Evening star., 1935-09-15
September rs, 1885

--- the rather frightening primitive lie that
that civilization has covered up.
Elicit nodded DO YOU trust me-
Why. yes answered the girl
She opened her handbag and quietly pushed
forward fifty dollar bill II would like
to pay for this meal and - and for any Other
expenses, She murmured
Elicit thrust the bill back into her hand
Please, he said You have few hours OF
liberty. Tomorrow YOU will be Jugurthaiztd
Let's get this longing out Of your system
The night was waiting for Mary Raeburn.
The velvety night. Whispers from latticetl
windows Furry laughter from dark door
ways. The Swish-swsh of heel-less babonshe>.
To the kasba. Elicit guiding her through
the dark lanes The night alive with nasal
chants and the throbbing of the derbonka.
Swathed figures like levitating ghosts ...
Elicit whispering to Mary Raeburn as they
thrust their way through narrow passage
Don't look shocked when you get in here. 90
Inside, blind Arab played three stringed
instrument, made of the shell of a tortoise.
while his young wife danced. Now and then
the hand of the musician would reach out sud.
denly toward the dancer. and with amazing
sWlftness the woman would interpose a silk
shawl between herself and the inouisitiv,,
hand.
Elicit whispered. He doesn't know She
dances like that. At least the people who are
here think he doesn't know. They come each
night expecting some sort of tragedy if he
finds out
DO you think he knows?" asked Mary.
I'm puzzled. There is sonnet hing sinister
in the way his hand flashes out. Watcl
him
Mary Raeburn watched. Yes. the blind
hand that flashed out when the woman
danced close to the musician thrilled one bv
its fierce suddenness. 1t sought to catch her
OIL guard. When the fingers felt the shaw
thrown so hurriedly over the part of her body
towards which the hand was thrust thev
seemed to lose their vigor The hand fell
helplessly till a sudden litter from the audi
ence reused it to make another effort.
He doesn't know" whispered Mary Rae
burn. He is not pay-acting. He thinks -
orr
The suddenly outstretched hand struck
flesh before the dancer could swing the shaw
into place. Muscular fingers bit into the
shapely leg. A hand swung the musical instru-
she dropped to the stage. =.
Cling to me said Elicit as pandemonium
broke out in the stutty room. straight for the
door Don't bother about her . They'll pull him
off You were right He didn't know. Funny"
Through the screaming struggling mass into
the waiting night
Elicit pulled Mary Raeburn aside. A blind
and scabby beggar had Clawed at her The
fellow howled as she tried to escape his leprous
fingers. 80.
A girl dancing for centimes Slipped to the
street in faint brought on by WEAKNESS. \
trlghtful hag fingers blunted from scratching
the cObbles in search of the small coins,
dragged the danseuse to her feet. Beat her
with her bare hands. The crowd cheered.
The kid has got to dance the whole night
through explained Elicit No. it's not her
mother. Some old wretch who has hired her.
Romantic. yes?"
On and on through the night. Vignettes
piling one on top of the other.
A sweaty hand thrust from a doorway
plucked at Marys arm. Elicit struck at the
impudent unknown. There was a CRY of