules. But
I can't be mistaken" and he hurried
along the passage and up winding
stair Of stone.
A few minutes later another man
passed the sentry, q slower, fatter per-
son, in khaki jacket and riding breeches
beneath a white cloak. A small white
turban and hanging neckcloth effec-
tually concealed his face.
He, too looked at the sentry, as he
marched past him, looked quickly and
glanced away again.
A minute later this man Joined the
other who had hidden him go and take
stock OF the sentry by the newcomers
quarters
Bursting into the room and f1inging
himself down on divan he roared with
laughter of a quite sober man.
by God, Raisul, you're right" he
said. ut is he. Otho Belleme-by all
that's wonderful"
mot so wonderful. either, my good
Jules" replied Raisul I'VE knew he
Joined the French Foreign Legion And
we knew detachment Of the French
Foreign Legion was coming here. Well,
it's come-and he's in it,
oup--Uy Alidli! dQQcQ, anu
licked his lips while his hands moved in
a curiously suggestive and unpleasant
gesture.
Absolutely amazing" continued Jules
Maligni. "Otho Belleme here. Here
and in our hands -
"Yes. Here-and in our hands" said
Raisul, playing with the long dagger
that he wore stuck perpendicularly in
the center OF the sash wound about his
waist
What next?" asked Jules, eyeing his
cousin speculatively
"Oh. something quite interesting next
my good Jules. Quite funny. Now that
by the grace and goodness of Allah, the
merciful, the compassionate, we have
got the good Otho Belleme Just where
he will be most useful, Just where We
One Woman