Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-02-24

naught else to do. He is supreme In
Helium, yet it would be far more in
keeping with chivalry and good taste
were he to come hither and greet the
savior of Barsoom with the honors
that are his due"
/ smiled.
"You know full well, my friend"
said, that Eat Arras hates me. Moth
ing would please him better than to
humiliate me and then kill me. He
has an excellent excuse. Let us go
and see If he has the courage to take
advantage of it."
Summoning Carthoris and Tars Tar
kas, we entered the small f1ier with
Kantos Kan and Eat Arras' officer
and in moment were stepping to the
deck Of Eat Arras' flagship.
AS we approached the jed of 70
danga no sign of greeting or recogni-
tion crossed his face. Not even to
Carthoris did he vouchsafe friendly
word. His attitude was cold. naughty
and uncompromising
"Kaor, Eat Arras," l said in greet
ing, DuC he ulu HOT respond.
"Why were these prisoners not dis
armed?" he asked of Kantos Kan.
"They are not prisoners, Eat Arras,"
replied the officer. 1.-TWO of them are
of Heliums most noble family. Tars
Tarkas, jeddak of Thark, is Tardos
Mors' best beloved ally. The other
is a friend and companion of the
Prince of Helium. That is enough for
me to know"
at Is not enough for me, however"
retorted Eat Arras. more must
hear from those who have taken the
pilgrimage than their names. Where
have you been, John CarterW
az have Just come from the valley
Dor, Eat Arras," replied.
"Ah!" he exclaimed in evident pleas
ure. @You do not deny it then? You
have returned from the bosom of Iss ?"
'I have come back from land of
false. hope, from valley of torture
and death. With my companions have
escaped from the hideous clutches of
lying flends. l have come back to the
Barsoom that l saved from a painless
death again to save her, but this time
from death in its most frightful form"
"Cease, blasphemer" cried Eat Ar
ras. Hope not to save thy cowardly
carcass by inventing horrid lies to-
He got no further.
One does not call John Carter "cow-
ard" and "liar" thus lightly, and Eat
Arras should have known it.
Before a hand could be raised to
stop me l was at his side, and one
hand grasped his throat.
"Came l from heaven or hell, Eat
Arras, you will find me still the same
John Carter that / have always been,
nor did ever man, call me such names
and live-without apologizing."
And with that commenced to bend
him back across my knee and tighten
my grip upon his throat.
"Seize him. cried Zat Arras, and a
dozen officers sprang forward to assist
him.
Kantos Kan came close and whis-
pered to me:
"Desist, beg of you! 1t will but in
volve us all, for l cannot see these
men lay hands upon you without aid
ing you. My officers and men will join
me, and we shall have a mutiny then
that may lead to revolution. For the
sake of Tardos Mors and Helium, de-
sistw
At his words l released Eat Arras
and, turning my back upon him.
walked toward the ships rail.
"Come, Kautos Kan," I said, "the
Prince Of Helium would return to the
Xavarian."
None interfered. Eat Arras stood,
white and trembling amid his officers.
Some there were who looked upon him
with scorn and drew toward me, while
one, man long in the service and con-
fldence of Tardos Mors, spoke to me in
low tone as l passed him.
you may count my metal among
your fighting men, John Carter" he
said
l thanked him and passed on. In ST.
Ience we embarked and shortly after
stepped once more upon the deck of
the Xavarian. Fifteen minutes later
we received orders from the flagship
to proceed toward Helium.
Our journey thither was uneventful.
Carthoris and | We're wrapped In the
gloomiest of thoughts. Kantos Kan
was somber in contemplation of the
further calamity that might fall upon
Helium should Eat Arras attempt to
follow the age old precedent that al
lotted terrible death to fugitives
from the valley Dor.
Xodar alone was care free. He could
be no worse off in Helium than else
where.
Let us hope that we may at least go
out with good red blood upon our
blades" he said.
1t was simple wish and one most
likely to be gratified.