beginning to come to me for advice, and to talk with me. I'm pretty
nearly as useful here as I would be at Marash."

"And you're--let's see--nineteen-twenty--one--two--not more than
twenty-two," suggested Fred.

"Is intelligence governed by age and sex in England." she retorted,
and Fred smiled in confession of a hit.

"Go on," said Will. "Tell us."

"There's nothing more to tell. When I started to run toward the--ah
--music, the women tried to prevent me. They knew Americans had
come, and they feared you might take me away."

"They were guessing good!" grinned Will.

She shook her head, and the loosened coils of hair fell lower. One
could hardly have blamed a man who had desired her in that lawless
land and sought to carry her off. The Armenian men must have been
temptation proof, or else there had been safety in numbers.

"I shall stay here. How could I leave them? The women need me.
There are babies--daily--almost hourly--here in these lean hills,
and no organized help of any kind until I came."

"How long have you been here?" I asked.

"Nearly two days. Wait till I've been here a week and you'll see."