The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-07-29
!Y6rerny Lane
.Illustrated by
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cloSeu the Q0Or Oehlnu MN. n mar
rowly missed the slash of Il sword u
the hands of the familiar Chinese serv-
ant. Con took the weapon from Flu
All. and commended him for his zeal.
Where is my father?" asked the
princess.
"He is with another division of the
men. We will go to him directly. You
told your story very WELL"
Your story" she corrected him. 81
was without breath. l spoke rapidly
to the guards, pointing. They saw the
loose horse, far out. 1t was sufficient.
They were enraged."
She had crossed the room with a
grace that found every nerve-the gem
tleness of the oriental in her step.
but more than that, the clear-limbed
assurance of an American girl. Lev
ington bowed and burned. He man
aged to inquire: care you ready to
go on a long %journey:"
"Does my father wish me to go?"
YES" he lied.
Il go"
There was nothing of koresh about
her now, unless in the faint shadows
below her eyes. Neither America alone
O Asia unaided could have produced
her sweetness, this frank perfection.
She heard the rush of madmen through
her palace-all the dread. sunguinary
confusion above and around-yet did
not tremble. 1t did lot occur to her
to be afraid. Her thoughts held to
other issues. The wise writings Of
two continents had tempered her mind.
Unlike those who knew the fruits
of n land or one age only, Helen
was wildly aware of life in a larger
pattern, and though her keenness was
young and softly cloaked. it shone in
her eyes. and was mysteriously con
veyed to him.
She smiled Il little. Il do not see
what is to come"
"Will YOU give the order to prepare
many camels Immediately for a long
march.
Has not my father done 500"
II agreed to arrange for it. He is
occupied at present." Con eluded again.
He went to the door and signaled to
the nearest rioter, who stopped his
play Of tormenting a wounded Nubian.
and came stumbling across the thresh-
old of the princess. Con stated the
needs to the girl, who spoke to the
Chinese. Flu All, in his own Ian
guage: and the latter. with a supreme
disgust stenciled across his face. re-
peated the order to the mar from the
mines. The dwarf. abased himself.
having expected a death-blow instead
of oral instructions, and crawled out
at the door.
"There are mountains to the north,"
said the princess to Lexington.
"And forests" he added. "Do you
think there is a better direction for
us? We must not larry"
"No. We go to the north"
Flu All then received further per-
Sonal wishes from his mistress. To
Lexington she explained:
81 am sending him up the stair
way. for things 1 shall require. Kind
ly go with him and SEE that he is not
struck dead by your butchers"
Lexington bowed again. silently. and
his cheeks burned. Her bitterness
was iron. Had he not upset the world?
Escorting old Flu All down the cor
ridOr, Con went up with him to see
what gross mischief was being work.
ed in the higher floors. The top Of
the stairs was clogged by two bodies,
miners who had failed to quell two
stalwart sons Of warriors, who also
lay quiet now a little way down the
hall. The tide of dwarfs had passed
on.
While Flu All delved In treasure of
silk and leather and silver, Lexington
found an outer window. Far along
the road beyond the city gates, he
noted two slaves mounted on camels.
The beasts were pacing at their ut
most, southwark, their mission to bear
word of alarm to the distant company
Of riders. Con examined the carbine
in his hands. Resting the barrel upon
n latch Of the open window, he aim
ed very carefully, and pressed the long
trigger. He repeated this process four
times, and "a then ready to 30 down.
stairs with the old servant.
when we leave" he said to Helen,
overcoming a reluctance to speak,
"these little half-men from the mines
will close the gates after us. Your
warriors, in returning, will be un-
able to force an entrance until we
have gained a greater distance to the
north"
"Do not say my warriors" She
llesitated, then added: "Do not heed
my words, if they are quick. 1 would
not turn back"
She was smiling gravely. Her hand
came out to him.
"a princess may speak as she
chooses" said Lexington.
mot to her equals"
The city was conquered, overrun,
The new caravan was being prepared
for Immediate departure. Con, feel.
ing that he was not needed elsewhere
had n cfrnnu roocon For roo,o:,-.