Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1899-08-15
A MANS LIFE.

''It is question, Professor Kirk
hotter said, quietly, "between this and
that. -
Saying thus, he looked down at the
two objects between which choice had
to be made "This' was a man, a
brown skinned man of the upper Asian
steppes. He lay prone upon the desert
sand, his eyes unseeing eyes, wide
open, motionless save for an occasional
twitching of the limbs as the fever
shiver shook Kim; silent. except when
his parched lips moved in the inarticu-
late mutter of delirium. The professor 8
gaze did not linger upon this piteous
figure. 1t travelled to ''that two
loads of clay tablets. evidently of ex-
treme antiquity and closely covered
with strange cuneiform character,
which had just been carefully strapped
by his companion to the backs of two
kneeling camels.
"Seein2 we are now reduced to two
beasts cnly," he went on, his eye shift
ing for an instant to the body of third
camel, which lay dead some 90 yards
of. ''seeing also that we are in a water
less desert, probably "a hours ride from
the nearest well and that this man is a
dead weight ON our hands
"You don't dream of abandoning the
poor chap?" Dick Harding broke in.
The professor glanced uneasily over
his smoked sFectacies. Harding was
puzzle to him. man OF distinguished
scientific &tta:nmenta, capable of strong
scientific enthusiasm. yet occasionally
betraying vein of sentimentality alto
gether out of place in connection with
scientific exploration. Kirkhoffer had
had inconvenient experience of this pc
culiarity mere than once during the
year spent with Harding in the remote
businesses CT Tibet.
'tYou wouldn't leave him here to
die?' the Englishman persisted.
The professor rubbed his forehead
thoughtfully. "Ile's bound to die soon
in any case.
81 don't see that at all. If we can
keep him alive~till we get out of this
impossible, my friend. He cannot
walk and these two camels cannot car
ry Linn in addition to you and me and
the tablets.
'"rhen leave some of tho tablets be-
hind.
The professor fairly gasped for breath.
''Leave--leave behind some of the
tablets?' he stammered ''Leave the
records of civilization to which the
Arcadian is thing of yesterday-to be
swallowed up by the next sandstorm
Give my great discovery, the greatest
of the century, manned and imperfect,
to the world7 Harding, you must be
mad What's the life of u Khirgiz Tar
70 EI,oeo ,,ricoloeS
Kirllhoffer s shor rtsighted eyes gleam-
ed angrily behind his glasses; his voice
was thick with passion.
"What's Khirgiz Tartar2' he
growled like wild animal.
''He's man, anyway" Harding re-
torted. "Suppose l refuse to leave this
fellow?"
''Then professor became all at
once ominously cool-''I shall be forced
to remind you that am the head of
this expedition and you my salaried
assistant; also that these animals are
my property. l go, and they go with
me. You can join the party or not, as
You please. "
Harding grew pale. ''That is the
choice you offer me? Then 1 say you
are blackguard.
F'And say indifferently, ssthat
you are fcol. Come. will you nountf"
Nor furiously.
The German shrugged his shoulders.
Have it your own way" he said.
And, gathering up the lcng leading
rein which he had fastened to the head
of one camel, he prepared to seat him
self on the other.
DIT Lo-o ,,,,,,. 1,
suddenly. "No. you don't, :" he cried.
''You shall leave me one, you brute,
though it were hundred times your
property" /"
''Stand off, the professor cried.
Hardings 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. Kirkhoffer was
the taller and heavier, but then he was
also the elder by 30 years, and Hard
ing'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 conten-
ton. the led camel, almost in the other g
clutch. Harding stopped to seize the
creatures halter and rose again, to find
himself covered by his antagonist re-
volver.
''Now, perhaps, the man of science
observed, lyon will consent to hear
reason. No use. my good friend, - as
Harding's hand went briskly to his
breast pocket. 81 drew the charge
while you were asleep this morning in
view of possible difficulties. You see, I
know something Of your strange Eng
lish character. There is nothing like
being ready for difficulties as they
arise "
Dick Harding, under the covering re-
volver, 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
pointed full at Harding's breast, Pro