Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1937-06-04
CHAPTER A

w nat particularly lIlIeISoIcu yOuJ
she challenged, raising her face to
allow the night wind full play with
her curls.
"That person as charming as you
are, could" he broke off suddenly
and, fumbling in his pocket, produc-
ed package of cigarets. These he
offered to the girl who with the bril-
liant moonbeams caressing her small
regular features, sat looking silently
at him. She selected one and tapped
the end on the delicate pink oval of
her thumbnail. Captain Roberts call
ed an order to the driver in cultural
Arabic.
"Ya, Sidi," grinned the gorgeous
coachman and obediently refined in the
protesting barbs, while Robert tender
ed briquet.
AS the tiny orange flame lighted
the lovely oval of Anne's face, she
raised her cigaret and quite deliber-
ately touched his hand with her little
finger, to steady the flame. At the
contact, she saw his eyes widen sud-
denly and heard his breath halt with
a click.
"You were going to say--?" she
inquired easily as the carriage re-
sumed it's progress. But her heart
was in turmoil-so he wasn't en-
tirely unsusceptible. In the darkness,
an inscrutable smile curved her lips.
81 changed my mind" he said short
ly. 81 don't think I'll say that after
all. He gave an unintelligible direc-
ton to the driver, who turned off the
road onto the even cleaning sand of
the desert and for a moment let the
horses extend themselves in a mad
burst of speed that sent the wind
whistling about the ears of the two
in the back seat.
you're not abducting me, are
your" she challenged merrily. give
always thought it would be nice-es-
pecially in Africa"
"No," he laughed. "It just happens
that there's particularly nice view
of Insalah just ahead"
Presently, the narrow track the car
riage followed appeared to vanish and
the spahi refined in to a walk, then
to a halt with the silvery sands stretch
ing away in all directions.
well have to walk the last hum
dred feet or So" Roberts explained,
"but l think you'll agree it's worth
the effort" A strange SILVER cours-
ed through her, as he put his hand
under her elbow, for the yielding sand
made the going difficult in her spike
heeled slippers. With a vast rolling
terrain gradually revealing itself be-
fore their eyes, they climbed to the
top of high dune. AS they stood
on the summit, Anne uttered cry
of delight, and with the wind wrap
ping her cape in shimmering folds
about her slender boy-like figure, gaz-
ed enraptured upon the scene that
that stretched away before her eyes.
"You wouldn't think it was Insalah
would you?" he inquired. cts quite
astonishing what touch of moonlight
can do"
Sharply etched against the purple
black sky by the moonbeams, Anne
stood grazing quite enthralled. Gone
was the squalid, smelly little Arab
town, and in it's stead was reared a
dream city of snowy domes and state
ly minarets that reached like frosty
fingers for the stars. Kubas, that in
daylight were but shabby structures
of plaster and mud, appeared as ala
baster palaces in that kindly trans
forming light. The clustering domes
of innumerable marabout tombs re-
minded her of such marvellous enchant
ed cities as the imagination of Max
field Parrish creates on canvas.
"Oh," she breathed, "that can't be
Insalah. It's Avalon-the city of
dreams"
Here and there a light glimmered
like solo on the rata. Softened by
distance it came, and with it the sub
dued hollow throbbing of dance TOM
tom. Like the voice of a temptress
walled the rata, rich, sensual and i'm
measurably suggestive of life and
love.
"The Arabs call it The Muezzin of
Satan he murmured. "And no
wonder"
"But it's beautiful in keep
ing. Insalah, too, is lovely"
eyes," he said, and moved nearer
to her, land it hasn't that melancholy
atrnoSphere of ruins"