The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-07-22
FHE LIFE OF 4 MAN.
BY MRS. ANNIE Nj. WESTFORD.


! ''Stand off ~ the professor cried.
Harding's answer was to close with him
silently and there ensued trial of
strength whereof the issue seemed for
several minutes doubtful. The men were
not i'll matched. Krkhoffer was the taller
and heavier, but then he was also the elder
by twenty years and Harding's naturally
1.-THE habit Of body had known an English
public school and university training. The
result Of the conflict was still uncertain
when the professor suddenly loosed his
hold and fell back, leaving the prize Of
contention, the camel, almost in the others
clutch. Harding stopped to seize the Great
ure's halter and rose again to find himself
covered by his antagonists revolver.
"Now, perhaps" the man OF science
observed, ''you will consent to hear reason.
No use, my good FRIEND" as Harding's
hand went brskly to his breast pocket. 81
drew the charge while you were asleep this
morning. in view of possible difficulties
You see, | know something of your strange
English character. There is nothing like
being ready for difficulties as they arise"
Dick Harding, under the covering revol-
yer, stood erect and-dumb. To argue
further with man prepared to commit
murder on behalf of his tablets of baked
clay were simple waste of breath.
Keeping the muzzle of his weapon point
ed full at Harding's breast, Professor Kirk
hotter mounted his camel made both the
great beasts get up, and began to move off
AS long as Harding remained within run
ning-u distance, he continued to hold the
revolver raised and leveled, sitting side
wise on his animal to insure an accurate
aim. But after minute the camels broke
into long, awkward trot in two minutes
they were beyond pursuit three-and the
professor pocketed his firearm and threw
his leg across the saddle. "Your own
fault, remember - was his final greeting
before he disappeared over the top of the
nearest sand dune.
When he had disappeared, Harding
looked about him, reviewing the situation
1t was no cheering prospect that met his
eye a dead waste Of sandhills to north
south east and west, while not in the glare
Of the tropical sun. Two dark blots alone
broke the pale surface Of the wilderness
the stiifenng bulk of the dead camel and
the limp, figure Of the fever-striken camel
driver. Truly no pleasant place to die in
more especially if you happen to be young
and strong, and the death to which YOU
stand condemned be death by hunger and
thirst A few hours would exhaust the
scanty remains of food and water left in the
skin and saddle bag lying hard by the dead
camel and then
Harding shook off anticipations Of COM
| ing torture to take stock of his wretched
comnissariat, and, rummaging in the bag
| found a priceless treasure--nothipg less
than an untouched bottle of qunine Why,
with this he might hope to revive the
khrigiz, whose case, but for the supposed
exhaustion Of the expeditions medicine
chest had never been serious one.
Escape was yet possible.
Escape? From a trackless wilderness
in which they could only wander aimlessly
to and fro, having no single instrument by
which to determine their position or point
the way? Saving his assistants pack, the
professor had carried off everything.
No. not everything. Even as this
thought sank like stone into Harding's
heart his eyes fell upon something glitter.
ing at his foot. With shaking hand he
grasped it, lifted it-and broke into a cry
| of mingled triumph and thanksgiving,
which startled the khirgiz from his
ethargy. Pushing back his long hair, the
man made an effort to sit up.
"The master! Where is the MASTER"
he asked looking about him in surprise.
Harding laughed grimly "Heaven
alone knows, since he has left his compass
here"
And heaven alone knows to this hour
the course of the wretched Kirkhoffers
wanderings. When Harding and the
khirgiz, guided by the instrument which
he had dropped in his with the English
man, reached after manifold tolls and
sufferings, the confines OF human habita-
ton they could obtain no tidings of their
vanished chief. And, although Harding
insisted on organizing new expedition to
search for him, its labors were fruitless.
His fate remains as unknown to the
world as the history Of that ancient empire
whose records lie buried with him in the
sands Of Central Asia