Evening star., 1933-05-27
a. VALIANT ', e1l','.1,., DUsI

But how utterly absurd in the
twentieth century Such things don't
happen. But this wasn't the twen-
tieth century here in Mekazzen; it was
about the fifteenth, and such things
did happen.
What would Jules do to Raisul?
And what would they do to Jules II
he killed him? Something terrible,
something unthinkable, for Raisul was
the apple of the Kaid's eye. He posi-
lively worshiped him and according
to El lisa Beth ell Ain, the Kaid was
a monster Of crueltye and savagery when
his anger was aroused, and very often
when it wasn't.
He'd torture Jules to death II Jules
injured Raisul.
Perhaps she had better not tell Jules,
after all?
But she must, for several reasons
II she didn't tell him, she could pro-
duce no sufficient reason for insisting
that they should leave Mekazzen in
stantly
II she didn't tell hint might hap
pen again.
If she didn't tell him, Raisul would
not get the horse-whipping that he
deserved II ever man did
If she didn't tell him, Jules wouldn't
understand her wish for a pistol, and
her demand that he should never leave
her unprotected.
OF course she must tell him. &.
But she must insist in his keeping
his temper and controlling the indig-
nant rage that would lead him to
thrash Raisul within an inch of his
life.
She must point out to him that
Raisul was all-powerful here, and
that, by coming here, they had put
themselves completely outside the pale
of civilization and all that civilization
stands for
She must remind Jules of the ter
rible dungeons and torture-chamber
here, and of the Kaid's besotted wor-
ship of his son, and Of his ,unbridled
savagery and ferocious cruelty to those
who offended him.
And if Jules turned deaf ear to
her prayers. advice, and warning, she
would use his love for her as a con-
elusive argument, and point out that
If anything happened to him, her
plight would be terrible indeed
Margaret rose from the bed and.
thinking that she would give any
thing to be able to walk into her bath
room at home. performed her uncom-
Portable ablutionS in curtained al
cove, as best she might with the aid
of kind of glorified brass coffee-pot,
big earthenWare jar of water, and
large brass basin.
Yes, she told herself. as, with her
hand-mirror in one hand and brush
in the other, she looked out across the
shimmering rocky. dusty plain, she
must tell Jules, after breakfast and,
while minimizing the outrageous offense
sufficiently to keep Jules from seeing
red and losing control, still make it
sound serious enough to ensure his
taking her away at once.
But after her breakfast of coffee,
fruit and bread, Margaret did not tell
Jules-nor at any other time that day
for she did not see him.
He was, according to Raisul-who
came upon her in the garden, and, with
unblushing effrontery. ignored her cut
ting and contemptuous refusal to
speak to him or notice his presence
unwell, suffering from bad headache.
and quite unable to get up.
Finding that Margaret completely re-
fused to speak to him, look at him, or
in any way realize his presence, even
to the extent of asking where her huS-
band was, Raisul laughed and observed:
Villain. avaunt, said she. But my
n0ur Will come, said he, Tor once ABOARD
the lugger and the girl is mine. And
with Kissing scowl he gnashed both
his teeth, flung cloak about his shoulder
and strode away" and strode away.
Margaret did not look up from the
book which she was not reading, but
as soon as RaiSul was out of sight,
went in search of Ell lisa Beth el Ain
She was Jules mother and. to that
extent. perhaps Margarets friend.
Presumably she would be able to get to
the bottom of the matter. and find out
where Jules was and what had
happened.
Probably Raisul had put some filthy
drug in his coffee or wine.
(To be continued tomorrow