Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1899-03-18
The Life Of a Man


I II. re- - NJ.
lUC LIN vi d Wdll
:,
is a question: lrot' h'rkhoner
said, quietly between inns ana
that
Saying thus, he looked down al inc
two objects between winch cholce had
10 be made. This was Il man. a
brown-skinned man OF the upper Asian
stcppes. He lay prone upon the desert
sand, his eyes, unSeeinS eyes "lde
open, motlonIeSS save Tor an occasional
t%Mitching OF the limbs as the FEVER
SILVER shook him; silent. except when
his parched lips moved in the inart1ru-
late mutter OF dellrlnm. Inc profess
sor's gaze did not Iinger upon TINS pIte-,
Gus figure. 1t Travelled to that two
loads of clay tablets, evidently OF eN-
IRENE antiquity, and closely covered
with "A strange cuneiform character,
which had Just been carefully strapped
by his companion TO the backs of two
kneeling camels.
Seeing we are now reduced TO two
beasts only" he went on. his eye shift
ing for an instant to the body of Il
third camel which lay dead some 20
yards off, seeing also that we are in
a waterleSs desert. probably "a hours
ride from the nearest we'll, 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 measily over
his smoked spectacleS. Harding was a
puzzle to him, a man of distinguished
scientific attachments, capable of
strong scientific enthusiasm, yet oc-
casionally betraying a vein of senti-
mentality altogether out of place in
connection with scientific exploration,
Kirkhoffer had had announcement eN-
perience of this popularity more than
once during the year spent with Hard
ing in the remote Businesses of Thihet.
you wouldn't leave him here to
die?' the Englishman persisted.
The professor rubbed his forehead
thoughtfully, Hes 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 him in addition TO You and me and
the tablets
Then leave some of the tablets be-
hind"
The professor fairly gaspcd for
breath.
"Leave-leave behind some of the
tablets?' he stammcred. Leave the
!, records of a civilization to which the
Arcadian is a thing of yesterday-to
be swallowed up by the next sand
, storm? Give my great discovery. the
greatest OF the century, manned and
Imperfect to the world? Harding, you
q must be mad. What's the life Of a
| hhlrgIH Tartar beside these priceless
i. things?
kirkhotierS short e. sighted eyes
CLEANED angrily behind his glasses; his
voice was thick with passion.
whats Il khirgiz Tartar?" he
growled, like a wild animal.
Hes a man, anyway Harding re-
torted. suppose | refuse to leave this
: fellow?'
"Then'-the professor became all at
once ominously COOL shall be forced
| to remind you that | am the head OF
this expedition and you my saIaried as.
sistant. Also that these animals are
my property. ] go and they 90 with
me. You can join the party or not. Il,
you please"
. Harding grew pale. "rhat is the
choice you offer me? Then | say YOU
are a blackguard."
: And | saw" indilrerentlv. THAT yor
are a fool. Come. will YOU mountp"
! "No." furiously.
The German shrugged his shoulders
"Have it YOUR own way" he said. And
gathering M the long leodipn rel,
> which he had fastened TO the head n
me camel he prenared IN scat b;mse,.
! on the other.
But here Harding snranp mon hin
Z suddenly. mo. Won DON'T" he cried
"You shall leave me one. Won b,ute
though it were a hundred fines von
property!"
\ "Stand off,"tbe nrofessor cried
Uardinp.s answer was IN closo wit,
. him silently. and ,bera epsued , wi,
/. Of strength whereby tho issue ,oomo,
/, for several Minutes doubtful The mo,
!, were not III matched Kirkbotfer ,,o
the taller and heavier Inf ,bep h
G was also tbe elder by % yaars and u,r5
: ing's naturally 1.-The habit of hodv ha,
. known AN Enclisb nublic scbooi an,
: university training. The result If II
I |conflict was stiu uncertain whan III
y professor suddenly loosed his hold nm,
;, fell hack LEAVING tho MIN "a oantan