The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-06-03
CHAPTER vIn.-continued.

PSASoA SAA0I was SSCulcu llkV Gill;
namon and musty wine. an aged slave
arose from the bower and came before
the m%onzoul, although the monarch
probably could not see him for a cloud
of lilac butterflies. The slave bore a
silver jar in his hands, and over his
gaunt shoulder was a square of white
satin. He spread the satin upon the
stones before the palanquin, and then
deftly set spinning upon appraised fin
ger the jar Of dull silver. Faster it
spun, until its very stiffness blent with
the monotony Of the drug. Lexington
knew that he should go away from the
gate If he wished to keep from dream
ing, but he was too curious to leave.
The odor from the yellow bowl touched
q sheaf of memories in him and this
pain was more real than the grace of
the brown-limbed maid.
But the silver jar stood motionless
on the poised gray finger. The juggler
withdrew his arm, and the Jar re-
manned suspended near the monzoul.
Silence was heavy, and the spicy per-
fume overspread the white man at the
gate. Con tried to retain the solid
world, to remember that this drug had
been sold in Dory street, that it had
killed his own father, and he breathed
hard, with the old anger sharpened In
his heart. He swore to settle this mat
ter. either privately or for his govern
ment. But the moment he let go that
thought he could not avoid seeing the
juggler as he plucked the magic jar
down to his bosom. and began to pour
purple wine upon the square of satin.
But the White cloth remained spotless
and dry. At this conclusion, the gaunt
performer dipped into the bowl and
pressed the soul-dark upon his own
sunken eyes.
Swift, strong hands had found Lev
ington. They came out of the world
he had been unable to hold. The rude
ness Of the hands was satisfying to
him. It aided greatly in throwing off
the effects of koresh.
They placed him upon his roof again
and left a guard at the head Of the
stairs. Con cursed himself for having
wasted his only chance to seek a way
to liberty.
He trod about the high Enclosure,
unmindful of the sun, picking his way
: mentally between doubt and evidence.
1t was depressing to remember that
long-ago hour of his departure from
he March house. He longed to find
March now and talk things out with
him. Their best possibility was to find
friends, somehow, by whatever policy.
They would need to cooperate in such
a plan, to play it exactly together.
Chez Ming had nj heart, but he pos
sessed a brain. The mOnzoul himself
had not a clean thread Of nerve any
where, by which he might consider an
appeal. And so Lexington sought
and sought.
Before noon a stranger appeared at
the top of the stairway, with a curt
bow and greeting for the prisoner. He
was perhaps a slave, and yet a person
row shoulders. Chinese, his face a des-
ert yellow and furrowed. cheeks like
fruit that has never fallen. He was
nOticeably clean, his tunic giving off
the faint smell of recent laundering.
The veins in his old hands stood out,
blue cords, as he again signif1ed Lev
fngton's superiority over all living men.
This slow salaam was merely the Tau
Kuanian command to follow. A dou-
BILE scar was crossed upon the SER
wants neck suggesting the strokes of
two swords on a single errand. Now
the ancient lips formed the English
word: Come"
There was nothing to lose, so Lew
ington was willing. 1t might be an op-
p~ortunity. though he rather feared it
was connected with his delinquency in
the matter Of race-blending. They pro-
ceeded through the inner corridors.
past the ever-burning lamps of alabas-
ter, but did not turn In beneath the
darkened arch of the throne room. In
stead, they vent on to the end of the
passage. The old Chinese paused.
Through a closed door Con heard the
voice of Andrew March. He opened
the door and entered.
"A victrola stood beside a long mis-
sion table, on which were books and a
yellow lamp. An American college pen
nant was pinned above a brown mission
couch. There were sofa pillows and a
shelf Of books. A kodak and a riding
crop hung from a dagger stuck in the
wall. A morris chair was set before
zone of the windows. March sat upon
the arm of the chair, lingering the lace
curtain. Con stood still.
Near March was q young girl who
seemed subtly afraid of something-of
Lexington himself: She wore a silken
blouse, open at the throat. and a skirt
Of the smartly defined mode of Ameri-
can avenues, following the line of her
slender body. Her timidity was ever
theless frightened with pleasure. The
face was su%n-tanned, the eyes held a
diamond light. Here was the lovely
golden-brown hair that had flown free
upon the gray cloak of the rider. the
same that the princess Of yesterday had