Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1892-06-23

sodden maize cakes, which did duty for
bread in that region. All these prepar
ations spoke as plainly as words that
the unknown friends, who had been
playing special providence to him, meant
him to take his immediate departure
His first act was to examine the out
side of the dwelling which had so long
afforded him shelter. He found it to
be simply a cave In the solid rock,
partly natural, partly the work Of man,
and doubtless one of the many little
temples of Buddha, abandoned as a
place of worship centuries ago, which
are to be found all over this interesting
country. His next task was to exam
inc Cores papers, the most valuable of
which was chart and a long descrip-
ton of the country he would have to
travel From this it appeared that he
was even now within a few days march
of the place where Capt. Frank Archer
had carried the victim of his treachery.
This was described as ruined city.
Arthur Dunbar had read enough to
know that there were hundreds of such
mysterious ruins scattered over the face
OF the country, even in neighborhoods
now almost naccessible-cities of re-
mote eras, displaying in their molder-
ing fragments relics of civilization far
in advance of the barbarian inha bitants
scattered over the miserable villages in
the present day.
Needless to relate Arthur's tramp
over the rough path through the woods.
of the risks he ran and the dangers he
encountered.
Behold him as he steps from the dark
shadows of the forest one moonlight
night into the broad expanse of love-
ly plain, and gazes awestruck at the
ruins of a city, once magnificent, whose
grandeur has vanished like a tale that
is told. The palaces have fallen, the
walls have tottered to their foundation,
the leopard crouches in the porch of the
temple, the owl roosts in its easements,
the jacka1 roams it's deserted streets.
Only the great granite slabs of Buddha,-
hooking time. stand perfect in their lone
.ly grandeur. Gigantic idols, before whom
millions once bowed, vacantly stare at
the utter deso1ation. No man can say
what fate befell those hosts Of heathens.
who. centuries before the time of
Christ, trod the streets of this once fair
city.
Arthur Dunbar gazed at the sight in
solemn awe; then, calling the dog to
his side, he sought shelter under q
ruined gateway, to await the dawn of
the day, which he knew would be so
fateful to him.
His hours of precious sleep were
short. When the blazing sun dawned,
he realized more fully the beauty of his
surroundings. He was on the verge of
a plain studded with beautiful trees,
among which the palm lowered in
graceful majesty. Peacocks spread
their gaudy plumage as they strutted
like huge balls of snow in the air, and
though they were carved in marble.
sounds of the bulbul and the grooming
melody of the jungle partridge.
But Dunbar's spirit was too vexed for
him to revel in the glory of beautiful
scenery: forge fully realized the dan
gers Of his position.
Keeping under the shadows OF the
crumbling walls, he threaded his way
through the labyrinth of ruins, his dog
well at heel, and every sense acute for
a coming peril; bat the only things
which startled him were the huge liz
ards which scuttled away to their lairs
in the rocks. As for the birds and
monkeys, they paid no attention to hira,
for most OF them were sacred animals
among the natives and utterly indiHer-
ent to the approach of mans footsteps.
No sign of human habitation among
these dismantled halls. Ali, yes-the
scene bursts upon him with startling
suddenness-an open clearing, a spa
cious wooden house with broad veran-
dab. well built bungalow, in fact, and,
sitting on a rocking chair, man, while
another stands beside him rifle in hand
and evidently equipped for hunting
expedition-and,b both Europeans.
Before he can stay him, the dog has
sprung from his side and is fawningly
caressing the man reclining on the.chair,
literally bowling in the ecstacy of his
JOY at the meeting.
Before Dunbar can spring behind the
friendly shelter of rock, the man with
the rife advances and challenges him.
At glance Dunbar assured himself
that the tall, erect, handsome man of
fifty approaching him was the redoubt-
able Frank Archer, and he had shrewd
StlSplCIOuS tIldC CLc OLc III GIc CQdlI w dS
| Sir Harry Grahame.
The young American had no time to
prepare a story suitable to the occa-
sion, thrust as he was by accident into
the heat of the adventure; and it was
very creditable. to his natural courage
and peace of mind that he advanced
without a tremor on his handsome
countenance-nay, even with a smile
81 presume I have the honor of adj
dressing Capt Archer?" he asked.
'What do you want with Capt.
Archer?" was the stern response, neither
denying nor admitting the identity.
Some papers belonging to him have
accidentally fallen into my possession,
and 1 have come a tedious journey to
restore them to him.
THAT is very kind of you. May I
ask, sir, how you came by these docu-
ments? My name is Archer, and they
are doubtless mine.''
'sBy the oldest accident that ever be-
fell me-" Dunbar said, frankly. 81
have been on a shooting expedition UP
the country. Coming down the lake
was attracted by a stream that led in
land, and following its course reached
a place in the woods where 1 could
land. Here l was abandoned by my
coolies, and had a rough time Of it.
Chance led me to deserted temple,
where I found a white man lying In
4 Il