The wistful look did not escape the Colonel. Each day both esteem and affection had increased in him for Danny Dexter. So now he asked gently: “Shall I send him up to you after dinner?”

“Yes,” said Mary Louise, and suddenly hid her head on her grandfather’s shoulder.

So it happened that Mary Louise waited for Danny out on the balcony of her little sitting-room. She had flung a warm dark fur about her shoulders, and her soft and simple gown gleamed in sweet contrast to the fur’s richness. She was leaning against the railing as Danny entered, looking off into the loneliness of the desert.

The final glory of the sun was flooding the whole world with light, and the mystery of the vast sandy distances was upon her. Mystery was in her dark eyes, too, as she turned to greet Danny.

The blaze of light turned to the soft dusk of twilight as Danny stood and gazed at her. Then simply, naturally, and with an infinite tenderness Danny Dexter stepped through the door and took Mary Louise in his arms.

THE END

Transcriber’s Note:

Punctuation has been standardised. Other changes to the original publication have also been made as follows: