The Daily Alaska empire., 1933-03-17

will be private and peculiar to you and me-
 "Oh, I should never forget you, mon Commandant, especially after your kindness"
 "Perhaps not, mon enfant, but I trust that, although you may not forget me, you won't know me the next time we meet . A little hu-
 initiating for me, you know, if I accosted you in the guise of a starving leper, and instead of giv- ing me a sou, you Saluted me and stood to attention i. sincerely hope a password will be necessary before you recognize me"
 Otho smiled.
 T beg your pardon, mon Com mandant. I did not understand What about 'Yelverbury' where my home is?"
 Excellent. It is hardly likely that any Arab, Moor, Bedouin, You -areg or other Berber will in- troduce himself to you with that particular word" smiled the of ficer as, with a friendly hand upon Otho's shoulder, he bade him think well upon what he had heard, while remembering that a still tongue runs in wise head.
 And now, long after the curious little incident had faded from his mind, typical hill Arab, bearded, brown and dirty, with turban, san dals, and staff complete, had quietly and distinctly and unmis- takably, uttered the word "Yelver- bury" as he passed.
 That officer! The strange Col onel, disguised as a Moor of the Southern Atlas, and so completely disguised that, but for the pass word, Otho would never have dreamed that the Arab was other than he seemed.
 Wheeling about, as though changing his mind and deciding to return to the little mural market, the Arab approached the sentry, confident that the word which he had uttered guaranteed him against prohibitive challenge
 "Yelverbury!" he said again. T must see Major Riccoh before he leaves this post. Don't recognize me. Know nothing"
 Yes, this was certainly the Secret Service Colonel, and Otho's sup erior officer. But what was going to happen to the sentry who al- lowed an Arab to hang about the gate of the post
 Would the Colonel exculpate him when he was put under arrest for so grave dereliction of duty, an action so flatly contravening his clear instructions? Any Arab, at- to behave like this, would be regarded as a spy, and a com placent sentry as his bribed accom- plice.
 However, orders were orders and -luckily-any Colonel was cer- talnly senior to Major Roccal, and was it not French military law that, in any circumstances, any member of the French naval or forces must obey the order of the senior officer on the spot, no matter to what branch of the Service he might belong?
 AS those thoughts flashed through Otho's mind the Arab pro- duced from beneath his cloak a folded piece of coarse paper, thumbed and filthy, on which was scrawled:
 Monsieur le Commandana le Major Riccoli."
 Get this to Major Riccoh some how" he said. "If the sergeant of the Guard refuses, speak to your Officer yourself. If nothing hap pens, come and look for me in the market there, selling almonds"
 And the speaker, retiring few paces, squatted beside the road or track that led from the gate of the post.
 Otho perpended.
 Clearly he must let Major Ric- coli know, as soon as possible, that a tribesman demanded speech with him. Would Sergeant-Major Vit- borelli take the message and the scrap of paper, or curse him for fool and punish him for allowing an Arab to approach so close that he might have stabbed the sentry, snatched his rifle and fled; or have dashed into the fort and died