Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1899-05-31
The Life Of a Man


IL is a question:, Prof. ktrkhoiier
said, quietly, between this and
that"
Saying thus, he looked down at the
two objects between which choice had
TO be made. ''rhis" was a man, a
brown-skinned man of the upper Asian
steppes. lie lay prone upon the desert
sand. his eyes, unseeing eyes. wide
open, motionless save for an occasional
twitching of the limbs as the fever
SILVER shook him; silent. except when
his parched lips moved in the inarticu-
late mutter of delirium. The profess
sor's gaze did not linger upon this pite-
Gus figure. 1t Travelled to "thAt'-two
loads of clay tablets, evidently Of ex-
treme antiquity, and closely covered
with a strange cuneifon character,
which had just been carefi ly strapped
by his companion to the Lacks of two
kneeling eamels.
Seeing we are now reduced 20 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
waterless desert, probably "a hours
ride from the nearest well. and that this
man is dend weighton our hands"
"You don't dream Of abandoning the
poor chap" Dick Harding brokein.
The professor glanced uneasily over
his smoked spectacles. Harding was a
puzzle to him. man CT distinguished
scientific attainment capable of
strong scientific enthusiasm. yet oc-
casionally betraying a vein. Of senti-
mentality altogether out of place in
connection with scientific exploration.
KirkhofTer had had inconvenient ex-
perience of this popularity more than
once during the year spent with Hard
ing in the remote businesses Of Thibet.
You wouldn't leave him here 10
die?' the Englishman persisted.
The professor rubbed his forehead
thoughtfully. Hes bound to die soon
In any case"
II don't see that at all. II we can
keep him alive till we get out of this"
Impossible, my friend. lie cannot
walk and these two cameis cannot car
~ him in addition to you and me and
the tablets"
"Then leave some Of the tablets be
hind"
The professor fairly gnsped fol-
breath.
"Leave-leave' behind some Of tn,
tablets?" he stammered. Leave tn,
records of a civilization to which IN,
Arcadian is q thing of yesterday-tS
be swallowed up by the next sand
storm? Give my great discovery, tn,
greatest of the century, MANNED an,
imperfect, TO the world? Harding, yol
must be mad. What's the life of 1
Khirgiz Tartar beside these priceless
things?"
: Kirkhoffer's short sighted eye
J CLEANED angrily behind his glasses; hi
voice was thick with passion.
whats a Khirgiz TartarP" b
growled. like a wild animal.
Hes q man, anyway" Harding re
; torted. suppose ] refuse to leave thi
q fellowP"
"Then"-the professor became all a
once ominously cool-'I shall be forces
10 remind you that 1 am the head O
this expedition and you my salaried as
sistant. Also that these animals ar
my property. 60 and they 60 wit
r me. You can join the party or not, a
S you please"
e Harding grew pale. "That is tn
q choice you offer me2 Then I say 70
h are blackguard."
"And say" indifrerently, "that 20
e are fool. Come. will you mount2'
"Nol" furiously.
The German shrugged his shoulder
''Have it your own way" he said. AND
, gathering up the long leading rel
: which he had fastened TO the head {
i one camel, he prepared to seat himse
" on the other.
l. But here Harding sprang upon hin
suddenly. mo, you don'tl" he crie'
"You shall heave me one. you brut
though IT were a hundred times yol
n propertyi-
u "Stand OIL" the professor cried.
. Iarding's answer was to close vii
u him silently; and there ensued q tri
Of strength whereby the issue SCENE
for several minutes doubtful. The ms
were not I'll matched. Kir4hoffer w
+ the taller and heavier, but then !
d was also the elder by 20 years and Har