The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-11-04
CHAPTER x-continued.


there was no talking. If the miners
were curious. they were silent. If they
were as distrustful as they appea- ed
Ia glances. they were for the moment
persuaded by the Arab.
Con smelIed camels There vas a
ledge where the walls sloped back to
meet the lowering roof, and in the
wedge-shaped space between, the white
men were permitted to conceal them
selves Lexington drew his friend
further into the narrowing space, and
at once the torches were gone. Silence
came about the two as they waited.
From beyond a jutting wall the light
from the gas fire family colored the
rock, leaving the hiding place in deep
shadow.
II talked with Helen about these
men," said March. '0They are the sons
Of captive mothers and fathers Their
blood Is pure, or has already been
duplicated in the city. That is their
crime: they are not blended, or neces-
sary to the blend. and so. as Outcasts.
are sentenced to the work here. The
women are not all defOrmed. and the
children are not always born dwarfs,
but I understand that the babies are
taken to the city. to be raised In the
houses of the war caste. The legs and
backs of the male children are
spoiled in order to nip any future re-
volt. The arms are left unhurt, for
the sake OF labor. 1t is well thought
out"
1The DEVILS own scheme" said Con.
There are pure Japanese here pure
Persian. the Lord knows how many
different elements not desired for the
purposes of empire"
''But how did you begin to persuade
them?"
Il thought Of their grievances and
made the most Of that. 1t appears that
they have at different times cherished
the idea of a revolution; our Arabian
friend was one of the candidates for
leadership. years ago, he says. but his
legs were too bad. They had to give
1t up. Isn't that the bitterest humor ~
Il won't go anywhere again without
learning the language" said Con.
sit was almost as If they had been
looking for u.s." added March.
II hope we can make good your
promises"
81 hope they can protect u.s."
Curious game, isn't it?" unused Lev
ington. He was thinking now of
Princess Helen.
''YOu're not much elated over our
deliverance." objected the elder COM
rade.
'tWalt Whitman said that If a thou
sand perfect men were to appear be-
fore him he wouldn't be surprised"
as that the way you feel?" laughed
March.
eyes. That's one book Helen ought
to have. Wait could show her what's
the matter with Tau KHAN"
''You might do that yourself" saic
the father, and the conversation
lapsed.
Distantly Lexington heard the
miners rousing the camels for another
days work.
ut must be almost daylight" said
March.
"All the same down here. but 1 sup
pose they can track US in the day
time"
'Back at my desk, in the days be-
fore I found Chez Ming" said March,
ST was depressed because felt !
should never reach the heart Of the
Cobb 1t had become the same as
heaven to me, and all my dream lad
ders had failed. toppIed down. But
even in my younger days, 1 never
Imagined a world like this
'"That first big surprise stretched
me-" said Con. "when we ran into the
green valley. The palace made me
numb. and the apartment of your little
princess finished me-victrolas, apes
and aImanacs- If I had not seen my
own father go down under koresh, I
wouldn't believe that, either. But as
1t is, I think nothing on Gods Foot
stool will ever startle me again.
The white men lay for more than an
hour talking in whispers and peering
out into the great dim cave. No day
light could enter here. only the noise
less dance of orange-tinted shadows
upon the further wall. At moments
they could hear something Of the ac-
tivity of the miners, in another section
Of the subterranean passages. Then,
abruptly, the arch at the left was
darkened by large familiar forms, the
soldiers.
There was a score Of them, with
smoking torches. A long limp bag was
dragged upon the floor. The first
glance about this part Of the caverns
was q disappointment TO the big
framed warriors; but they had not
completed their search. Swords
clanked down against the rock floor as
they opened one end Of the sack. A
black serpent slipped out at their feet.
From the elevation, Lexington saw
the snake lift its head and rapidly
tongue the leggings of the nearest,
who showed 1t away with the blunt of
his sword. The other soldiers stood
still. It's small eyes were like jewels.
A leather thong was fastened in a ring
Just back of It's head. Holding their
torches high, the soldiers waited, and
as the snake seemed diSinciined to
act, one huge rider caught its black
length upon his scabbard and lifted It
upon the ledge as high as his head.
The serpent might go where they could
not see. 1t remained still in the new
H.,