Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1898-08-24
CHAPTER VIII.


Cts 1T WAS STILL
\ ID some hours before
VA tH%@ dawn, and Free
ESEAS/I EM oman was too weak
0eW III 70 travel, It was
Z decided to encamp
S ~ beside the pyramid
"a S73sS till the following
EAS7 evening. and then
90 CW make the trip
2e&NaSoc6R across the desert
in the comparative
GOODNESS of starlight Meanwhile,
there was something to be done, and
much to be explained.
The spirit of Mammalian had passed
away, apparently at the same moment
that the peculiar case of possession"
under which Miriam had suffered came
to an end. They determined to bury
him at the foot of the great pyramid,
which would form fitting monument
of his antique character and virtues
Miriam, after her struggle, had
lapsed into state of partial lethargy,
from which she was aroused gradually.
1t was then found that she could give
no account whatever of how OF why
she came there. The last thing she
distinctly remembered was standing on
the veranda at the ranch and looking
toward the east. She was under the
impression that Kamaiakan had APP
preached and spoken with her, but Of
that she was not certain. The nest
fact IN her consciousness was that she
was In Freeman's arms, with feeling
that she had barely escaped from some
great peril. She could recall nothing Of
the Journey down the gorge, Of the ad-
venture at the bottom Of II, or Of the
return.
1t was only by degrees that some par
tial light was thrown upon this matter.
Freeman knew that he was at the en-
trance of the cave when the earth
quake began, and he remembered re-
ceiving blow on the head. Conse-
quently it must have been at that spot
that Miriam and the Indian found
him. He had. too, vague impression
of seeing Miriam coming out of the
cave, dragging the chest; and there,
sure enough, was metal box, strapped
to the saddle of the pack-mule. But
the mystery remained very dense. And
although tho reader is in position
to analyze events more closely
than the actors themselves
could do, it may be doubted whether
the essential mystery is much clearer
to him than it was then.
1--WE know that the ancient Aztecan
prietst were adopts in magic" observed
the professor, land it's natural that
some of that learning should have de-
scended to their posterity. We have
been clever in giving names to such
phenomena, but we know perhaps even
less about their esotcric meaning than
the Africans did. should judge that
Miriam would be what is called good
subject Kamaiakan discovered that
fact; and as for what followed, we can
only infer it from the results I was
always an admirer of Kamaiakan; but
l must say am the better resigned TO
his departure, from the reflection that
Miriam will henceforth be undisturbed
in the possession of her own individ-
uality."
LAS near as / could mako ont she
called herself SemitLin," put in Free
man.
"Semitzin?" repeated tho General
"Why, if I'm not mistaken, there are
accounts of an Aztecan Princess of that
name, an ancestress of my wife's fam
lily, in some old documents that have
In q box at home"
THAT would only add the marvel Of
heredity to the other marvels," said
Meschines. Suppose we leave the
things we can't understand, and come
to those we CAM"
81 have something to say, General
Trednoke," said Freeman.
81 think have already guessed what
t may be, Mr.. Freeman" returned the
general, gravely. "Oid people have
eyes, and hearts too, as well as young
ones"
Come, Trednoke," interposed the
professor, with chuckle, your eyes
might not have seen 50 much, if I
hadn't held the lantern"
II love your daughter, and told her
! 30 yesterday morning" went on Free
man, after q pause. Il meant to tell
| you on my return. / know don't ap-
pear desirable as son-in-law. But I
came here on commission"
"Meschines and have talked 1t all
over" the General said. when an
old West Pointer and a professor of
| physics get together, they are able to
| put two and two together And, to
tell the truth / received letter from
a member of your syndicate, who is
also an acquaintance Of mine, which
explained your position. Under tho
circumstances, l consider your course
to have been honorable. You and I
were both in search Of the same
thing, and now, as it appears, nature
has sent an earthquake to do our affair
| for us. No operations of ours could
| have achieved such result as last
NIGHTS disturha nee d;l. and ~ 49, 80
not prove effective, nothing else will. =
IF it turns out well, was promised
share in the benefits" said Freeman,
land that would put me in a rather
better condition, from worldly point
Of view"
~ would like, in the first place. to
hear what Gen. Trednoke has to say
| about what / have told him." said
Freeman, clearing his throat.
Miriam" said the General, '.do you
wish to be married to this young
MANI
The old soldier was sitting with her
hand in his, and he turned TO her as he
spoke. She threw her arms round his
neck, and pressed her face against his
shoulder. HE is to me W hat you were
TO mamma" she said, so that only he
could hear.
| Then be to him what she was TO
me-" answered the General, kissing
her. ''Ah me, little girl! am old, but
perhaps this is the right way for me
to grow young again. Well, if You are
of the same mind six months hence
-"
Worse; it will be much worse,
them murmured the professor. Bet