The Washington herald., 1920-02-12
YeHow Men Sleep
By Jeremy Lane.
Copyright. 1910. by the Century c.

From a screen OF flowers appeared
girl, to dance. She was 1.-the and
dark, her glistening hair bound up
with gems. Sun-amber mottled her
shoulders and body as she swayed
before the monarch. and the treble
OF the bird again colored the air: or
at least, Con saw IL that way. As
the maiden danced. she touched the
yellow bowl with her finger-tips,
Her arms were shining serpents of
grace as she anojnted her own eyes
with sleep. A slow sigh of pleas
ure hoated up from the cushions Of
the palanquin. There a fat hand
trembled. started, then failed
thoroughly under
As the girl knelt and drew her
purple veil about her, losing her
self within a poison that was scent
ed ike cinnamon and musty wine,
an aged slave arose from the bower,
ana came before the monzoul, al
though the monarch probably could
NOT see him for a cloud of lilac but
ternles. The slave bore a silver iar
IN MS hands, and over his gaunt
shoulder was a square of white
satin. He spread the satin upon the
stones before the palanuuin. and
then deftly set spinning upon up
raised finger the jar of dull silver.
raster 1t spun, until its very still
ness blent with the monotony Of
the drug. Lexington knew that he
should go away from the gate IL he
wished to keep from dreaming. but
ne was too curious to leave. The
door from the yellow bowl touched
sheaf Of memories in him, and
tnls pain was more real than the
grace OF the brown-limbed maid,
But the silver jar stood notion
less on the poised gray finger. The
!uggIer withdrew his arm, and the
jar remained suspended near the
monzoul. Silence was heavy and
the spicy perfume overspread the
white man at the gate. Con tried
10 retain the solid world, to remem-
Der that this drug had been sold in
Dory Street. that it had killed his
own father. and he breathed hard
win the old anger sharpened in his
heart He swore to settle this mat
ter either privately or for his gov
eminent. But the moment he LET
go that thought he could not avoid
seeing the Juggler as he pIucked
the magic jar down to his bosom.
ana began to pour purple wine upon
the square of satin. But the white
cloth remained spotless and dry.
At this conclusion, the gaunt per-
former dipped into the bowl and
pressed the soul-dark upon his own
sunken eyes.
Swift, strong hands had founo
Lexington. They came out of the
world he had been unable TO hold
The rudeness of the hands was sat
lstylng 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
Tor having wasted his only chance
10 seek a way to liberty
He trOd about the high inclosure
unmindfuI of the sun, picking his
way mentally between doubt and
evidence. 1t was depressing to re-
member that long-ago hour of hi.
departure from the March house.
He longed to find March now and
talk things out with him. >Thelr
best possibility was to find friends.
somehow, by whatever policy. They
would need to cooperate in such a
plan, to play it exactly together.
Chee Ming had no heart. but he DOS
sessed a brain. The monzoul him
self had not a clean thread of
nerve anywhere, by which he might
consider an appeal. And so Leying-
ton sought and sought.
Before noon, a stranger appeared
at the top of the stairway, with a
court bow and greeting for the
prisoner. He was perhaps a slave
and yet a person of privileges
wizened man with narrow should
ers. Chinese. his face a desert vel
low and furrowed. cheeks like fruit
that has never fallen. He was no.
tceably clean. his tunic giving off
the faint smell of recent launder-
3 ing. The veins in his old hands
stood out. blue cords, as he again
signihed Levington's superiority
over all living men. This slow sa
iaam was merely the Tau Kuaniap
command to follow. A double scar
was crossed upon the servants
neck, suggesting the strokes of two
swords on single crrand. Now tn,
ancient lips formed the English
word: Come"
There was nothing to lose, 50
Lexington was willing. 1t might be
an opportunity, though he rather
feared II was connected with his
delinquency in the matter of race
blending. They proceeded through
the inner corridors. past the ever
burning lamps Of alabaster. but did
not turn in beneath the darkened
arch of the throne-room. Instead
they went on {" the end of the
passage. The old Chinese paused
, Through a closed door, Con heard
the voice of Andrew March. He
opened the door and entered.
A victrola stood beside a long
mission table, on which were books
and a yellow lamp. An American
college pennant was pinned above