The Washington herald., 1920-02-12
SYNOPSIS OF PRECEDING INSTALL
MENTs.

MENTs.
Con Levington's destiny begins at q fate
laden dinner where he finds Chez Ming,
then Chinese servant, whom he clev-
eriy oyerpowers and dispossesses Of .
tiuy packet Of leather which he had worn
about his neck. Levinston immediateiy re.
ports to, Andrew March and his father,
stephen March. who reveai TO him that the
tiny packet bears . map to q hidden empire.
They select him % take the packet and nnd
this mysterious DESERT 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
deeply impressed by the fact that the younger
March, on one Of these taps. when near lbs
goal, the strange riders" came. and robbed
him OF his wife, Eithna, and his baby girl.
Levington meets Chez Ming on the ship
sailing for the Orient and later in the
Desert. He is surprised, the latter time. to
md Chez Ming accompanied by Andrew
March. Chez Ming sets out for the "Hidden
Empire" ahead Of Lexington and March,
who are gradually making their way By
means II q map tatooed on Msrch's foot.
After days Of tedious travelling they are
rewarded ty the sight Of two persons,
mounted on Arabian ponies. at a distance.
They also hear one Of them utter an alarm
Of hate.
United States secret agent. Wolves
or wine or the jab of a blade in
the dark. any fight in the open
Con prayed for these hearty strifes.
But the desert city, the palace maze.
was against hope. This evil gentle
ness was strain upon him. 1t was
far from cheering to remember that
Andrew March had lost his nerve.
Tnn InnEad of T.
shield, and did not recognize the
hard brown face reflected. The sun
that had darkened his skin had
bleached his soul. The garb of a
Tartar transformed more than mere
appearance-white blouse above a
wide sash. legs wrapped from hip
to knee in white. He removed the
snug turban, and glanced again, to
see III any semblance remained of
himself. He saw in his own eyes
the tension of one who knows
death to be near.
Impatienee seized him, and he
crossed the roof to the stairway.
No one prevented his going down.
To the left were a walled garden,
the singing of a bird. and a dull
rhythmic sound like pumping. He
went to the open gate. The garden.
close walled, was rooted with vines.
which concealed the bird. A bronz-
ed slave. nearly naked, lounged
against the arch at the gate. A
radiance. soft and cottony, was re-
hected upward from the smooth
tagging of the path. Lexington
did not Immediately understand the
persistent beating.
This garden was green and
fragrant stiffness in which rested a
palanquin with curtains parted.
Beside this, on the gray stones, men
were kneeling. hve of them, old
warriors whose day was nearly
done. A second slave stood near,
humping a bone drum. The guard
at the gateway did not trouble the
white intruder. for his chin was
nodding with the drum. Again the
hidden bird spilled melody like
shattering crystal. The robes of
The palanquin was canopied with
purple and silver and pearls.
Within IT. squeezing the cushions,
was a thick. soft bundle of a man.
The bird and the gentle drum had
lulled him. His cheeks were the
pallid yellow of lemons over-ripe.
but his closed eyes were overcast
with gray. He was fat and royal
The line of his mustaches was thin
black. and long down. like droop-
ing floss. His queue was a black
rope. A hand. wide and pale, rest
ed limp upon the silken arch of the
abdomen. Something of ancestral
quality was hid in the fat of his
face. an essence OF dominion and
bitter statecraft; narrow regal
brow, a sharp nose, a besotted jowl
all the splendor of his inheritance
now dimmed under a perfumed mo-
notony. He had paid the full tri-
butte to drug and food and senile
pursuits.
Lexington was free to gaze. The
attention of all present had van
ished. The drumming possessed
their senses: also they were totally
unaccustomed to strangers. Per-
haps they mistook him for another
slave, not regarding him directly
There was a soothing GOODNESS in
the blossomed air, an overmaster-
ing scent of honey and cinnamon.
One of the robed figures rose
slowly and moved TO the head OF
his drowsy mQnarch. From a yell
low bowl he extended his fingers to
the mOnzoul's eyes. and caressed the
lids with reverent. poisoned tips
The other four in the party rubbed
their own eyelids. in catlike delec-
tation, then bowed again at his
feet. The bird hesitated in his
song. but the sober pulsing of the
drum went on and on. until IL
seemed part of the planetary life
Con leaned near the outer guard
who had not turned. Sunshine
trickldd through the matted vines
Cons foot began to press the stones
in rhythm with the drum.