The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1933-02-25

VALIANT DUST
Observation-Disclosures eesssesa
b. PercissI' Chrlsaopher Wren

"This 70 his superiors. -. A zeal
a. would ask Tor station In he'll.
This to himself !. !. "A small. com.
pact. self-contained and selt-sacrific.
ing army. at his absolute disposal.
A nucleus for a greater army.
an eVer-growing army. q mighty
army, such as that with which the
Mahdi of the East swept down upon
Africa, or Abd-el.Kader fought the
French"
The Kaid strokei his beard as be
closely watched Raisul's animated
/ race.
"a moment. my son You go
too fast. :. This man Is . foreigner,
an officer Of France In command of
French troops 80"
"And he would throw on his al
legiance to France. He would use
those troops for HIS own ends. He
would lead them into this country,
lead them here to Mekazzen city
and place them at your disposal.
my father"
sBy Allahf" cried the Kaid. "IIe
wouldf He would? And you have
brought this about, my son? can.
not believe 1t 49,. Is
"No." he continued. "and If he did
what would be hif true and hidden
intention? What would he hope to
gain? No. It is a trick. say.
ION his part. On his part, mean,
my son." he added hastily.
what would he hops to gain, oh
my father? Power. Wealth. Free.
dom. Relief from the bonds OF irk,
some discipline and the restraints
OF the slow promotion that will not
make him q great and powerful man
until he is an old and feeble one
"As showeu him-by careless re
mark and casual hint--he could
rise in day from the rank OF major
to that Of general. fleld-marshal.
eommander-in-chief. IL he Joined
you. bringing a weIl,armed. well
equipped force with him-and found
favor In your sight.
"And In truth he could be Co You
what Kaid Sir Harry Maclean was
TO the Sultan-and much more.
In one brief campaign he could make
you Sultan Of Morocco. In another
he could sweep the French and
Spaniards into the sea. Ia another
reconquay Algeria-w with the help OF
the countless hordes Of the Bedouin
OF the Sahara.
Then Tunisia. And how long
would the italians resist In Tripoli
with the Senussi helping in their
The English In Egypt
that once great English people that
now lets its Empire fail to pieces--
how long? Then Africa for the Afri,
cans !. islam united The Pan.
IslamiC Holy War against the usurp-
ing Infdel at last y
"Led BY this French officer, my
sonf" interrupted the Kaid.
Lied BY you. oh my father-at the
head OF an army trained and taught
and disciplined by this French ON.
Ger. and drilled by the soldiers he
viii bring with him"
"And who win control him--even
when he Is but commandersin-ehief
Of my present army. and has de
feated the Sultan and conquered
Morocco In my name2s
81 will. oh my father.s was the
prompt reply. II win control him.
And when be has outliEeA his use,
iulness. or his gratitude. his humble
:. =
Raisul drew his land suggestiyely
across his throat.
The Kaid nodded. smiled again.
and stroked his beard.
"A great and battle-gcarred boar
oi the mountain forests once invited
lion Of the desert to enter into
bis secret grove and into . huntins
partnership in him" observed the
Kaid. "The lion Of the desert agreed.
and was led to the secret grove OF
the boar OF the mountains They
entered into q partnership that day
land that night when the lion fel.
the boar entered into the
lion"
"You have spoken oh my father
smiled Raisul. "For Fou are the lion.
This officer shall enter into your
len and Into hunting.partnership
With you. and when the time Is ripe.
you shall eat him up"
The Kaid sat silent for a few
minutes. while Raisul watched him
Suddenly he laughed his famous
hearty laugh.
"Let him come. my son." be said
And let him bring all that he can
bring , +, but let him bring his com
mand piece-meai. detachment by de
and not as o conquering
army :. Yea. let him come. and he,
him so again--when Allah willis.
Il do not think Allah will decree
that he 50 again. Oh my father
smiled Raisul. and. rising. respect
fully took bis leave.
fcopnteAt fsss r. A. stokes Col