The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-07-22

dens, especially one. He moved into
the hall, keeping close to the inner
wall. He came to the familiar door.
There was no time to knock.
The victrola was still there. With a
little cry of dismay the servant of the
princess arched his back and ran for
ward. quite hideous in haste and hate.
Lexington stopped him and picked up
the knife that fell from the yellow
hand. There was further brief husi-
ness of wadding the mouth of old Fu
All and securing his enraged members.
Then the white man, his heart pound
ing, ran to the raised couch. She was
there. He closed his eyes a moment,
because of her loneliness, his W re-
lief and the strange hurt. Her face
held the calm of that shadow of sable
wings. Con knew the satiny black be-
meath her eyes. In fact, the yellow
bowl had been left here within her
reach when she Weakened. He bent over
and stared into her face.
"Helen," he whispered. "Helen.
wake up! They are giving you death.
I do not mean to make you unhappy.
Do not sleep, it is poison, you must
not! want you to live. Oh, princess.
there is America"
He did not know what he was say
ing to her. Her arms and shoulders
were limp as he touched her, lifted her
a little from the colored cushions.
Without opening her eyes, she sln'...d
family, and it madlened him to think
that she was pleased With some phan-
tirely W Of his own presence.
The deep shadows about her eyes
seemed to stab him. He raised her
closer to him. He was pleading. He
smoothed her temples. His hands
shook, as he breathed the full story of
his heart. The universe was only this
that she lay faint in his arms, that
her white beauty possessed him, that
he could not reach her, a web always
between, delicate vet unbreakable. She
sighed, as a child who enters q new
depth of rest, and it punished him.
She had not opened her eyes.
The leaves rustled outside the case
ment. From a silver vase IN a taboret
white rose petals drifted down to the
rug. Curtains swayed gently in the
movement of the air. Afternoon sun
light crossed golden through the oaks.
Out of the age-old secrets of the heart
Lexington knew the mystery of high
desire, as il a race of G stalwart.
tender, true, had gone before him. lived
and loved and persisted, that he might
breathe the same air with his princess
in this hour, might feel the softly rush
ing storm within himself, and pledge
his all to the beauty Of one who did
not speak.
Again he leaned G her, and whis-
pered rapidly-only the great hazards
mattered now-"Tell me, tell me-"
Helen's throat trembled, beneath the
smooth skin a ripple of effort, but she
did not unseal her lips. Con covered
his eyes With his arm.
Out of this moment of intense quiet
he heard footsteps, great leaping falls.
lie turned, crouching. A Nubian. a
giant, passed, his dagger steady as
bronze, his eyes red. He rushed. and
lAcS IlISlOu otepped tSilc. Liz lldS
must be led away from Helen. The
negro also reckOned on this. Con made
sure of the knife he had taken from
the servant. Flu All, who was still
tightly bandaged, lying near the door.
They faced each other. The great
black rushed again. Lexington crap
pied, parted, and they swung around.
He could do nothing with his knife.
Another wild down thrust from the
Nubian, a lunge with lion power in it.
Gray foam stood out upon the negroes
lips. A mighty hinge of ebony was clos
ing upon Lexington, who felt his legs
giving way, and the borrowed knife
head was gradually being forced back
ward. Catlike, he writhed loose his
right arm, and flashed a blow to the
black neck, hut 1t was like hitting a
rug. The African was mounting hot
". For all that life meant, Con chung
to the dagger-arm. He was lifted cleor
Of the floor, to enable the black to adj
stroke. All the agony of life's untast-
ed cup came to Lexington as he
thought of Helen. He could see her.
Suddenly the Nubian cried out and
seemed to lose control. He dropped
Lexington. who snatched the weapon
from him. lie was screaming and
stamping. Upon his shoulders chung
a small white-faced monkey. his teeth
holding deep, eyes staring out at moth
ing. The Infatuated black would sum
mon the entire palace with his howls'
Con drove the dagger twice below the
ribs, and the giant toppIed INTO silence,
while the little beast bit and bit, doubt
less repaying black cruelty and white
friendship at the same time. Besur
turned inquiring eyes up Lexington,
who had nc time to express thanks.
Retaining the Nubian's weapon. he fled
past the gagged and fright-ridden Flu
All, and out Of the apartment, lodging
down the corridor. There were run
ming shufles behind him. He gained