The Washington times., 1912-04-11

Headway Against Odds.
- TERN gazed at this alarming OBJ
ject with far more trepidation
than he would have eyed n
token authentically labeled
"Direct from Mars"
For the space of full half minute
he found no word. grasped no coher-
ont thought, came to no action save
to stand there, thunderstruck, hold
ing the rotten leather bag in one
hand, the spearhead in the other.
Then, suddenly, he shouted curse
and made as though to fling II clean
away But ere 1t had left his grasp
! he checked himself.
NO there's no use in that" said he.
quite slowly. ''If this thing is what
II appears to be, IL 1t isn't merely
some freakish bit of stone weathered
off somewhere, why, 1t means-my
God, what doesn't it mean?"
He shuddered and glanced fearfully
| about him; all his calculations al
| ready seemed crashing down about
him; all his plans, half formulated,
New, vast and unknown factors OF
the struggle broadened rapidly be-
| fore his mental vision IL this thing
were really what IT looked to be-,
| In his palm. There 1t lay, real enough.
an almost perfect specimen of the
takers art. showing distinctly where
the wood had been applied to the
core to peel off the many successive
| layers.
1t could not have been above three
and a half inches long by one and a
quarter wide at its broadest part. The
haft, where II had been followed to
hold the lashings. was well marked.
a diminutive object and skill
fully formed one. At any other time
considered the finding a good fortune; ;
but now!
"Yet, after ALL he said aloud. as
though to strengthen and convince
What can 1t proven"
| His subconsciousnes seemed to make
answer: so. too. the sign that Robin
only human footmark. Do not deceive
yourselfv
In deep thought the engineer stood
there a moment or two. Then. "Bah!'
how? Let 1t come-whatever it is! II
hadn't just happened to find this. I'd
have been none the wiser" And he
dropped the bit of flint into the bag
along with the other things.
now more cautiously, once more started
forward.
"An I can do" he thought. "is 1ust
go right ahead as though this hadn't
comes that's all. 1 guess I can mcet
II. Always have got away with it sc
far. Wen see: What's on the cards
has got to be played to finish and th'
best hand wins!''
He retTaced his way to the spring
where he carefully rinsed and filled tn,
cosmos bottle for Beatrice. Then bace
TO the Metropolitan he came, donnecc
his bearsllin. which he fastened will
, a wire nail. and started the long climb
His sledge he carefully hid on the sec
ond floor, in an office at the left of th'
stairway.
Don't think much Of this hammer
after all" said he. what 7 need is al
ak. Perhaps this afternoon I can hav
another go at that hardware place ant
find one.
'If the handles gone, I can haft
these two rcvolvers-till I find som
rifes-I guess we're sofe enough, spear
heads or not!'
About him he glanced at the ever
present molder and decay. This office
he could easily see, had been both spa
cious and luxurious. but now 1t offere,
only a sorry spectacle. In the dust owe
: by window something glittered DULY
beveled mirror, which had probabl
hung there, and when the frame rot
ted. had dropped. He brushed 1t Off an
looked eagerly into it;
A cry of amazement burst from him
DO / look like that?' he shouted
well. ! won't for long,!
He propped the glass up on the stes
; beam of the window opening and GO
. utes later the face OF Allan Stern Dor
. some resemblance to its original sell
: : True enough. his hair remained. a. bi
jagged, especially In the back, n
brows were somewhat uneven, and tn
point to which his beard was trimme
! wast far from perfect.
But none the less, his wild savager
had given place to a certain aspect c
IT. H.. I.AN 40 khA yHTNnN hAn y
skin over his shoulders look doubl
strange.
, Stern, however, was well pleased. H
smiled in satisfaction.
What will she think and say?" h
:, wondered, as he once more took up tn
bag and started on the long, exhaust
ing climb.
: Sweating profusely, badly blown.
: for he had not taken much time to re;
2 on the way. the engineer at last reache
a his offices in the tower.
q Before entering he called the girl
q name.
awake and visible?"
. "All right, come i'm she answere
n cheerfully, and came to meet him
= the doorway. Out to him she stretehe
. her hand In welcome, and the smile sf
y gave him set his heart pounding.
He had to laugh at her astoniahmeI
and naive delight over his changed NJ
pearance: but al! the time his eyes wei
For now, freshly awakened, full
4 new life and vigor after a sound night
J. sleep, the girl was magnificent.
The morning light disclosed new glin
Il of color in her wondrous hair as II Ia
; broad and silken on the tigerskin. tn
she had secured at the throat and wal
g with bits of metal taken from Il
10 wreckage OF the filing cabinet.
= Stern promised himself that ere lor
a he would find her a profusion OF go
: pins and chain In some OF the Fiji
70 avenue shops to serve her purposes q
: she could fabricate real clothing.
x AS she gave him her hand the Beng
d skin fell back from her round, war;
i creamwhite arm,
,r At sight of 1t. at vision of that mas
crown of hair and OF those gray, pen
trant, questioning eyes, the mans spe
breath quickened
He turned his own eyes quickly ava
lest she should read his thought, al
hogan speaking-of wnat? He hard
knew. Anything till ne could mast
himself
Id But through II all he knew that
Is his whole life. till now self-centere
rs analytical, cold he never had felt sue
I. real. spontaneous happiness
D The touch OF her fingers, soft Al
warm dispelled his every anxiety. III
n thought that he was working now 4
e her; serving her; striving TO preser'
\, ana Laen her thrilled him with ioy.