The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-09-30
CHAPTER VII
The Blend of Tau Kuan.

They were not consigned to jail.
Such Asiatic courtesy as they were
shown was traceabIe to the spoken
command of the gray rider at the top
of the ravine road.
But it would not have greatly mat
tered to Con If they had run him
| through with their Iances. His limbs
were dead with fatigue, his nervous
system deranged by thirst. He had
scarcely a mental surface upon which
to receive the wonder Of these faces
about him, the walls and twisted
cornices. the red blocks of desert
quarry. Andrew March was In a fever
Lexington found that his friend had
grown strange to him, as if IN America
he had never glimpsed the true March.
| the cOmpaniOnable, big-hearted man of
! fifty was gone, with the substitution
| of a gaunt, dark person, of no land
or period, a living ghost of the Cobb,
product OF sands and barren hills only,
the sun, cruel winds, and utter wilder
| ness. Con did not know this Andrew
March who was silent and gIftter-eyed.
But the pain of the knowledge was
| dulled like everything else.
might 1 have a drink ?" he asked of
the nearest, as his eyes closed again.
The GOODNESS of fountain spray was in
| his nOstrils. hurting him curiOusly, and
the fneffabie sweet smell OF green sod
was release like death itself
They lifted him from his horse He
saw for a moment many low archways
and sheltered walks. The stone flag
| ging was like cold knives under his
i h. e
| led him were strong as iron The
tinkle Of water sounded near In the
pleasant gloom, and Lexington grinned
at the torture, until a white cup was
! held to his lips. Startled, he opened
| his eyes: and then came the half
dark again Mt the touch of water upon
! his tongue. His sigh was a groan, and
he swOoned.
The last sunlight reached in through
a high window, falling golden across
q bath of clear water, level with the
stone floor. A censor had been light
ed, and its soft fumes went to Cons
head like wine. They HAD reused him.
Big hands were placing him infant-wise
upon the shallow steps of the bath. in
the sun-warmed water. Lexington
end.
A purple curtain was drawn across
the high window, taking all save a
mellow glow of light from the pool
They bathed his body from. head to
to foot. He relaxed in their arms,
having neither power nor inclination
to resist. Presently he was placed
upon a mat, and rubbed. He found
he could use his eyes, and almost
trust them. Only two of the captors
remained, and these were of a differ
ent caste. clad in short white jackets
and snug trousers, nothing OF the war
riOr about them. Their heads were
shaven-yellOw men, and aged, their
hands very skillful upon the human
: structure.
| The oil was deIfcately aromatic
cedar, cinnamon. and the grape, but
: family mingled. Levington's body was
glowing; his legs ached with superb
) satisfaction.
ST have died." he whispered TO him
= self. IT should have done 1t sooner
Something In the oil made him forget
: Andrew March. They wound him II
= silken cloth, loosely, after which
L
3 brawny negroes shuffled to the edge
: Of the bath. and laid Lexington upo1
' a pallet, which they raised as high a:
a their thick shining shoulders. tn,
e white man sighed as he was born,
along a corridor, up a series OF ston,
e steps to a wide balcony which wa.
: open to the skies. a third negro nov
q advanced. picked him up in his arms
o and carried him to a covered be,
a against the wall, just within door
n The pillow was cool to Cons cheek
q He fell asleep.
A mild green glow in his face waker
8, ed him. He glanced up at the figure
= green curtain enclosing his bed
d stretched himself slowly, fun Length
n then turned over and slept again.
d Upon bis reawakening, the curtain
d were drawn back. A familiar hea
d was near, and new smell brougt
n the fact that Con was being shaves
e He had a glimpse Of the razor,
It straight broad blade shaped like a ke
g In the yellow hand. He dozed throug
4 this performance.