The Raymer enterprise., 1921-03-03

say my more IMAM tnat.
Lexington felt the curious depres.
sion again In his friend, an alarming
weight.
The Arabian sailor appeared below
them. grinnlng.
"You hold stillT
Like stone" said Con.
"She do not strike you at ALI"
Passed both OF u.s." said March,
you are cherished Of Allah" de-
clared the sailor. They have taken
away four Of US"
He grunted world Of meaning. The
sailors were furnishing the miners for
completely. Perhaps the tale of the
white mems murder" did not impress
the searching party.
what will they do TO the fourr'
Break leg" said the Arab. Maybe
starve"
Andrew March shuddered, and the
strange ore below volunteered: "My
men do not like
Lexington saw that two white
strangers causing great trouble for
the miners could not become very
popular. March also understood. He
said simply: Take Inc before your
men,"
rs there anything you can sayY"
asked Con
only what told them before" re-
piled March. I'VE represent nation
that Is as eager to punish Tau Kuan
as these workers can be, II we can get
back there to tell the story. can
make that clear at least"
They may not be in mood to lis
ten"
March smiled sadly. Moods" h.
began, but shook his head.
Tn" three men passed into the larger
portion OF the cavern, where the red
dish roof was marked with the fare
from the burning gas below. Several
women cried out sharply at sight of
the white men aud fled like tImId AMI.
mails to their rock.pockets up the
walls. Their skirts were brief and
ugly Several very young children
darted after their mothers to the safe
~ OF dark familiar haunts-,oo young
to have been Spoiled" 1t was only n
period OF months before they would be
taken into the city, to be nodded into
slaves In the houses Of the soldiers.
the circulation Of their blood retarded,
their very souls distorted Returning TO
the mines Il year or more after, they
would be lost and strange and as II
orphaned among their own kin. Their
family life did not receive sanction Of
the state.
The frightened women left food be-
hind them. Jars stood close TO the As.
sure from which came the fire. The
contents had been prepared for bak-
ing. Con bent down TO snifr at the
open Jars. March and the Arab passed
on together, and Lexington waited.
feeling himself useless in such con.
ference. He was more Interested In
finding un exit.
To the left was the passage leading
10 the foot of the slnnting shaft. He
noted long vine that came down over
the loose gravel like guide rope. Con
climbed into the charging daylight to-
ward the top. Sunlight, the old enemy.
was bcguIling He was thinking that In
Tau KUN they have either too much
sunshine or too little. The pale,
haunted faces Of the children below
troubled him. An intense light was
binding him from above A fash of
desert days came over him oddly, a
swift Renaissance Of pain and thirst,
gone In the space Of one upward step,
yet leaving dryness In the throat.
Con realized that the only trees within
thousand miles were the lf.grown
oaks outside the easements Of the prin.
cess.
Now the air changed In his nostriis
and he caught again the hot, sweeping
currents Of the sand When the green
blots left his eyes he raised his head
above the level Of upper earth and
stared away. The city, less than mile
distant, was shimmcrlng behind heat
waves. at moments dimmed by clouds
OF dust that rushed across the valley.
He sQuinted TO find the path they had
taken last night through the fog, with
the sleepers rising TO find them.
A dromedary with baskets and a
driver was coming out at the big gate.
Out 10 the south was inotionless
borsemnn, the sun flashing from his
silver and steel. He seemed to be
guarding the horizon. lie was one Of
the scores who sought trace of the
fngitives But nearer along the road,
was third rider. cantering between
the green squares. Cons heart beat
violently. lie recognized the gray
cloak OF his princess.
She rode under the full blaze Of high
morning sun. The pony moved brisk.
ly The watcher was puzzled as to
why she came ont In the great heat,
leaving the shelter Of the palace tiles.
She was alone, save for the far figure
OF the sentinel She was mounted per.
fecily. and this was comfortlpr IN cop