Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-03-09

ignorance or your BarSOomian customs
What / failed to do, through implicit
belief that my petition would be pre-
sumptuous and unwelcome, 1 do now,
Dejah Thoris; ask you to be my wife,
nd by all the Virginian fighting blood
that flows in my veins you shall be-"
mo, John Carter. it is useless" she
cried, hOpelessly. st is useless, nv
friend. You must bear the sorrow with
me. That at least we may share in
common. That and the memory of
the brief days among the Thanks. You
must go now, nor ever see me again.
Good-by, my chieftain that was"
Disheartened and detected, l with
drew from the room, but was not en-
tirely discouraged, nor would l admit
that Dejah ,Thoris was lost to me I'M
til the ceremony had actually been
performed.
AS I wandered along the corridors,
was as absolutely lost In the mazes
of winding passageways as l had been
before I discovered Dejah Thoris'
apartments.
Presently came upon a spiral run
way leading to lower floor, and this
followed downward for several stories
until reached the doorway Of a large
apartment in which were number of
guardsmen. The walls of this room
were hung with transparent tapestries
behind which l secreted myself with
out being apprehended.
The conversation of the guardsmen
was general, and awakened no interest
in me until an officer entered the room
and ordered four Of the men to relieve
the detail who were guarding the
princess of Helium. Now, knew, my
troubles would commence In earnest
and indeed they were upon me all too
soon, for it seemed that the squad had
scarcely left the guardroom before one
of their number burst in again breath
lessly, crying that they had found
their four comrades butchered in the
antechamber.
Ia a moment the entire palace was
alive with people. Guardsmen, Off
GERS, courtiers, servants and slaves ran
heller SHELTER through the corridors
and apartments carrying messages and
orders. and searching for signs of the
assassin. 1850
This was my opportunity and slim
as It appeared l grasped it, for as a
number of soldiers came hurrying past
my hiding place fell In behind them
opd PoJ1nwo5 +brouob {ba roo1oc op Tho
palace until, in passing through
great hall, saw the blessed light of
day coming in through a series of
larger windows.
Here I left my guides, and, slipping
to the nearest window, sought for an
avenue of escape. The windows opened
upon great balcony which overlooked
one of the broad avenues of Zodanga.
The ground was about thirty feet be-
low, and at like distance from the
building was wall fully twenty feet
high, constructed Of polished glass
about foot in thickness. To red
Marian escape by this path would
have appeared impossible, but to me,
with my earthly strength and agility,
it seemed already accomplished. My
only fear was in being detected before
darkness fell, for could not make the
leap in broad daylight while the court
below and the avenue beyond were
crowded with Zodangans.
Accordingly I searched for hiding
place and finally found one by acct
dent, inside huge hanging ornament
which hung from the ceiling of the
hall, and about ten feet from the floor
Into the Capacious bowl-like vase ]
sprang with ease, and scarcely had ]
settled down within it than l heard a
number of people enter the apartment.
The group stopped beneath my hiding
place and l could plainly overhear
their every word.
'It is the work of Heliumites," said
one of the men.
"YeS, o Jeddak, but how had they
access to the palace? We shall soon
know, however, for here comes the
royal psychologist"
Another man now Joined the group,
and, after making his formal greetings
to his ruler, said:
80 mighty Jeddak, it is a strange
tale I read in the dead minds of your
faithful guardsmen. They were felled
not by number Of fighting men, but
by single opponent"
He paused to let the full weight of
this announcement impress his hear
ers, and that his statement was scarce
~ credited was evidenced by the impa-
tent exclamation of incredulity which
escaped the lips of Than Kosis.
"Where is my erstwhile savior?"
spoke another Of the party, and I rec
ognized the voice of the cousin of
Than Kosis, whom l had rescued from
the green warriors. "By the metal of
my first ancestor" he went on "but
the description fits him to perfection,
especially as to his fighting ability"
"Where is this MANI" cried Than
Kosis. Have him brought to me at
once"
Word was soon brought that l was
nowhere to be found, either in the
palace or at my former quarters in
the barracks of the air-scout squadron.
Kantos Kan they had found and ques-
toned but he knew nothing of my
y.,bo or,1 n ho