Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-26
CHAPTER XXIII

WITHOUT effort at concealment'
w hastened to the vicinity of our quar-
tors, where I felt sure I should find Kan
tos Kan. AS | neared the building / be-
came more careful, as l judged, and
rightly, that the place would be guarded.
Leaping from roof to roof. 1 soon
reached an open window in the building
in another moment stood In the room be-
fore him.
He was alone and showed no surprise at
my coming, saying he had expected me
much earlier, as my tour of duty must
have ended some time since
/ saw that he knew nothing of the
events of the day at the palace, and when
I had enlightened him he was all excite
ment. The news that Dejah Thoris had
promised her hand TO Sab Than filled him
with dismay
ut cannot be 20 he exclaimed. ut is
impossible! Why, no man in all Helium
but would prefer death to the selling of
our loved princess to the ruling house of
Zodanga. She must have lost her mind to
have assented to such an atrocious bar
gain.
"You, who do not know how we of He
lium love the members of our ruling
house. cannot appreciate the horror with
which 1 contemplate such an unholy alli-
ance.
What can be done, John Carter?" he
continued. You are a resourceful man.
Can you not think of some way to save
Helium from this dlsgrace?"
'Tf can come within swords reach of
Sab Than" | answered, II can solve the
difficulty in so far as Helium Is concerned
but for personal reasons / would prefer
that another struck the blow that frees
Dejah ThoTis."
Kantos Kan eyed me narrowly before
he spoke.
"You love her Does she know it2"
"She knows II, Kantos Kan, and re-
pulses me only because she Is promised to
Sab Than"
The splendid fellow sprang TO his feet,
and, grasping me by the shoulder, raised
his sword on high, exclaiming;
"And had the choice been left to me, l
could not have chosen a more fitting
mate for the first princess of Barsoom
Here is my hand upon your shoulder, John
Carter and my word that Sab Than shall
go out at the point of my sword for the
sake of my love for Helium, for DeJah
Thoris and for you. This very night l
shall try to reach his quarters in the pal
ace"
"How7" asked. you are strongly
guarded; a quadruple force patrols the
sky"
He bent his head In thought moment.
II only need to pass these guards ana
can do that" he said at last Il know a
secret entrance to the palace through the
pinnacle of the highest tower. fell
upon II by chance while on patrol duty.
'In this work 1t is required that we In
vestigate any unusual occurrence we may
witness. and a face peering from the pin
nacle of the high tower OF the palace was.
to me. most unusual l therefore drew
near and discovered that the possessor OF
the peering face was none other than Sab
Than. He was slightly put out at being
detected and commanded me to keep the
matter to myself, explaining that the pas
sage from the tower led directly TO his
apartments and was known only to him.
'Tf can reach the roof of the barracks
and get my machine l can be in Sab
Than's quarters in five minutes. but how
am to escape from this building. guarded
as you say II Isl"
How well are the machine sheds at the
barracks guarded?" asked.
There is usually but one man on duty
there at night upon the roof"
go TO the roof OF this building, Kantos
Kan, and await me there"
Without stopping to explain my plans,
1 retraced my way TO the street and hast
ened TO the barracks / did not dare to
enter the building, filled as It was with
members of the air-scout squadron, who
in common with all zodanga, were on the
lookout for me.
CONTINUED TOMORROW