The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-10-07
CHAPTER Viii
gone.
The Princess.

The Princess.
Lexington was angry with himself
for having slept, for he had intended
TO spend the night hours In finding
some chance of escape, and now, in
daylight. he knew no more of the city
than before. He could not accept the
impOssibility of such a task, for his
thoughts ran continually upon plans
for flight.
Breakfast arrived-fruit and tea
and brown biscuit. with the added
courtesy of cigarettes in an ivory box.
The round-headed gray negro sQuatted
nearby while his master ate, and Con
wondered how many kinds of blood
were mixed in his heart.
The roof was blue with morning
shadow. The city seemed to lie chiefly
on the opposite side of the palace, out
of Levington's view, for only a few
poor houses bordered the edge of the
fields he saw to westward. A white
fog was steaming up. Obscuring the
low hills that marked the western
boundaries of Tau Kuan. The gray
visaged monkey was also present.
waiting nervously at one end of the
a biscuit, but was as disappointed as
Con had been. There was no salt in
it. But the tea was fragrant and
scaIding, and the tobacco was sun
gold from Tartary.
"Hadn't you better go home to
breakfast?" suggested Lexington.
The little beast did not think so.
He stared at the white man. his beady
bright eyes seeming TO express mute
warning, with centuries of regret
When the gray boy had taken away
the dishes, Con stretched and renewed
the process of wondering. His nor
NAL powers Of thought, that had been
snatehed away in surprise and fatigue,
had returned. He wanted TO talk to
himself. to quicken his own American
identity. He smiled to think OF him
self as United States secret agent
Wolves Or wine or the iab of a blade
in the dark. any fight in the open
Con prayed for these hearty strifes.
But the desert city. the palace maze,
was against hope. This evil gentle
ness was a strain upon him. It was
far from cheering to remember that
Andrew March had lost his nerve.
Con looked at himself in the clear
shield, and did not recognize the hard
brown face reflected. The sun that
had darkened his skin had bIeached
his soul. The garb of a Tartar trans
formed more than mere appearance
white blouse above a wide sash. legs
wrapped from hip to knee in white.
He removed the snug turban, and
glanced again, to see If any senblance
remained of himself. He saw In his
! own eyes the tension of one who
/ knows death to be near.
Impotence seized him, and he
crossed the roof to the stairway. No
one prevented his going down. To the
| left were a walled garlen. the sing
/ ing Of a bird, and a dull rhythmic
sound like pumping. He went to the
/ open gate. The garden. close walled.
was rooted with vines, which con-
| ceaied the bird. A -bronzed slave,
nearly naked. lounged against the
arch at the gate. A radiance. soft and
cottony, was reflected upward from
the smooth tagging Of the path. Lev
ington did not Immediately understand
the persistent beating.
This garden was green and frag.
rant stiffness In which rested a palan.
quin with curtains parted. Beside
this. on the gray stones, men were
kneellng. five of them. old warriors
whose day was nearly done. A second
slave stood near. humping q bone
J drum The guard at the gateway did
not trouble the white intruder, for al:
: chin was nodding with the drum
Again the hidden bird spilled melody
. Ike shattering crystal. The robes q
the Eve who knelts were varicolored
The palanquin was canopied with pur
pie and silver and pearls.
) Within it. squeezing the cushions. wa
. thick, soft bundle OF a man. The
| bird and the gentle drum had IuIIeC