Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1899-09-06
Lexington Rocbrdge County, Virginia Wednesday, September 1899

me' LOU Coh Ioin sno PaiIJ VI noe, 40
you please"
Harding grew pale. "That is the
choice you offer met Then gay you
are blackguard."
"Apd say indifferently. "you are q
fool. Come, will you mount?"
"Nol" furiously.
The German shrugged his shoulders.
"Have it your own way" he said. And,
gathering up the long leading rein.
which he had fastened to the head Ct
one camel, he prepared to seat himself
on the other.
But here Harding sprang upon him
suddenly. mo YOU don'tp he crie'.
"You shall leave me one, you brute.
though it were hundred times your
property
"Stsud Of !" the professor cried.
Harding's answer was 10 close With
him silently, and there ensued trial
of strength whereof the issue seemed
for several minutes doubtful. The men
were not Unmatched. Kirkhoffer wa
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 con-
tention, the camel, almost in the others
clutch. Harding stopped to seize the
creatures halter and rose again to end
himself covered by his antagonists
revolver.
"Now, perhaps" the man Of science
observed, "you will consent to hear
reason. No use, nay good friend" as
Harding's hand whent briskly to his
breast pocket. Il drew the charge
while you were asleep this morning, In
view Of possible difficulties. You see,
I know something Of your strange
English character. There is nothing
like being ready for difficulties a. they
arise"
Dick Harding, under he coyeiingssre-
volver, stool erect and dumb. To ar
que further with o man prepared to
commit murder on behalf of his tablets
of baked clay were simple waste Of
b cath.
Keeping the muzzle Of his weapon
pointed full at Harding's breast. Pro
lessor Kirkhoffer mounted his camel;
made both the great beasts get up. and
began to move of. As long as Hard
ing remained within running.up dis
lance he continued to hold the revol-
YER raised and leveled; sitting sidewise
on his animal to insure an accurate
aim. But after minute the camels
broke into long, awkward trot; in
two minutes they were beyond pur-
suit; three-and the professor pocketed
his frearm and threw his leg acr, 'ss
the saddle. "Your own fault, rsmem.
ber!" was his final greeting before be
disappeared over the top of the nearest
sand dune. i
When he had disappeared, Harding
looked about him, reviewing the situs- 1
ton. 1t was no cheering prospect
that met his eye; dead waste Of sand
hills to north, south, east and vest
While not in the glare of the tropical
sun. Two dark blots alone broke the
pale surface Of the wilderne. s- the
stiAening bulk Of the dead camel and
the limp, figure Of the fever-stricken
camel driver. Truly no plea, art place
to die In; more especially if yon 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 of anticipations Of
coming torture to take stock OF his
wretched commissariat, and rummsg-
ing in the bag found o priceless treas.
ure--notking lefs than. an untouched
bottle OF quininsl Way, with this he
might hope to revive the Khrigix,
whose case, but for the supposed ex-
haustion Of the expeditions medicine
chest, had never been q serious one.
Escape was yet possible.
Escape? From trackless wider
ness in which they could only wander
aimlessly to and fro, having no s.nglr
instrument by which TO determine thels
position or point the ways Saving bio
assistants glass the professor had car
ried of everything.
No, not everything. Even as this
thought sank like q stone into hard
ing's heart his eyes fell upon some
thing glittering at his loot. With . |
shaking hand he graspel it. lifted ii
and broke into . cry o. mingled
triumph and thanksgiving, which start |
led the Khirgiz from bis lethargy.
Pushing back his long hair, the man
made an effort to sit mp.
1.-THE master! Where is the masteii
he asked, looking absut him in sut.