The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-10-28


palIOr 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 Lev
ington, ''that we can keep under cover,
and perhaps manage TO get a beast of
some kind, and then sprint for the wa
ter hOIe?"
Con realized very well that the near
est water hole was a matter of days,
once they left the zone OF fertility.
Food was vet to be considered, and a
city was rising to seek. them out and
punish. But he felt the need of cheer
ing his friend.
1--WE 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, "and demand water and provi-
siOns for our return trip?"
well, we Numbered out here" said
Lexington, "and half the planet was
bucking us-stones for rain, and spin
ming dust instead of a breeze, with a
few rObber giants on the side-so may
be we can break away for home
again."
Il don't mean to be sarcastic" said
March very humbly. 81 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 1 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 It
had to be an artist. You were the one
found. But did not want it to mean
sacrifice. l made myself believe we
should not actually lose. I held GER
tain dreams. They were beautiful,
they baited you, as they baited me
long ago, and always. But I am done
with dreaming. Tau Kuan is death to
all dreams except that yellow fantasy,
itself. 1t is so cOld-do you know what I
mean? The hand that guides i; is the
archetype of infieXible 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. It 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 seen that"
March paused, and Lexington shiv-
cred. They peered into the darkness
ahead. One direction seemed as I'M
profitable as another. Far to the rear
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 I had found my man
that night, away back in Cincinnati: 1
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, I
owe every minute of my freedom to
you. 1 don't know now why wanted
to shoot him up, can't recall his name
or his face, but 1 was out to get him,
you came in front OF me, and-why. I
never began to live until after you
took me home that night
ST used to stand on Rush street
bridge in Chicago and, if I was far
enough gone 1 could think I was look
ing at the Thames and the lights of the
British shipping, or I'd think was an
Arabian ca1iph, nosing about my own
city at night. Only 1t needed a big
thirst to shift the globe around that
way and make q Greek waiter look
like the king of Ashamede in disguise.
I've looked over toward Brooklyn and
told myself I was on the Bund at
Shanghai. But it couldn't be done that
way. was close to the rocks. You
seemed to know what wanted. You
opened the world Do you think I
would back up, even if I could? You
did not bait me. 1t was understood
that 1 should probably die along the
way, In the Cobb. It's been a grand
passage"
Thanks, boy" returned the elder
man. And in the twilight their hands
met and gripped an instant.
Whatever turmoil was Imaginable
within the city, the Americans were
too far away to hear it, and the Sc
crecy of the dark gave them a kind Of
leisure, with also stimulation. They
continued rapidly beside the gray
bitches, not particularly heedful of di-
rectiOn. They jumped over the inter-
secting arms of irrigation, and at mo-
ments caught the low gurgle of spring
water. 1t occurred to Con that his
borrowed eastern garments were very
practical The firm, broad sash and
twisted breeches gave support as he
cleared the bitches, the sandals were
snug and curiOusly satisfactory. He
was not SO sure that he was wholly a
western person. He no longer mar
veled at his blouse, with its inner Iock-
cts and folds.
Once he thought that an advance
guard of the pursuers had overtaken
them They stOnDed short IN USto0