The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1920-06-17
CHAPTER X.
Gemmed Eyes.

1lNtiS pNlSiSS VI NplSSH Ety VII
each side Of the trail. The mines were
perhaps a mile or less to eastward ;
and beyond that ridge an intinity of
shifting dry naught. The stars sen a
pallor that was diffused in the fog
from the bitches. At night these low
lands about the city were cool. The
black vague hill that was the palace
was receding into the gloom as the
two fastened on. The net of distant
cries was spreading.
do you suppose" suggested Lew
ington. that we can keep under cover,
and perhaps manage to get a beast of
some kind, and then sprint for the wa
ter hole?"
Con realized very we'll that the near
est water hole was a matter of days.
once they left the zone of fertility.
Food was yet to be considered, and a
city was rising to seek them out and
punish. But he felt the need of cheer
ing his friend.
eve can get into the vineyard" he
continued With enthusiasm he did not
feel. "and the fruit will serve for Wa
ter, too-and lay for a camel-and you
still have the guidebook on your foot"
Andrew March laughed miserably.
He saw what his friend was trying to
do.
"Why not knock at the gates" said
March, land demand water and provi-
siOnS for our return trip?"
well, we Numbered out here" said
Lexington. land half the planet was
bucking uS-Stones for rain, and spin
ming dust instead of a breeze, with a
few robber giants or the Side-so may
be we can break away for home
again."
Il don't mean to be sarcastic" said
March very humbly. Il understand
you. You are trying to make me feel
happier. But l do not dodge the re-
sponsibility. I was grossly selfish. My
work. and all my hopes, led me here.
And / wanted a partner, to face the
Cobb, some one strong and young, who
didn't take himself seriously, some one
with the ability to lose decently. 1t
had to be an artist. You were the one
l found. But I did not want it to mean
sacrifice. l made myself believe we
should not actual: lose. 1 held GER
tain dreams. They We're beautiful,
they baited you, as they baited me
long ago, and always. But l am done
with dreaming. Tau Kuun is death to
all dreams except that yellow fantasy,
itself. 1t is so cold-do you know what l
mean: The hand that guides il is the
archetype of inflexible purpose. The
empire is not contained within the
walls. 1t spreads beyond the Cobb, in
to Dory street; yes, and further, a
web of horror. 1t does not spring
from life. The only human being with
in those walls has been slowly and
fully poisoned. She can never know
life. You have e that"
March paused. and Lexington shiv-
cred. They peered into the darkness
ahead. One direction seemed as un-
profitable as another. Far to the real
the base Of the palace showed red in
torch reflection, and the braZen gong
ceased its pulse Of alarm. March
asked:
"Will YOU try to forgive me?"
Con spoke quietly. "You are forget
ting something. You are the differ
ence between the past and future to
me. Suppose l had found my man
that night, away back in Cincinnati:
should have far thicker walls bother
ing me tonight, and all the rest Of my
nights. Why do you forget that you
are the man who got me out of all
that? You were a federal officer, and
ought to have jailed me. Instead,
W every minute of my freedom to
you. l don't know now why l wanted
to shoot him up, l can't recall his name
or his face, but I was out to get him,
and would have finished strong, only
you came in front Of me, and-why. l
never began to live until after you
took me home that night!
II used to stand on Rush street
bridge in Chicago and, if I was far
enough gone. I could think l was look
ing at the Thames and the lights Of the
British shipping, or I'd think l was an
Arabian caliph, nosing about my own
city at night. Only it needed Il big
thirst to shift the globe around that
way and make a Greek waiter look
like the king Of Ashamede in disguise,
I've looked owe toward Brooklyn and
told myself I was on the Bund at
Shanghai. But it couldn't be done that
way. I was close to the rocks. You
seemed to know what l wanted. You
opened the world. Do you think ]
would back up, eve if l could! You
did no bait me. 1t was understood
that l should probably die along the
way, in the Cobb. It's been a grand
passage"
Thanks, boy" returned the eide,
man And in the twilight their hands
met and gripped an instant.
Whatever turmoil vas imaginable
within the city, the Americans wer,