The Argosy, March 27, 1920 — page 50: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

200 THE ARGOSY. emphasize the honor of his offer; but the girl said: “ How can a wife be a true wife when her heart is elsewhere?” “And is thy heart elsewhere?”’ “Yes, O Ali, it is—” The merchant touched her arm, and she finished: “It is in my Howeit by the sea.” “But then,” said Ali, rubbing his fat palms together, ‘‘ once thou hast forgotten _the sea thou wilt be happy. Men call the Nejed the Paradise of Arabia, and I will make it doubly a paradise for thee.” The girl was silent, and Ali said: “ What is thy price, Najob?”” “ Wirst,’’ said the old man, “ there is the matter of the rug in which thou owest me thirty-five pounds. Then there is the price of the camels which I gave for her, and those come to some forty more. She hath told me that her father would give me a hundred more for her; and there has been the expense of food and transport. Count- ing the reward that I miss, the total is one hundred and ninety pounds, Ali Hassan.” “JT will give thee a hundred and fifty,” said Ali, ‘‘ for it is likely that her father would have thee jailed instead of reward- ing thee. Thou shalt have an order on the goldsmith with whom my money is lodged.” Najob Azoura drew up his shoulders and said: “Allah send that I profit by this bargain, but I fear not. Thou seest, girl, I am not to blame.” “ Stop!’’ said the girl, throwing back her veil. “ Art thow a gambler, Ali Hassan?” “ Aye,” said Ali, “as all Arabs are. I am one, too, that is used to winning.” “Then,” said the girl, “I will gamble with thee, Ali Hassan, for myself. We will cast the dice, and the one that turneth up the fifth ace is winner. If I win, thou wilt set me free; if thou art winner, then will I go with thee without more ado.” “ Beard of the Prophet!” exclaimed Ali in delight. ‘‘ What a spirit is in that small body! But thou wilt keep thy bargain, my dove?” “Yes, Ali, I will leave the house and go with thee.” ‘“‘ Allah save us!” cried Ali. “To gam- ble for thee! Never was there such a stake! Maid, I would follow thee across the desert, even, hating it as I do. IT have dice here in my girdle.” “No,” said the girl, “‘ we will not gamble with dice of thine,” “As wise,” chuckled Ali, ‘as thou art clever. But dost thou think that I would stake all on dice of thine?” “Nay,” cut in Najob Azoura; ‘since you will gamble, I have dice within my pack which I will sell at two drachmas a pair.” * “Old rat!” laughed Ali. “ Thy poor life is bound up in money-bags.” Najob Azoura brought a handful of dice, and the girl said: “ Pick thou one, and I will pick one. Then there can be no ques- tion.” She arose, brought her cushion to Ali’s feet, and sat herself there, Ali touched his third finger. grace of the dove,” he said. “ First,” she said, ‘‘ we must throw ES see who hath first cast. Ms She took the dice in her small palm and threw. A five and a four rolled up. “Nine!’” shouted Ali, picking up the Come, “The cubes. ‘‘ Mohammed and the angels be with me now!” He cast, and turned up four. “Tt is thy chance first!” he said. “The Heavens are with thee.” She rubbed the cubes together in her palm, spun them, and turned up an ace. ‘“Onel” shouted Ali. She cast again, but no ones came up, and Ali swooped upon the dice. He rolled ‘two aces in succession—then a blank. The next cast was a blank, and the next. Then the girl threw two aces, but after that a blank. “ Now,” said Ali, with his eyes gleaming, “watch!” Even Najob Azoura craned his thin neck as the dice fell, but no aces came up. The girl took the ivory cubes in her hand and smiled at Ali. “ Ali Hassan!” she taunted. “ After all, there is a woman’s heart in that great body of thine, See how thy hand trembled, and mine is as steady as a rock, for all that I am gambling for my freedom. Thou wilt keep the bargain?” ‘“ Aye,” said Ali. ConmiclooolkS.cCotin)