The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-09-18

of marriage, but she refuses him.
Hassan smiled and indicated
the way indoors Josie and Arif
were waiting for them. Josie was
wandering around the room, ex-
amining everything. Josie was
bored, for Arif, weary of his tales
of the Turkish and British wars,
had fallen asleep.
Camilla's eyes missed nothing
The ob1ong package on the tabo-
ret by the divan had not been
there when she and Hassan had
gone out on the terrace. With a
quick glance at Arif and Josie,
Hassan went at once to the tabo-
ret and picked up the package,
putting it under his arm.
Arif awoke slowly, gasping like
a grampus. "Parbleu, Mademoi-
selle, forgive me thousand
times!"
IL ID tA111C We "S1S CO-
Sic" Camilla said.
"Oh, yes, but had fallen asleep.
You will forgive the failings of
an old MANI" He stretched his
legs and scrambled down from the
divan with difficulty while Has
san stood glum and silent with an
expression of very unfilial dis
gust.
"You will forgive, Mesdemoi-
selles? I have been a very poor
host. I have outraged my most
sacred laws of hospitality. But
shall atone. I shall atone at once
by giving you both little gifts with
which to remember me pleasantly.
Will you excuse me moment?"
He went into the other room.
Hassan glanced keenly from one
girl to the other. eff you will ex-
cuse me, Camilla, I will order the
car at once" he said, and went
quickly out of the room.
There was just a moment for
Camilla to whisper, ''When was
that package brought into the
room?"
"a servant brought it few mo-
ments ago."
did you have a chance to ex-
anime it?"
Josie looked up a little startled
at the earnestness in Camilla's
voice, then nodded uncertainty.
eyes, I did. Curiosity, I guess"
'sFor goodness sake, try to re-
member what was written on it,
jessie. Impress it on your men,
DRY now, don't forget"
Arif clustered into the room,
fully awake and smiling. In his
hands were two golden objects
and he extended them on his fin
gers toward the two girls - two
bracelets of twisted gold.
"a mere trifle," he said, still
gasping from his efforts. "Just a
remembrance of our friendship
in the hope you'll forgive my in
hospitality"
Hassan came from an inner
door while a servant announced
that the automobile was waiting
to convey the ladies to their hotel.
Hassan helped them into their
wraps and silently showed them
into the car.
Camilla did not dare to question
Josie until they reached their
rooms when she closed the door,
whispering quickly. did you read
the address on the package while
Arif was asleep?"
Josie nodded.
cit was in Arabic or Syriac or
something"
'EBut the address"
'"That was easier. Kufah on the
Physiological"
care you certain? You've found
out something I wanted to know
Write it down, Josie, at once, and
let me have a copy"
After the excitement of the day
and the strong coffee of Arif Ca
milla decided that sleep was i'm
possible. She lay, her eyes wide
open, staring at the Pickering re-
Election of the street lights on her
ceiling, completely at the mercy
of her imagination.
The thought came to Camilla to
find the British consular agent at
Damascus and put the whole case
in his charge. But after conside-
ration she realized that this was
not what Ronnie would have
wanted her to do, especially as
there seemed no certainly that she
was on a true scent. And there