The Washington herald., 1920-02-15
YeHou Men Sleep

were too far distant TO carry 10 the
roof. and the shelving palace was
mute. The sound continoed. indie
Lexington waited at the
edge of the wall, but could not hear
clearly. Evidently IL was a prsyen
very earnestly presented. More and
more 1t sounded like the voice of
Andrew March.
Con had not known where his
comrade was lodged. He becam.
sure OF the voice. The three guards.
perhaps athirst, or for some like
reason universally valid with trios
OF men at night, were not holding
their post Of duty. for the stairway
was empty. A talk with Andrew
March was worth a risk; IL was
necessary IL they were to work to-
gether for escape. They would need
a policy to guide their remaining
days In captivity Anything was
better than these brooding medtta-
tions alone. The IRE in the young
prisoners veins focused TO some
purpose. He descended the stairs.
but at the foot of them discovered
that they had brought him no near
er the voice. In fact. there were
other voices unpleasantly near. He
went up again nd>leaned over hts
wall. to learn how the monkey
climbed up and down so readily
Quite certainly now he heard his
friend talking. The starr were a
cool faint light upon the walls.
which were rough-hewn. He could
distinguish the ledge Of a window
below him. halfway TO the ground
He knotted the silken cloths from
the divan In the first room and fast
ened one end OF this soft rope 90 the
stone bench. IL was not dfficult to
let himself down over the rim OF
wall easing the strain by pressing
his knees into the oepressions OF
masonry. His toes found the Ledge
He grimly hoped that he had heard
Alright. that March was really near.
The window was open. the prayer
stopped.
Hello"
The stiffness Of the whole earth
seemed 60 originate just at this
window ledge. Then a hand toucn-.
him, and March whispered. Don't
talk
The elder prisoner moved back
. into the darkness. while Con can,r
in at the window. Suddenly there
began a scramble, with stormy
blows and a rattle. March was at
grips with his guard. having takes
for granted that Lexington meant
to attempt escape. Con sensed this
explanation. He stepped forward un-
certainly, his hands feinting for bat
| tie. In the gloom he leapt at the
larger form. a desert soldier, whose
arms whipped about like falling
trees. Three throats strained for
breath. but IL was the warrior who
smothered under a white mans
hand. He bit Cons palm, and that
closed the brief battle. for il anger
ed Lexington and he sent in his
free hand. The huge son Of Tau
kuan collapsed. The figure Of a
woman darted from a shadowy cor
ner. She was moaning softly. and
her robe futtered as she ran out.
''She will give an alarm" said
March, painting.
Your Kurdish friend"
Yes. she hates me as much as
they do"
Because you refused"
Without further words. the two
prisoners mounted the windoW-ledC.
glanced back through the darkness
at the motionless guard. a hUlkinC
silent figure in dense shadow. and
dropped to the earth.
4 Their fall was considerable n
iracked their legs. but pain was over
looked in haste. They ran close I'm
der the western wall OF the palace
turning at the north end. across the
! broad lawn, TO the lane beyond
| which were the dwellings OF tho
fighters. All was dark. They mot
no sentinel. The desert scarcely re-
quired watching. They sped over
the heavy dust OF the street and
gained the high-arched gate. 4 worn
ladder was hooked here for antique
battle uses. From the top OF the
fertilization they glanced down at
another necessary jump and took IL.
Side by side they ran, following the
trail Of the pack-camels. Behind
them, within the walls. the aged
crier of the hours sent up his voice.
full to trembling with the news.
And arousing every soldier. a bar
OF hollow brass changed out into the
sleeping city.
We tipped over the bumble-bees."
said Con.
CTo be continuedD