The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1920-10-14
CHAPTER vIli-con4inusd.

As the girl kneIt and drew her pur
pie veil about her. losing herself with
In a poison that was scented like Gin
namOn and musty wine, an aged slave
arose from the bower and came before
the mOnzoul, although the monarch
probably could not see him for cloud
OF lilac butterflies. The slave bore
silver jar La his hands, and over his
gaunt shoulder was a square of white
satin. He spread the satin upon the
stones before the palanquin, and then
deity set spinning upon appraised fin
ger the jar of dull silver Faster 1t
spun, until its very stiffness blent with
the mOnOtOny of the drug Lexington
knew that he should go away from the
gate IL he wished to keep from dream
Ing, but he was too curious to leave.
The OdOr from the yellow bowl touched
q sheaf Of memories Ia him and this
pain was more real than the grace OF
the brOwn-IImbed maid.
But the silver jar stood mOtIOnless
on the poised gray finger. The juggler
withdrew his arm. and the jar re-
manned suspended near the monzOuI.
Silence was heavy, and the spicy per-
fume overspread the white man at the
gate. Con tried to retain the solid
world, to remember that this drug had
been sold In DOry street, that it had
killed his own father and he breathed
hard, with the old anger Sharpened In
his heart. He swOre to settle this mat
ter, either privately or for his govern
ment. But the moment he let go that
thought he could not avoid seeing the
juggler as he plucked the magic jar
down to his bosom, and began to pour
purple wine upon the square OF satin.
But the white cloth remained spotless
and dry. At this conclusion, the gaunt
performer dipped into the bowl and
pressed the sOul-dark upon his own
sunken eyes.
Swift, strong hands had found Lev
ingtOn. They came out of the world
ne had been unable to hold. The rude
ness of the hands was satisfying to
him 1t aided greatly in throwing off
the effects of koresh.
They placed him upon his roof again
and left a guard at the head of the
stairs. Con cursed himself for having
wasted his only chance to seek a way
to liberty.
He trod about the high Enclosure,
unmindful of the sun, picking his way
mentally between doubt and evidence
It was depressing TO remember that
iong-ago hour of his departure from
the March house. He IOnged to find
March now and talk things out with
him. Their best possibility was to find
friends, somehow, by whatever policy.
They would need to cooperate in such
plan, to play 1t exactly together.
Chez Ming had no heart, but he pos
SeSsed q brain. The mOnzoul himself
had not a clean thread of nerve any
where, by which he might consider an
appeal. And so Lexington sought
and sought.
Before noon a stranger appeared at
the top OF the. stairway, with a curt
bow and greeting for the prisoner. He
was perhaps a slave. and yet person
of privilege wizened man with mar
row shoulders. Chinese, his face q des-
ert yellow and furr0wed, cheeks like
fruit that has never fallen. He was
noticeably clean, his tunic giving OF
the faint smell of recent laundering.
The veins in his old hands stood out
blue cords. as he again signified Lev
ington's superiority over all living men.
This slow salaam was merely the Tau
Kuanian command to follow. A dou-
bile scar was crossed upon the ser
wants neck suggesting the strokes OF
two swords on a single errand. Now
the ancient lips formed the English
word: Come"
There was nothing to lose, so Lev.
ington was willing. 1t might be an op
pOrtunity. though he rather feared il
was connected with his delinquency In
the matter of race-blendlng. They pro
ceeded through the inner corridors
past the ever-burning lamps of alabas
ter, but did not turn in beneath the
darkened arch of the throne, room. In
stead, they went on to the end of thG
passage. The old Chinese paused
Through closed door Con heard thu
voice of Andrew March. He opened
the door and entered.
A victrola stood beside q long mis-
sion table, on which were books and
yellow lamp. An American college pen
nant was pinned above brown mission
couch. There were sofa pillows and
shelf of books. A kodak and a riding
crop hung from dagger stuck in tn
wall. A morris chair was set befor
one of the windows. March sat upol
the arm of the chair, lingering the lac
curtain. Con stood still.
Near March was a young girl WIN
seemed subtly afraid of something-o
Lexington himself. She wore siIke
blouse, open at the throat. and a. Skin
OF the smartly defined mode of Amer
can avenues, following the line of he
slender body. Her tiInidity was never
theless frightened with pleasure. Tn
face was sun-tanned, the eyes held
diamond light. Here was the Lowell
goIden-brown hair that had flown fire
upon the gray cloak of the rider til
same that the princess of yesterday ha
bound up high in court fashion. Sh
was looking at him again.
1t was March who spoke first, an
the young man saw that he had teal
In his eyes. His voice was unreI
able just now:
81 have found my little girl"
Lexington bowed. struggling with 8
inner tidal wave. Andrew Marc
seized the girls hands, and she turns