Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner. (Elizabeth, Colo.) 1920-1921, 1921-03-04

passed. Con imagined the borne ham,
mocks with the silken sleeping bur
dens, especially one. He moved into
the hall. keeping close to the inner
wall. He came to the familiar door.
There was no time to knock.
The victrola was still there. With
little cry of dismay the servant of the
princess arched his back and ran for
ward. quite hideous In haste and hate.
Lexington stopped him and picked up
the knife that fell from the yellow
hand. There was further brief bust
ness of wadding the mouth of old Flu
All and securing his enraged members.
Then the white man, his heart pound
ing, ran 10 the raised couch. She was
there. He closed his eyes 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 satiny black he
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. Helen.
wake upl They are giving you death.
I do not mean to make you unhappy.
Do not sleep. 1t Is poison. you must
notl ] want you to live. 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
a little from the colored cushions.
Without opening her eyes. she smiled
family and it maddened him to think
that she was pleased with some phan-
tasm in a subtler world, perhaps en-
tirely unaware of his own presence.
The deep shadows about her eyes
seemed to stab him. He raised her
closer to him. He was pleading. He
smoothcd her temples. His hands
shook. as he breathed the full story Of
his heart The universe was only this
that she lay faint in his arms, that
her white beauty possessed him, that
he could not reach her. n web always
between, delicate yet unbreakable. She
sighed, as child who enters new
depth of rest, and 1t punished him.
She had not opened her eyes.
The leaves rustled outside the case
ment From silver vase on a tnboret
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 age-old secrets of the heart
Lexington knew the mystery of high
desire, as If race of men, stalwart,
tender, true, had gone before him, lived
and loved and persisted, 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-"rell 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 heard footsteps, great leaping falls.
He turned. crouching. A Nubian.
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 he 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 crap
pied. parried, and they swung around.
He could do nothing with his knife.
Another wild down thrust from the
Nubian. lunge with lion power In il.
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 a blow to the
black neck, hut 1t wac like hitting a
rug. The African was mouthing hot
ly. For all that life meant, Con chung
to the dagger-arm. He was lifted cle8-
of the floor, to enable the black to ad-
just him at his leisure for the final
stroke. All the agony of life's unjust
ed cup came to Lexington as he
thought of Helen. He could see her.
Suddenly the Nubian cried out and
seemed 10 lose control. He dropped
Lexington, who snatched the weapon
from him. He was screaming and
stamping. Upon his shoulders chung
small white-faced monkey, his teeth
holding deep, eyes staring out at moth
ing. The Infatuated black would sum
mon the entire palace with his howis.
Con drove the dagger twice below the
ribs. and the giant toppled into silence.
while the little beast bit and bit, doubt
less repaying black cruelty and white
friendship at the same time. Besur
turned inquiring eyes up to Lexington.
who had no time to express thanks.
Retaining the Nubian's weapon, he fed
INST the pnrned and friOht ridden En-