Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-09
THE VACANT WORLD
BY GEORGE ALLAN ENGLAND
COPYRIGHT. iais. by Frank A Mmsey Company

Come then, for the way ia long before
US Come 20
Two hours later. undaunted by the far
howtne OF wolf-pack, as the wan cres,,
cent ot the moon came up the hntroubied
sky they reached tho brink OF the river,
almost due west OF whore the southern end
Of Central Park had been.
where the grim ruin % Grsuta Tomb
looked down upon the river, they came ut
length upon a strange rude boat, another,
then n thirda whole notllla. moored win
plated ropes Or grass to trees along the
shore.
These must certainly be tho canoes Of
the attacking force from northwnrd, the
force that fought the Horde the niEht be-
fore we took IA hand In the matter: Fought
and were beaten, d--Sievoured,' SAID
Stern.
Aud with a practical eye wise and cool
oven despite the pain OF his wounded arm
he examined three or four Of the boats as
best he could by moonlight
The girl and he agreed on one TO use
"Yer, this looks like the most suitable
Judged tho engineer. indicating rough
banCa- like craft nearly sixteen fect long
which had been carved and scrapod ana
burned out uf single log
lie helped Beatrice In then cast on the
rope In the bottom lay six paddles OF the
most degraded state OF Workmanship They
showed no trace OF decoration Whatsoever
and the lowest Ravagcs OF the pre-cAtaclyh-
mic era had invariably attempted some
crude form OF art on nearly every imple-
ment
The girl took up ono Of the paddles
which way? Upstream" asked she.
mo, no, you mustn't even try TO use that
arm"
why paddle at au2" stern answered
"See here
He polnted where n short and crooked
mast lay, unstcppcd, along the side. Lashed
TO Il was n sail Of rawhideA. clumsily caught
together with thongs, heavy and stln' yet
full OF promise.
Stern laughed.
Back to the coracle stage again." snid
he Back to Caesars time and away he
youdl" And he lifted one end OF tho mast
Here we've got the Souvlan pellls pro vells'
the 'glltns for sails all over agaln-only
more so. Well. no matter, Up she goes -
Together they stepped the mast and spread
tho sail The engineer took his place IN
tho stern. IA paddle In his LETT hand lie
dipped IL and the rlpplea glinted away,
"Now." said he, In voice that left no
room for argument. nov. you curl up In the
tiger skin and 10 to sleep This Is my
job"
The sail caught the breath OF the breeze.
The banca moved slowly forward, trailing
It's wake like widening lines of silver In the
moonlight
Dawn broke, all a flame of gold and Grim
son, as they landed in a sheltered little bay
on tho west shore,
Here. though tho forest stood unbroken
In thick ranges all along the background,
IL had not yet invaded tha slope that led
back from the pebbly beach. And through
the tangle of what once must have been n
splendid orchard they caught glimpse OF
whlto walls overgrown with mad profuslon
OF Wild roses, wstaras and eolumblnes.
This was once upon time the summer
place. the big concrete bungalow and all. OF
Harrison Van Amburg. You know the bill
llonalre the wheat man? II used to be all
his in the long ago, He built Il for all time
OF n material that time can never change
II was his, Wen. It's ours now. Our
home I"
Tired. yet strong. hs looked upon her
And as he looked his eyes grew deep and
eager.
Life everywhsre-and love
with his unhurt arm he eireled her. He
bent. he drew her to him as sho raised her
face 10 his
And for the FIRST time his mouth sought
hers.
Their lips. long hungry for this Madness
met there and blended In kiss OF passion
and OF JOY.
(THE ENID
sslsesond the Great oblivion" which l. a So
alel to aud q continuation o. thls story, heElns
on Page OF this Issue Of the Evening Ledger,