The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-02-14

I'm very AOu0 Va bA0 41u6IDus y
said the oficar, and rising to his
feet, extended a huge hand, the grip
Of which caused poignant but agree,
able pain to Otho's damaged fist.
Nov listen, and pay close atten-
tion. Give me some word-well
have an English word. think-that
will Instantly recall me to you,
shorld / utter It in your hearing. A
kind OF password. in effect, that will
be private and peculiar to you and
me-"
ooh, should never forget you.
mon Commandant, especially after
your kindness"
Perhaps not, mon enidnt, but I
trust that, although you may not
forget me. you won't know me the
next time we meet A little hui
initiating for me- You know. If l ac-
costed you In the guise of a starving
leper. and instead Of giving me a
sou, You saluted me and stood to-
attention I sincerely hope pass
word will be necessary before you
recognize me-"
Ohio smiled.
II beg youE pardon, mon Com
mapdant. ] did not understand /. !.
What about 'YelUerbary' where my
home is2"
Excellent. It is hardly likely that
any Arab. Moor, Bedouin, Touareg or
other Berber will introduce himself
to you with that particular word"
smiled the officer as, with a friendly
hand upon Otho's shoulder, he babe
him think well upon what he had
heard, While eplbering that
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 stair complete, had quietly
but distinctly and Enthusiastically,
uttered the word sKsIperDary'' as
he passed.
That officer! The strange Colonel,
disguised as a Moor of the Southern
Atlas, and 30 COMPLETELY disguised
that, but for the password. Ohio
would never have dreamed that the
Arab was other than he seemed.
Wheeling about, as though chang
ing his mind and deciding to return
to the little extra-mural market, the
Arab approached the sentry, con-
tident that the word which he had ut.
tered guaranteed him against pro-
hibitiye challenge.
"YelYerbury!" he said again. Il
must see Major Riccoli before he
leaves this post. Don't recognize me.
Know nothing"
Yes. this was certainly the Secret
Service Colonel, and Otho's superior
officer. But what vas going to hap
pen to the sentry who allowed an
Arab to hang about the gate of the
post?
Would the Colonel exculpate him
when he was put under arrest for so
grave q derelictioh Of duty. an action
SO fatty contravening his clear In
stTuctions2 Any Arab. attempting to
behave l.1e this, would be regarded
as spy, and q complacent sentry
as his bribed accomplice.
However. orders ware orders and
I-iuckily-any Colonel was certainly
spnior to Major Riccpli, and was It
not French military Law that, n any
circumstances. any member Of the
French naval or military forces must
ebay the order 81 the senior ofiicer
on the spot, no matter to what
branch o. the Service he might be-
long7
AS those thoughts flashed through
0tho's mind the Arab produced from
beneath his cloak folded piece OF
coarse paper, thumbed and filthy.
on which Nas scrawled:
..Monssassr % Copsuand0nt le Ma-
for RiccoF.s
sGet this 70 Major RIccoll some.
how,s he said. s.If the sergeant of the
Guard refuses, speak % your 0flicer
yourself. II nothing happens. come
and look Tor me IN the market there.
selling almonds
And the speaker, retiring o few
PAGES, sQuatted beside the road or
track that led from the gate OF the
post.
Ohio perpended.
Clearly he must let Major Riccoii
know, as soon al possible. that q
trihesman demanded speech with
him. Would Sergeant-AIaior vittor-
ell take the message and the scrap
OK paper, or curse him Cor Q tool ana
punish him FOR allowing al Arab to
approach 90 close that he might have
stabbed the sentry, snatched his
rlle and fed; or have dashed into
the fort and died slaying-perhaps
succeeding In killing the Command.
ant himself. or even Sergeant.ATaior
INitlorellil
Had he better march boldly into
the stone hat that was the Com.
mandant's quarters. trusting that
the scrap OF paper would be his pass
port % forgiveness for such pre-
snmptioR3
(cseyrigla. 1887. p. a. Stskss cs.)