Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-09-24
CHAPTER v.


result of siege to which the city has been
for some time subjected,
CHAPTER v.
zAEMoN's CURSE,
1t appeared that for the present, at
any rate, was to have my residence
in the royal pyramid The glittering
cavalcade drew up in the great paved
square which lies before the building,
and massed itself In groups. The
mammoth was halted before the door
way, and when Q stair had been
brought, the trumpets sounded, and
we three who had ridden in the gold
en- half-castle under the canopy of
snakes, descended to the ground.
1t was plain that we were going
from beneath the open sky to the
apartments which lay inside the vast
stone mazes Of the pyramid. and,
without thinking. the instinct Of GUS
tom and reverence that had become
part of my nature caused me. to turn
to where tho towering rocks Of the
Sacred Mountain frowned above the
city, and make the usual obeisance,
and offer. up in silence the prescribed
prayer.
She said to me: Come" and. turn
ing to the doorway, cried for en-
trance, giving the secret word ap-
pointed for the day. The ponderous
stone blocks which barred the porch
swung back on their hinges. and with
stately tread she passed out of the
hot sunshine into the cool gloom be-
yond, with the fan-girl following
decorously at her heels. too went
inside the pyramid. and the stone
doors. with a sulleu thud. closed be-
hind US.
We did not go far just then. Pho
penice halted In the hall Of waiting.
How we'll remembered the place.
with the pictures Of kings on Its red
walls, and the burning fountain Of
earth-breath which blazed from jet
Of bronze in the middle of the floor
ing end gave it light. The old
king that was gone had come this far
of his complaisance when he babe me
farewell as I set out twenty years be-
fore for my viceroyalty in Yucatan.
But the air of the hall was different
to what 1t had been in those old
days. Then it was pure and sweet.
Now 1t was heavy with some scent,
and I found 1t languid and oppressive.
II am told you are pretty fight
err" said she. SWELL, hold some
CT alil1 II, ~
a conceit that am something of a
Judge. Tomorrow we will take q
taste of battle together. But to-day
l must carry through the honorable
reception I have planned for you.
Deucalion. The feast will be ready
soon, and you will wish to make
ready for the feast. There are cham
bers here selected for your use. and
stored with what is needful. Ylga
will show you their places"
We waited, the fan-girl and /, till
Phorenice had passed out of the glow
of the light-jet, and had lett the hall
of waiting through doorway among
the shadows Of it's further angle, and
then (the girl taking a lamp and lead
ing) we also threaded our way
through the narrow mazes of the pyr-
amid.
Everywhere the air was full of per-
fumes, and everywhere the passages
turned and twisted and doubled
through the solid stone of the pyra-
mid, so that strangers might have
spent hours-yes, or dnys-in search
before they came to the chamber
they desired. There was fine cum
ningness about those forgotten build
ers who sat up this royal pyramid.
They had no mind that kings should
fall by the hand Of vulgar assassins
who might come in suddenly from
outside. And it is said also that the
king of the time, to make doubly
sure, killed all that had built tho pyr-
amid, OF seen even the lay of Its inner
stones.
but the fan-girl led the way with
the lamp swinging in her hand, as
one accustomed to the mazes. Here
she doubled, there she turned, and
here she stopped in the middle of q
oAahN "oiA w push q otoiSS "AtSA
swung to let lis pass. And once abe
pressed at the corner of fagstone
on the floor, which reared up at the
thrust of her foot, and showed us
stair steep and narrow. That we de-
.scended, coming to the foot of an in
elined way which led US upward
again; and so by degrees we came
unto the chamber which had been
given for my use.
''There is raiment in all these chests
which stand by the walls" said the
girl, land jewels and gauds in that
bronze Golfer. They are Phorenice's
first presents, she bid me say, and but
a small earnest Of what is to come
My Lord Deuoalion can drop his sim
plicity now, and fig himself out in
finery to suit the fashion"
"Girl,' l said, sharply, "be more
decorous with your tongue, and spare
me such small advice"
IF my Lord Deucalion thinks this a
rndenesz. he can give y word to Phoro-