UNDER THE DESERT STARS [Illustration: Eloping with his beloved one from the earth, to seek a haven of refuge on some other planet, they saw the earth and moon whiz past them, with an imposing comet in distance.] UNDER THE DESERT STARS _A Novel_ BY FRANK KOESTER AUTHOR OF “THE PRICE OF INEFFICIENCY,” ETC., ETC. Illustrated by L. C. VAN BENSCOTEN MCMXXIII WASHINGTON SQUARE PUBLISHING COMPANY 57 WEST 10TH STREET, NEW YORK, N. Y. Copyright, 1923, BY FRANK KOESTER _All Rights Reserved_ CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. THE HYPNOTIC VICTIM 1 II. AT THE MORGUE 23 III. THE MOON-SHINERS 34 IV. IN SPORTING EUROPE 54 V. THE GREAT DESERT 77 VI. THE DANCE OF THE VAMPIRE 95 VII. THE LOVERS ON THE BEACH 111 VIII. IN THE CLUTCHES OF AN AMOROUS CAVEMAN 153 IX. ON CAMEL’S BACK THROUGH THE SAHARA 180 X. THE LOVER’S DREAM 201 XI. UNDER THE KNIFE 235 XII. THE RUM-RUNNERS 253 XIII. THE DEADLY RIVAL 271 XIV. GETTING HIS IDEAL MATE 291 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS _Frontispiece_ THE ORGY 63 THE DUEL 73 THE VAMPIRE DANCE 101 ON THE BEACH 113 THE INTERIM 155 THE STRUGGLE 165 IN DISTRESS 177 THE SAND STORM 203 SAVED 315 UNDER THE DESERT STARS CHAPTER I THE HYPNOTIC VICTIM The early spring sun was riding low in the heavens, going westward to seek its rest. The haze of twilight was creeping in upon the city from across the bay and the canyon-like streets of lower New York were already steeped in shadow. Above the city rose the hum of industry and from the rivers the saucy whistles of tugboats, with their heavy laden barges, were telling those who would listen that they, too, were doing their bit. But all this was lost to the girl standing at the promenade rail of the Queensborough Bridge, that massive structure spanning the East River, linking Brooklyn with New York. The girl, beautiful to an extreme, both in face and form, stood clutching the railing with a convulsive grip. Her eyes were set on something far in the distance and so far as the passersby were concerned, she was in another world. Curious but hurried glances were aimed at her, but that was all. New Yorkers are always in a hurry and a passing glance satisfies the questions that arise in the minds of most of them.