The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-09-30
CHAPTER VI-Continued.

A maze of hoOfs tangled about him,
out through this a clear voice sound
ed-and again. The gray figure, the
sentinel, was standing up in the stir
Eups, with right arm appraised, and the
clear call of command was repeated.
Swordthrusts were halted, and the mad
horsemen reared back In obedience to
an imperiOus gesture.
A circle Widened around the two
white men. The wild horses stood
trembling and disappointed A further
command came from the person whose
face was again hidden by the left
forearm appraised. and who now spur
red away out of sight. A whispering
aoudened among the battle-riders, a
low giving and taking of advice. Four
of their number dismOunted, and Con
felt the familiar Ieathern thongs
Tightening about him. The white men
were lifted up and set behind two
broad-backed hOrsemen. and the entire
party moved at a walk up the ravine
road.
"Ask for water" called Con to his
comrade.
March did so, IN native speech, but
no heed was given. The party emerged
abruptly upon an open plain at the
head of the road.
Here was the wonderland they had
come to find, the treasure for which
generations Of elect-wanderers had
given their lives. Lexington stared
duly, believing 1t all mirage.
Spread out as far as the eye could
discern. lay a green valley, moist and
fertile An evening breeze drifted the
fragrant earthly breath of life. Fields
were level and marked into squares
by bitches.
! In the middle distance was a city
OF red stone, it's battlemented wal
enclosing roofs that cleaned. There
was, rising above all, a palace, its
1nany-angIed roofs and long caves
blocked against the west; suns fire
f1ared back from its lofty embrasures
1t was mansion set upon mansion
each with the stonecraft of its owl
age. a maze of narrow walls in irreg
uiar layers. pagOdas pointing In the
mist, all in mad. dreamy harmon!
OF architecture.
The white men logged behind thei
captors. and accepted the city ant
palace as noble Illusion. Tn,
beauty was bitterness, for they daret
mot believe, they had not the strength
'Its all over !" cried Con. my eye
are gone"
''Too far" said March. "tOo far
The bitches were COOL The mail
read passed between patches of IN
familiar vegetation, pale green. TIL
palace seemed 10 Ieer from marrow
eyes. a thin smile that was evil an
secret. It's mass had a strange rec
dish cast, like the rust of the deser
At the southern end of the inclosur
was a grove of trees, nothing less tina
North American white oaks. somewha
stunted, their tops showing just abov
the rim of the city wall. Levingto
looked again over the shoulder of hi
captor, and was even further from az
hitting these things TO himself. Tn
western plains were beginning to We
under the violet mists of evening
Higher the palace lifted as they al
preached. like an unnatural hill {
bright roofs. and many apartment
perched In fantasy. to be reached b
some inner miracle of stairs No
IRON the CITY iISCiI HiUTnUE I'd
around the white men, like fnvisibl
bees
The notched wall had but 9 sing
broad gate. Beneath It's masonry. Al
Client and perfect, they rode f11
abreast. A crowd was gathered. I
witness the arrival. OF trespassers fro
n strange world. Gray and brow
faces stared up at Lexington. In the
a furtive malice showed.
Some OF the people wore sandal
but most were barefoot. and not e7el
man showed queue Faces at lattict
windows were heavily yelled. Childrs
ran about naked and screaming. 0
men. large OF frame but failing al
spent, stood over their sticks and gaps
in ugly amazement. The CONNIE
dwellings were close packed under Il
fortifieations. while the palace was s
further within. a wide lawn separatil
It from ali else. Three white fou