The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1899-09-15
IHE LIFE OF A MAN.

=. 10 a question" Professor Kirk
Ear said quietly, between this and
Wing thus. he looked down at the
!nbiects between which choice had
be made. This was a man, a
n.skinned man of the. upper Asian
rnas He lay prone upon the desert
his eyes, unst eyes, wide
motienless, save + an occasion
,Titcbing of the limbs as the fever
ror shook him; silent, except when
norched lips moved in the inarticu.
mutter of delirium. The profess
y caze did not linger upon this pit
sgure 1t travelled to "that''-two
A. If clay tablets, evidently of ex.
mo antiquity and closely covered
n strange euneiform character,
Cich had Just been carefully strap
4 hv his companion to the backs of
kneeling camels.
Seeing we are now reduced to two
psts only" he went on, his eye shift
FIR an instant to the body Of
n camel which lay dead some TWEEN
Yards off, seeing also that we are
waterless desert, probably TWEEN
four hours ride from the nearest
and that this man is a dead
igbt on our hands,
yOu don't dream Of abandoning the
\ chap" Dick Harding broke in.
NE professor glanced uneasily over
smoked spectacles. Harding was
vie TO him, a man Of distinguished
entihc attainments and capable Of
ong scientific enthusiasm, yet oc-
sonally betrnying vein of senti-
entality altogether out of place in
+bpction with scientific explorations.
lrkhoffer had had inconvenient ex-
lrence of this popularity more than
he during the year spent with Hard
in the remote Businesses of Thibet.
FYou wouldn't leave him here to
M the Englishman persisted.
The professor rubbed his forehead
|,hcughtfully. "He's bound to die soon
Ia any case"
III don't see that at all. If we can
tsep him alive till we get out Of
,ihs"-
'Tmpossible, my friend. He cannot
Nalk and these two camels cannot
cdrry him in addition to you and me
md the tablets"
RThen leave some Of the tablets be-
I'D"
bhe professor fairly gasped for
Efeath.
Teave-leave behind some OF the
|ebletS" he stammered. leave the
seords of a civilization to which the
.cadian is thing of yesterday-to be
Fallowed up by the next sandstormi
I've my great discovery, the greatest
the century, MANNED and imperfect
the world? Harding, you must be
ad What's the life of a khirgiZ
brtar beside these priceless things?"
Kirkhoffer's short-sighted eyes then
FAMED angrily behind his glasses; his
)ce was thick with passion.
whats Khirgiz Tartar?" he growl.
like wild animal.
FILES a man, anyway" Harding re-
fted. Suppose l refuse to leave the
NllOw"
rThen"-the professor became all at
ice ominously cool-"I shall be fore
to remind you that l am the head
this expedition and you my salaried
'Eistant. Also that these animals are
N property. go and they go with
n You can Join the party or not, as
HI please"
Harding grew pale. "That Is the
loice you offer me? Then I say you
e a blackguard."
And say" indifferently, "y0u are
ol. Come. will you mount?"
mo" furiously.
Phe German shrugged his shoulders.
Fave 1t your own way" he said. And,
therng up the long leading rein,
hich he had fastened to the head OF
e camel, he prepared to seat himself
4 the other.
But here Harding sprang upon him
ddenly. "No, you don't!" he cried.
fou shall leave me one, yeu brute,
lough 1t were a hundred times your
fopertyw
Stand offw the professor cried.
|Har1ing's answer was to close with
m silently; and there ensued a trial
strength whereof the issue seemed
p several minutes doubtful. The
zen were not Unmatched. KirkhoffeI
las the taller and heavier, but then he
las also the elder by twenty years
pa Harding's naturally 1.-THE habit OF
pay had known an English public
Fnool and university training. The
|sult Of the conflict was still un'
Prtaln when the professor suddenly
|csed his hold and fell back, leaving
L prize Of contention, the camel, al
|est in the others clutch. Harding
popped to seize the creatures halter
pa rose again to find himself covered
his antagonists revolver.
Now, perhaps" the man of science
0served, you will consent to heal
'ason. No use, my good friend" as
larding's hand went briskly to his
Eeast pocket. 81 drew the charge
nile you were asleep this morning, In
lew of possible difficulties. You see,
Dow something Of your strange Eng.
N character. There is nothing like
rlse."
plck Harding, under the covering re
over, stood erect and-dumb. To ar
" further with a man prepared to
''Winlt murder on behalf of his tablets
Teath.
1Aeeping the muzzle Of his weapon
,lnted full at Harding's breast, Pro
'S S Kirkhoffer mounted his camel
"a ade both the great beasts get up
W began to mgve off. AS long al
1 within running-ul
nued to hold the re
leveled, sitting side
lal to insure an &C
after q minute thu
a long, awkward
ties they were beyond
the professor peck
and threw his lei
!. "Your own fault
his final greeting be
I'd over the top Of thu