The Lamar register., 1921-05-04

was Tardos Mors. pacing back and
forth with tense-drawn face. When
all were In their seats he turned to-
ward us.
This morning." he said, WORD
reached the several governments of
Bnrsoom that the keeper OF the atmos-
phere plant had made no wireless re-
port for two days nor had almost
ceaseless calls upon him from n score
Of capitals ELECTED sign of response.
All day thousand cruisers have been
searching for him until. just now. one
OF them returns bearing his dead body.
which was found In the pits beneath
his house horribly mutilated by some
assassin.
81 do not need TO tell you what this
means to Barsoom. II would take
months to penetrate those mighty
walls, In fact the work has already
commenced and there would be little
to fear were the engine of the pumping
plant to run as II should and as they
all have for hundreds OF years but the
worst. we fear, has happened. The
instruments show a rapidly decreasing
air pressure on all parts OF Barsoom-
the engine has stopped.
My gentlemen" he concluded, I'VE
have at best three days to live"
There was absolute silence for sew
eral minutes, and then a young noble
arose, and with his drawn sword held
high above his head addressed Tardos
Mors.
The men of Heiium have prided
themselves that they have ever shown
Barsoom how nation of red men
should live. now is our opportunity to
show them how they should die. Let
US go about our duties as though
thousand useful years still lay before
us"
The chamber rang with applause
and as there was nothing better to do
than to allay the fears OF the people
by our example we went our ways
with smiles upon our faces and sorrow
gnawing at our hearts.
When returned to my palace /
found that the rumor already had
reached Dejah Thoris, so / told her
all that had heard.
1--WE have been very happy, John
Carter" she said. ''and / thank what
ever fate overtakes us that 1t permits
US to die together"
The next two days brought no no
uceable change In the supply Of air,
but on the morning Of the third day
breathing became difficult at the high.
er attitudes OF the roof tops. The ave-
nues and PLAINS Of Helium were filled
with people. All business had ceased.
For the most part the people looked
bravely into the face OF their unalter-
able doom. Here and there. however,
men and women gave way to quiet
grief.
Toward the middle OF the day many
Of the weaker commenced to succumb
and within an hour the people OF Bar
SOON were sinking by thousands into
the unconsciousness which precedes
death by asphyxiation.
Dejah Thoris and | with the other
members of the royal family had col
lected In sunken garden within an
inner courtyard of the palace. The
little incubator had been brought from
lilt TpOi VI our ut ol
Dejah Thoris and she sat gazing long
ingly upon the unknown little life that
now she would never know.
As It was becoming perceptibly diff
ficult to breathe Tardos Mors arose.
saying:
Let us bid each other farewell. The
days of the greatness of Barsoom are
over. Tomorrow's sun will look down
upon a dead world which through all
eternity must go swinging through the
heavens peopled not even by mem
ories. II is the end"
He stopped and kissed the women
Of his family, and laid his strong hand
upon the shoulders of the men.
As turned sadly from him my eyes
fell upon Dejah Thoris. Her head was
dropping upon her breast. to all ap-
pearances she was lifeless. With a cry
/ sprang to her and raised her in my
arms.
Her eyes opened and looked into
mine.
kiss me. John Carter" she mur-
INJURED. II love you'll love you! II Is
cruel that we must be torn apart who
were Just starting upon a life Of love
and happiness"
A. pressed her dear lips to mine
the old feeling of unconQuerable pow