The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-03-03

mOcks with the silken sleeping bur-
dons, especially one. He .noJed into
the hall, keeping close to the inner
wall. He came to the familiar door.
There was no time to knock.
The vlctrola was still there. with a
little cry OF dismay the servant OF the
princess arched his back and ran for
ward. quite hldeous In haste and hate.
Lexington stopped him and picked up
the knife that fell from the yellow
hand. There was further brief busi-
ness Of wadding the mouth OF old Flu
All and securing his enraged members.
ing, ran to the raised couch. She was
there. He closed his eyes n moment,
because OF her loveliness his own re-
lief and the strange hurt. Her face
held the calm of that shadow OF sable
wings. Con knew the satlny black be-
meath her eyes. In fact, the yellow
bowl had been left here within her
reach when she wakened. He bent over
and stared into her face.
Helen" he whispered. "IIelen.
wake up! They are giving you death.
| do not mean to make you unhappy
Do not sleep, II IS poison, you must
not want you Ia i've. oh, princess,
there is America"
He did not know what he was say
Ing to her. Her arms and shoulders
were limp as he touched her, lifted her
little from the colored cushions.
Without opening her eyes. she smiled
| family, and 1t maddened him to think
| that she was pleased with some phan-
tasm In a subtler world perhaps en-
tlrely unaware o his own presence.
The deep shadows about her eyes
seemed TO stab him. lie raised her
closer to him. He was pleading. He
smoothed her temples. His hands
shook, as he breathed the full story of
his heart. The universe wns only this
that she lay faint in his arms, that
her white beauty possessed him, that
he could not reach her, a web always
between, delicate yet unbreakable. She
sighed, as child who enters a new
depth of rest. and 1t punished him.
She had not opened her eyes.
The leaves rustled outside the case
ment. From a silver vase on a taboret
white rose petals drifted down TO the
rug. Curtains swayed gently in the
movement of the air. Afternoon sun
| light crossed golden through the oaks.
| Out of the nge-old secrets of the heart
Lexington knew the mystery of high
| desire, as II race of men, stalwart,
tender, true, had gone before him, lived
and loved and perlshed, that he might
] breathe the same air with his princess
In this hour, might feel the softly rush.
ing storm within himself, and pledge
his all to the beauty Of one who did
not speak.
Again he leaned over her, and whis-
pered rapidly-only the great hazards
mattered now-"Tell me. tell me-"
Helen's throat trembled, beneath the
smooth skin ripple Of effort, but she
did not unseal her lips. Con covered
his eyes with his arm.
| Out Of this moment OF intense quiet
he heand footsteps, great leaping falls
He turned. crouching. A Nubian. a
giant, passed. his dagger steady as
bronze, his eyes red. He rushed. and
Lexington stepped aside. The fray
must be led away from Helen. The
negro also reckoned on this Con made
sure of the knife lie had taken from
the servant, Flu All, who was still
tightly bandaged. lying near the door,
They faced each other. The great
black rushed again. Lexington grap-
pied, parried, and they swung around
He could do nothing with his knife
| Another wild down thrust from the
Nubian, n lunge with lion power In II.
Gray foam stood out upon the negro's
lips. A mighty hinge Of ebony was clos
Ing upon Lexington. who felt his legs
giving way, and the borrowed knife
pried steadily out of his hand. His
head was gradually being forced back
ward. Catlike. he writhed loose his
right arm, and flashed n blow to the
black neck. hut II was like hitting a
rug. The African was mouthing hot
ly. For all that life meant, Con clung
to the dagger-arm. He was lifted cles-
of the floor, to enable the black to ad-
Just him at his leisure for the Anal
stroke. All the agony Of life's untast-
ed cup came to Lexington as he
thought of Helen. He could see her.
Suddenly the Nublan cried out and
seemed to lose control. He dropped
Lexington who snatched the weapon
from him. He was screaming and
stamping. Upon his shoulders clung
a small white-faced monkey. his teeth
holding deep, eyes staring out at moth
ing. The infuriated black would sum-
mon the entire palace with his howls,
Con drove the dagger twice below the
ribs, and the giant toppled into silence,
while the little beast bit and bit, doubt
less repaylng black cruelty and white
friendship at the same time. Desur
turned inquirlng eyes up to Lexington
who had no time TO express thanks
Retaining the Nubian's weapon. he fed
past the gagged and fright-ridden Flu