The Washington herald., 1920-02-19
(Chapter XvI-Continued)

(Chapter XVI-Continued.)
To the left was the passage lead
ing TO the foot of the slanting shaft
He noted a long vine that came
down over the loose gravel like a
guide rope. Con climbed into the
enlarging daylight toward the top.
Sunlight. the old enemy. was be-
guilinG. He was thinking that In
+ Tau Kuan they have either too
, much sunshine or too little. The
pale. haunted faces of the children
below troubled him. An intense
light was binding him from above.
A fash OF desert days came over
him oddly. a swift reminiscence OF
pain and thirst. gone in the space
of one upward step. yet leaving
dryness in the throat. Con realized
that the only trees within thou
sand miles were the half-grown
oaks outside the easements of the
princess.
Now the air changed in his nos
trils. and he caught again the hot,
sweeping currents of the sand.
When the green blots left his eyes.
he raised his head above the level
o; upper earth and stared away.
The city, less than a mile distant,
"aE ~ tS
at moments dimmed by clouds OF
dust that rushed across the valley.
He squinted to find the path they
had taken last night through the
fog with the sleepers rising to find
them.
A dromedary with baskets and
driver was coming out at the big
gate. Out to the south was a mo-
tionless horseman, the sun flashing
from his silver and steel. He SEEM
ed to be guarding the horizon. He
was one of the scores who sought
a trace of the fugitives. But near
or, along the road. was q third rider
canteripg between the green
squares. Cons heart beat violently.
He recognized the gray cloak of his
princess.
She rode under the full blaze OF
high morning SUN. The pony NOV
ed briskly. The watcher was puz-
zled as to why she came out in the
great heat. leaving the shelter of
the palace tiles. She was alone,
save for the far figure of the senti-
mel She was mounted perfectly.
and this was comofrting to Con.
who longed for more signs OF her
Western self She reached the cut
in the hill. the head of the ravine,
and there drew rein. Vividly he re-
called that 1t was the point of their
first meeting, where her uplifted
right arm had saved him, while with
the left she concealed her face.
He swore to himself that he was
presumptuous in imagining she had
ridden there for any reason con-
nected with himself. unless she too
was seeking to discover the white
disturbers of the empire. and give
them over to the vizier.. Con argued
with himself that she had gone to
the ravine before she knew he ex-
listed, that probably she rode there
each day for a constitutional. since
there was nowhere else to go. Yet
his emotions had their ffnal say.
Lifting himself out at the mouth
of the shaft. he glanced up and
around. The sun was scorching. II
he attempted to move along the
face of the hill. he would draw the
eye of the sentinel. and. the end
would come quickly. Cons turban
and blouse were white, and he felt
that he must be glowing like a gem
on the dun hillside. Greater than
this Sdiniculty was the fear that
Helen would ride on or turn back
before he could reach her. Nothing
short of word with her would suf-
fee. although he could not recall
that he had anything to say.
The shortest way out of sight was
up the hill and over the crest. and
Con began to worm upward .
rapidly As possible. The sand he