The Meeker herald., 1921-11-05
CHATTER TX
We Plan Essass.

Not once did I have apsoch with d.
jah Thoris, - she sent no werd 70 NJ
that ! would b welcome At her char
Of and my foolish pride kept me from
mailing any advancss.
Just thirty days after my advent
upon Barsoom We entered the ancient
city 4 Thank. from whose long forgot
ten people this horde Of green men
have stolen even their name The
hsrdes Of Thark number sosss thirty
thousand souls. and are divided int
twenty-five communities. Each con-
munity has it, own Jed and lesser
chIeftalns. but all are under the rule
Of Tai Hiatus. Jeddnk Of Thark. Five
communities make their headquarters
at the city Of Thark, and the balance
are scattered among other deserted
cities Of ancient Mars throughout the
district claimed BY Tai Hiatus.
We made cur entry Into the great
central plaza early In the afternoon.
&Thers were no enthusiastic friendly
greetings for the returned expedition.
Those who CHANGED to b In sight
spoke the names Of warriors or women
with whom they came In direct con-
tact. In the formal greeting Of their
kind. but when 1t was discovered that
they brought two captives 4 greater
interest was aroused, and Dejah
Thoris and ! we're the centsrs Of In.
curing groups.
We were soon assigned to new quar-
tiers. and the balance Of the day was
devoted TO settling ourselves to the
changed conditions. When I had put
my ho1se in order. Or rather seen that
It had been done, It was nearing SUM-
set, and hastened out with the inten-
ton Of locating Sola and hsr charges.
A. had determined upon having
speech with Dejah Thoris and trying
to Impress on her the necessity Of our
ut least patching up q truce until I
could nno some way Of aiding her to
escape. searched In vain until the
upper rim Of the great red sun was
Just disappearing Behind the horizon
and then spied the ugly head Of wso-
Ia peering from second-story window
on the opposite side Of the very street
where was quartsred.
Without waiting for further invi-
tation bolte6 up the wiAding runway
which led to the second door. and co.
tering great chamber At the front Of
the building was greeted BY The fren-
sled Woola. who threw his great car
cass upon me. nearly huriing me to The
Aoor: the poor old fellow was 70 glad
b ~ me that ] thought he would de-
YOUR me. his head aplit from ear to
ear. showing his three rows Of tusks
In his hobsoblin smile.
ouistlng him with word Of com.
mand and q cares, I looked hurriedly
through the approaching gloom for .
sign Of Dejah Thoris. and then. not
seeing her. called her name. There
was an answering murmur from the
far corner Of the apartment, and with
. couple Of quick strides was stand
ing beside her where she crouched
among the furs and silks upon an an.
cient carved wooden seat. A. walt
ed she rose to her full height and
looking me strail.ht IN the eye said:
sWhat would lAotar Sojat, Thark, Of
Dejah Thoris his eaptiver"
"Dejah Thoris, I do not know how I
have angered yo,L 1t was furtherest
from my desire to hurt or offend you.
whom I had hoped to protect and COM
fort. Have none Of me II 1t 10 your
will, but that you must aid me In sf-
fectlnG your escape, II such 3 thing be
possible. 10 not my request, but my
command. When you are safe once
more at your fathers court you may
do with me ~ you please, but from
now On until that day am your mas
ter. and you must obey and aid me-"
She looked at me long and earnest
~ and I thought that she was soften
Ing toward me.
Il understand your words. Dotar So
jat," she replied. 'but you do not un-
derstand. You are queer mixture Of
child and man, Of brute and noble. I
only wish that might read your
heart"
"Look down At your feet, Dejah'
Thoris; 1t lies there now where It has
lain since that other night at Korad.
and where It will ever lie beating
alone for you until death stills 1t for.
ever"
She took little step toward me, her
beautiful hands outstretched In
strange, cropping gesture.
"What do you mean. John Carter7'
she whispered. "What are you saying
to mer
y am saying what had promised
myself that would not say to you, at
least until you were no longer q cap
! tive among the green men; what from
your attitude toward me for the past
twenty days I had thought never to
say 10 yon; 1 am saying. Dejah Thoris.
that am yours. body and soul. to serve
you. to fight for you, and to die for
you. Only one. thing 1 ask Of you in
return, and that is that you make NO
sign. either OF condemnation or Of ap-
probation Of my words until you are
. safe among your NUN manila and thof