The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-12-16

ana sold ~ Tle rs 10 he trnced. and
your findings reported so that our
chief can make arrangements to check
this evil NJ It's source He can do very
little until you have something definite
% report, It's actual starting point, etc.
and that means the startlng-point OF
Chez Ming. Upon your success will
rest the honor of Kidding the world OF
deep gray curse. | wish you God
speed. "a. NJ"
Lexington knew that his hands were
trembling. He read this final instruc-
tion again and again. until every
phrase was unforgetable. Much Of his
friend came TO him from the page. the
worldwide significance of his errand
In this treacherous land. Con was
humble before the trust of Great
america. lie burned to do well. The
matter of koresh. the deep gray curse,
was not at all clear TO him. He had
an uncomfortable suspicion that he
| knew the stuff.
Afternoon was frightful with dust
and sun-glare. Night came cold, yet
not In the nature of relief. Con
drank n bowl of brownlsh goats milk,
and cracked like chip between his
teeth native biscuit. He brushed
the ashes from his lips. and found
himself staring at nothing. while the
meaning OF his mission grew larger
within him. Something had come at
last to steady him. The underworld
had always trusted him-somethlng
not granted TO many-but now he was
honored by the government. Authori-
ty believed In him, tested him, and
sent him TO unravel poisonous web.
He recalled certain things he had
told Andrew March. almost amounting
to confessions. Now that he knew
his friend to be a federal officer, he
wondered what March must have
thought of those recountlngs. II made
Con smile. He was more keerly
which the elder manshad studied him
before trying him In the present task.
He planned TO walt a week, IL need
be- In the hope that Chez Ming would
come. He speculated that the Chinese
had probably returned to Tien-tsin to
regain his troublesome trunks. so ac'
counting for delay in reaching Shan
sung. If the week passed and brought
no traveller, Lexington meant to enter
the Cobb without a map.
Having given orders that his servant
should have the day to himself, he
turned over and mapped again. Fol
the remainder Of the day there were
pleasant matter. to think over, until
he discovered that his "boy" had gone
taking the two fresh beasts. Doubt
less with the aid of the villagers. tn,
oil devil had fled back eastward, nwa,
from the devils OF the unknown.
The fact that the village was agains
him did not depress Lexington. as !
must formerly have done. Now HI
had TO sustain him the assurance o
his own country that he had beer
chosen, that men of power trustee
him. The second day he found himsel
quite generally ignored In the ston,
ghost of a city, although the old woman
and her two sons continued to accep
his silver for food and roof.
Late In the afternoon OF the thir'
day, when his patience was waning
camel outfit appeared to eastward
1t could not be his prodlgal driver
Con went forth to show himself. ii
was done with subterfuge, and tn
village offered no concealment, had h
wished TO hide. There were half
dozen men In the approaching party
or, on closer look, two men an
their servants all bobbing nearer o
camels.
Chez Ming was heading the outa
He sat under tapping ssunshadt
His dry face was unchanged, a
though his soul became a ours
against the western youth who ha
persisted. He hated the steadiness G
Levington's eyes and the half-smil,
remembering the brutality of his mui
cular equipment, but most of all h
longed to blight the power and pen,
| tration of Cons brain. Yet, so far q
the countenance indicated, when h
regarded his white enemy below hin
Chez Ming might have been in tn
act OF serving coffee at Cecil wedger
elbow, instead Of riding a shagg
beast In these outlands of Mongolia.
n But the master of the other outf
was white man. Beneath slopin
Chinese straw hat, the face was gra
e and strong and touched with sadnes
i Con answered the greeting Of Andre
:. March.