The Hope pioneer., 1920-06-24

Kuan."
"And the Russian" added March.
'"rhcy are badly hit"
"Do you think it is possible?" asked
Con.
After a silence. the elder comrade
said slowly: "To be frank, I have
had faith and lost it. and reyained and
lost it so many times that l cannot
say. 1t is my duty to try, but can't
say any more than that"
Lexington felt the curious depres-
sion again in his friend. an alarming
weight.
The Arabian sailor appeared below
them. grinning.
You hold still?"
Like stone" said Con.
"She do not strike you at all?"
passed both Of u.s." said March.
You are cherished of Allah," de-
clared the sailor. "Thev have taken
away four of u.s."
He grunted Il world OF meaning. The
sailors were furnishing the miners for
completely. Perhaps the tale of the
white mems murder" did not impress
IN" searching party.
What will they do to the four?"
Break leg" said the Arab. "Afaybe
starvc."
Andrew March shuddercd, and the
strange one below volunteered: "My
men do not like"
Lexington saw that two white
strangers causing great trouble for
the miners could uot necolne very
popular. March also understood. He
said simply: Take me before YOUR
men,"
lis there anything you can say?"
asked Con-
"only what ! told them before" re-
piled March. I'VE represent a nation
t''af is as eager to punish Tau Kuan
as these workers can be. if we can get
back there to tell the story. can
make that clear. at least"
"They may not be in Il mood to lis
ten"
March smiled sadly. Moods" he
Nv ~HAs pAl SIlOOk his mead
The three men passed into the larger
portion OF the cavern, where the red
dlsh roof was marked with the flare
IRON the burning gas below. Several
women cried out sharply ut sight of
'he white men and fled like timid ami
mails to their rock-pockets up the
walls Their skirts were brief and
ugly. Several very young children
darted after their mothers to the safe
~ OF dark familiar haunts-too young
to have been spoiled" 1t was only Il
period of months before they would be
taken into the city. to be nodded into
slaves In the houses Of the soldiers,
the circulation of their blood retarded,
their very souls distorted. Returning to
the mines year or more after, they
would be lost and strange and as if
orphaned. among their own kin. Their
family life did not receive sanction Of
the state.
The frightened women left food be-
hind them. Jars stood close to the tis-
sure from which came the fire. The
contents had been prepared for bak-
ing. Con bent down to sniff ut the
open jars. March and the Arab passed
on together, and Lexington waited,
feeling himself useless in such a con-
ference. He was more interested in
finding an exit.
10 the left was the passage leading
to the foot Of the slanting shaft. He
noted long vine that came down over
the loose gravel like Il guide-rope. Con
climbed into the enlarging daylight to-
ward the top. Sunlight, the old enemy.
was begulling. 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 flash of
desert days came over him oddly, a
swift reminiscence Of pain and thirst,
gone in the space Of one upward step,
yet leaving Il dryness in the throat.
Con realized that the only trees within
Il thousant miles were the half-srown
oaks outside the easements of the prin.
| cess.
Nov the air changed in his nostrils
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 Of upper earth and
stared away. The city, less than mile
distant, was shimmering behind heat.
waves, 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 q
driver was coming out at the big gate
| Out to the south was mOtiOnless
hOrSeman. the sun flashing from his
silver and steel. He seemed to be
! guarding the horizon. He was one OF
the scores who sought trace Of the
fugitives. But nearer, along the road
was third rider. canterng between
the green squares. Cons heart beat
violently. He recognized the gray
cloak of-hiS princess.