The Raymer enterprise., 1921-03-24


which every within was law. city OF
weird power and much gold. her own
Tor the taking; and only one young
white man. almost a stranger, to draw
her away from II all. She had been
born to love, yet all her training was
toward power and queencraft. And
there was koresh.
"Helen." he said softly.
Speak"
He could, not. The wave on which
he had ridden had passed. The old
silence was upon him, the wordless
Intensity In the presence Of beauty.
timidity before the woman who could
set him free II she would.
A quick sparkle crossed the dead
wilderness TO the east. Twilight fed
away. and the world whitened. Still
the princess did not move. She too
was silent. Then from the distant
gate a horseman stood forth. Leying.
ton waited.
60 she said.
There Is only one coming"
1T Is the prince, iekutol."
"Will he lead your soldiers?'
"lIe will never lead anything" Hell
ems voice had become suddenly filed
with WEAKNESS. Lexington reused
again to the JOY Of making her unhap-
py. 81 shall ride away she threat
ened.
"Please wait. Let him come
For what reasoni"
II won't hart him." said Con.
you have no weapon said the
princess.
"He may have enough for both of
u.s."
Il see no others upon the road. They
are very sure. They do not haste. II
Is early"
YekutoI came on. doubtless having
learned Of the absence from the city
Of his bride-elect. Lexington waited
beside the large stone, hidden from
the prince. A world of meaning came
to him from the fact that Helen re-
manned. She was not unwilling to de-
coy her prince. Lexington himself was
acting more upon intuition than by
any reason or plan.
"What would you?" she inquired.
II won't hurt him." he repeated. IL
don't know"
In her calm way. she was looking
straight at Lexington, and he had re-
gained enough Of yesterday to return
her gaze. His eyes were robbers, now
boldly taking the slender curves that
lay beneath the gray cloak. Another
wave was coming, that would carry
him
The prince, as he rode along to the
head of the rayine, was mere pale
shoot Of royalty with the sun dazzling
his eyes. He was long.boned, languid.
his sianty eyes peering from beneath
n white satin turban, ringed with
pearls. The pennon hung limp from
his lance. He was brave with knives.
His loose-sleeved arms were lax. evil
IDENTIFY weary with holding out the
lance. He made no bow Of greeting
to his intended lady, giving her but
word of Oriental speech. Helen scarce
ly noticed him. but continued to study
the sunrise. Lexington arose from
concealment and took the jeweled
bride.
The fright of Prince Yekutoi was
painful. He poured a rapid series OF
syllables upon the white man, who
grnned at him and took down the
lance. Then the waxen face, shining
In the new sun. was obscured by a
pair of appraised hands. iekutoi dared
not face what had befallen him. He
forgot the princess. Soft means came
from behind the lowered sleeve. Lev
ington lifted him down from the sad
die, Il relaxed form. The prince had
tainted.
Con led the diademed mount down the
ravine to the valley floor beyond and
started the animal away to the south.
He shouted and hurled stone. In n
panic, Yekutors horse ran, with one
sparkling bit Of color In one stlrrup,
dangling. Still Helen had not changed
her position. The prince lay upon
the sand. g..
Lexington said to her: This is the
story to tell them. when you gallop
back. Your father and | secured
horses from large party of white men
who came In from the south. You saw
them. a great number, all mounted.
The wind is coming up. so II can cover
the tracks they made. But they seized
Yekutoi and bore him away. Each
moment the prince is being carried
further and further away, to the
south"
"You wish me to speak falsely?"
YES" replied Lexington.
1T is no deylsing of my own"
ut Is for your CHOICE he said
simply.
Quietly Helen said, glanclng down
at the fallen one, Il will 20 and tell
them"