The Washington herald., 1920-02-13
sYPoPsIs or PRECEDING
INsTALLMENTs.

tiay packet of leather which he had worn
about his neck. Lexington Immediately re-
ports to Andrew March and his father,
stephen March. who reyen 70 him that the
They select him % take the packet and fnd
this mysterious oesert land under sealed
ORDERS" lie accepts.
Lexington is told Of two unsuccessful
quests for the mysterious Cobb Empire By
stephen March and his son. Andrew. He Is
March. on one Of these trips. when near his
goal. ''the strange riders" came, and robbed
him Of his wife, Elthna. and his baby girl.
Lexington meets Chez Ming on the ship
sailing for the Orient and later In the
Desert. He is surprised, the latter time. to
nnd Chez Ming accompanied by Andrew
March. Chez Ming sets out for the Hidden
Empire" ahead Of Lexington Spd March,
who are gradually making their way by
means Of a map tatooed on Msrch's foot.
After days Of tedious travelling they arrive
at the hidden empire, Ward discovers his
lost daughter Helen and introduces her to
Con Lexington. Helen speaks English, and
has uncanny confidence in Chez Ming.
CHAPTER XIII.-Continued.
Counting the warriors who live
beyond the walls. in the rock caves
to the south, as well as the work.
ers in the pits to the eastward. and
those who deliver the vines of their
fruit,"-Helen paused to align her
English. then proceeded-"west of the
city, and the warriors who dwell
within the walls. the caste OF mer-
chants. too, and the women Of all
these, and the women OF the palace
who belong to the monzoul, there are
many, many souls in the keeping of
Chez Ming"
Including your OWN" asked Lew
ington.
The princess felt. the trouble in
Cons heart. and did not know how
to reply properly, so merely nodded.
'I am the only white person. at
court or elsewhere. They say that
once an Englishman came. I did not
see him. He died before he could
be married and begin his family"
Con began to realize afresh how
different her training had been, to
speak calmly OF these matters. In
America, the subject OF breeding is
with propriety discussed beforehand
only in regard to cattle and pups, but
concerning human beings never un-
til afterward, when too late. Leving-
ton said drily:
"You have no difficulty with the
Eaglish speech"
| HeIen's intuitions were bridging
the gaps OF lonely years in her life.
She was catching up with the world
of her fathers, and his was a breath
less business before strangers. She
was meeting the unknown in Leving-
ton. The quality of him. the way he
talked and moved, were matters new
and stimulating. She openly studied
his face, and beneath her calm OF
the Orient was a warm confusion.
According to her studies, they had no
princes in America
Trusting to alter the direction of
their conversation, the father OBJ
served: "Alf these things seem to
have come from the United States"
"Yes, Sir Father. the music ma
chine only a week since. cannot
comprehend Il: 1t may be a devil, but
what of that? Chez Ming learned in
San Francisco to produce sweet sing
| ing from it."
Con rose to meet his occasion.
approached the music machine" and
chose a record. He glanced back at
the princess. who was awaiting with
pure interest the result of his acriv-
ity. She had quite naturally crossed
her ankles as a white woman should.
but her eyebrows had a deceptive DIP
ward slant-the Mongol mark that
chilled Con unreasonably. Her hands
became idle. He set the record 60
ing, and into his own emotions came
the hothouse sentiments OF the big
American tenor, who sang strenuous
lily. Con was glad for this further
touch of home. and Helen was
pleased; yet neither was moved by
the singing. They were pitched more
intensely than the music. And for
the girl, there was a yellow web of
tradition between the Western song
and her self. She found this merely
a wonder-toy. part Of the American
tradition that had been brought TO
her, three costly trunkfuls, across two
continents and the largest ocean. over
deserts and mountains, deep into the
wilderness of Sha Mo.
She thanked Lexington for his cour-
tesy, and her small hands came to
life again as she talked to Sir
Father" Sunshine f1ickered through
Ine leaves Oh ING "UlIe OdhS dI
window, trees that had been trans
planted at heaven-knew-what inhu-
man cost eighteen years before. when
she was a babe at Eithna's breast.
The oaks had been imported also to
sustain North American tradition.
Chez Ming, as vizir to the monarch,
was a man of perfection in details.
In at the window bounded a tiny
figure, the pale-faced monkey. Helen
made soft noises with her lips, and
leaned forward. Each Of the three
persons in the room received the
monkeys quick consideration. Then
he dropped down to the rug, crossed
soberly to Lexington, and glanced up
at him for permission. which was
given. He leapt, and Con held him
on his shoulder. This seemed to give
a new pleasure to the princess.
'Besur has made a friend" said
she. He has otherwise nothing but
enemies-and myself"
Does he keep you from being lone
ly7" asked Lexington.
mot at all times. But that is not
his fault"
Besur glanced at her and started
to say something. but forgot, and
with Is small nails.
You have done well to grow up In
such excellent health" said Andrew
March.
"I could not have avoided It." Helen