Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1937-05-28
CHAPTER 3

Anne was outwardly the cool,
aloof person she generally was, but
it took all her will power to retain
her composure and to murmur some
banal commonplace. Outwardly, she
was calm; but within, ragged such a
conflict of emotions as she had never
before experienced.
cts perfectly outrageous she
thought. "There he stands, looking
as impersonal as though he had never
seen me before" He was making po-
lite, impersonal conversation and evil
IDENTIFY struggling to suppress an
amusement which at any moment
threatened to break forth. She rather
liked the way his eyes crinkled at the
corners, even if she did hate him.
"And this" said the Comtesse trium
phantly as her husband offered her his
arm with courtly little bow, sis our
great surprise. Is it not nice that
we should find two American friends
in such lonely spot as Insalah?"
"I'm perfectly delighted and not a
little surprised, I'll admit" smiled
Captain Roberts, as he in turn offer
ed that familiar right arm to the
Cleeves girl. 'Are you enjoying your
visit to the Haul Sahara?" inquired
the engineer calmly. "Do you find
Africa as interesting as you hoped?"
Africa" replied Anne, "is full of
surprises - some pleasant-some-
well, not so pleasant" Looking up in
to the neatly shaven face above her,
she smiled and said, 81 feel sure 1
would enjoy it a great deal more,
Captain, if l had the advantage of
seeing it, or at least part of it, with
the guidance of someone as familiar
with the country as you yourself are"
Slowly, her deep blue eyes swept up
to rest on his and her scarlet lips
parted in a challenging smile. "Of
course" she decided, hell make some
kind of suggestion. I'll take it; then
I'll have my innings"
Captain Norman Roberts, however
only nodded solemnly and said with
studied gravity, II can't imagine any
greater privilege, Miss Cleeves, tf--.
that of being the one to show you the
sights and customs of this part of the
world, but, unfortunately, leave ear
ly tomorrow morning for little trip
into the territory of the Djbel Mok-
hama. They're an interesting lot of
beggars," he added, "and Pm looking
forward to just little excitement
down there, if I'm lucky"
"That," murmured Anne, trifle
resentfully, "is the penalty of being
a girl. I'd give a great deal to see
Africa uncensored-to be able to go
into such a fascinating and adven-
turous country as that you're visit
ing"
"The Djbel Mokhanza country"
stated Roberts, as he pulled out a
chair for her, 'is one which it's best
for women--especially attractive white
women-to stay out Of"
Anne sat down, thoughtfully unfold
ed her napkin, noding with fictitious
humbleness, "You seem to have very
fixed ideas, Captain, on what is suit
able for white women to do"
"No," he broke in with a semi
apologize laugh. you're using too
broad a description. You might re-
word it to white women without sense
of discrimination Pm afraid you
don't realize what really turbulent
land this is. Insalah and the Middle
Saraha are really not bit like tour
ist-ridden Cairo and the Nile Valley,
or even Algiers and Tunis, for that
matter"
Anne sought some shade of mock
cry in the brown-faced engineers
tone, but there was none. His lean
face, with it's high, slightly prominent
cheek bones, was wholly serious and
his deep-set grey eyes held not lit
tie genuine concern.
During the course of the lengthy
dinner, Anne deliberately employed
al her tact and charms to capture his
attention and to break down the invis-
ible barrier of impersonality he had