Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1892-06-25
CHAPTER XVI.
An EvELEss EDEN.

There were strange doings in that
chamber In the woods, Arthur Dunbar
Thought, when he awoke the morning
after Aaron Cores untimely end; for
how could the corpse hare been re-
moved without his awakening? And
where had the Cingalcse girl betaken
herself? Yes, he was alone; and the
object of mis- sudden dcscrtion filed him
with surprise. That his young nurse
had left hin for good was self-apparcnt,
for she had tied the dog by piece OF
cord 70 the root of tree at the entrance
OF the rude apartment.
he was half glad to be alone, yet re-
grctful that the opportunity had been
denied him of making her understand
how grateful he was for her tender
sclicitudc, especially when he saw that
to the last shc'had been mindful of his
interests; for his lInapsacls. rifle and
ammunition were placed ready to his
hand, and skin bag lay beside them
filed with dried meat and the heavy,
soddcn maize cakes, which did duty for
bread in that region. All these prepar
ations spoke rs 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 cave in the solid rock.
partly natural, partly the work Of man.
and doubtless one of the mary little
temples Of Buddha, abandoned as
place OF worship centuries ago, which
are to he found all over this interesting
country. His next task was to exam
inc Cores papers. the most valuable OF
which was q chart and long Gcscrip-
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 trcachery.
This was described Us 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 ncighborhoods
now almost nacccssiblc-cities Of re-
mote cras, displaying in their molder-
ing fragments relics Of civilization far
in advance of the barbarian inhabitants
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-
" plain, and gazcs nwcstruck ut the
ruins of city, once magnificent, whose
grandeur has vanished like tale that
is told. The palaces have. fallen, the
walls have tottercd to their foundation,
the leopard crouchcs in the porch OF the
temple, the owl roosts in its easements,
the iaclsal roams its deserted streets.
Only the great granite slabs of Buddha,
mocking time, stand perfectin their lone
" grandeur. Gigantic idols, before whom
millions once bowed, vacantly stare at
the utter desolation. No man can say
what fate bcfell those hosts of hcathens.
who, centuries before the time Of
Christ, trod the streets Of this once fair
city.
Arthur Dunbar gazcd at the sight in
solemn awe; then, calling the dog to
his side. he sought shelter under u
ruined gateway. to await the dawn Of
the day, which he knew would be so
fatcful to him.
His hours sd precious sleep were
short When the blazing sun dawned,
he realized more fully the beauty Of his
surroundings. lie was on the verge of
q plain studded with beautiful trees,
among which the palm lowered In
graceful majesty. Pencoclks spread
their gaudy plumage as they strutted
over The green turf, pelicans Aoated
like huge balls Of snow In the air. and