Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1921-02-11

rection. They jumped over the inter
sectIng arms of irrigation. and at mo-
ments caught the low gurgle Of spring
water II occurred to Con that his
borrowed eastern garments were very
practical. The firm, broad snsh and
twisted breeches gave support as he
cleared the bitches. the sandals were
snug and curiously satisfactory. He
was not so sure that he was wholly
western person. He no longer mar
veled at hissblouse with its inner pock-
cts and folds.
Once he thought that an advance
guard of the pursuers had overtaken
them. They stopped short to listen,
but heard nothing. March was uneasy.
Con, who felt that there was nothing
further to be lost, was almost indiffer-
ent. He could not think his way clear.
II WINS grimly unpleasant to remember
what they had done to March's guard,
but one crime more or less In the eyes
of Tau Kuan did not matter now.
There came the sense of some one be-
hind them, but there was no sound in
the pale breath of the bitches. Con
noted low shape like "A dog, across
the nearest ditch. Quickly a second
Joined IL. Two figures hurtled out Of
the gloom and landed at the white
mans feet They were the hunched
and deformed little men of the sand
hills, n dozen or more, and they broke
into talking. Their arms were like
metal bands upon Lexington. The
gong had reached them and brought
them up out of their warrens. 1t
seemed they We're animated by curios-
ity and natural malice more than by
the idea OF reward.
Struggle was unavailing. These
miners had terrible arms. despite
bodies that were shrunken and gro
tesque. March was speaking In native
dialect. Lexington was borne off his
feet lifted over the last ditch. and
then deftly stretched face downward
upon the sand. March was pleading.
The hills were near.
Con did not understand the appeal
March was making, but was surprised
at the force of it. They were listening,
reluctant, like some blind evil turned
aside for moment. March went on
fervently,
Points of light were low toward the
CITY,, the torches coming out. 1t
seemed that the gray-haired mans ar
gument had an effect. for Lexington
was picked up as before, and carried.
In the confusion he saw that they
were not going In the direction of the
city. The bones of their shoulders hurt
his back. He was unable to turn.
Forty PAGES of this and they paused.
March repeated his phrases. Leving-
ton was allowed to stand upon his
feet but his hands were held. Then
the group ran with him up the hill.
what did you say?" inquired Con.
Il reminded them that they have no
more love for the city than we, and
that our enemy is their enemy"
what made you think of thatf"
"They are slaves, worse"
This was cut short as the workers
let 20 Cons wrists, and he pitched feet
first into perfect blackness. The fall
was giddy: then n scramble down an
Incline of loose earth. Choking with
the dust. he could not guess to what
depth he was sliding. Something
came down upon his head, and this
was Andrew March.
you asked them to take us int"
"Yes. II occurred to me that they
do not love their masters. referred
TO that, and promised everything l
could think of, If they would not turn
us over to the horsemen."
The center of the world gave forth
speck of light that was torch. The
party that had come mp at the sum
mons Of the distant gong was close
about the white men again at the base
of the shaft. which seemed endlessly
large; and other torches were coming
nearer out of blackness. Still 1t was
not clear to Cor why the miners did
not take them to the city. The hover
ing figures in the cavern seemed half
afraid, half spiteful. March wps doing
his best in Chinese.
The torches threw serried glare
on the rock walls of the underground
passage Ii was low but very wide.
In another chamber, TO which the pris-
oners were led, the roof was higher.
of ragged sandstone. and the floor had
been swept. Here was the settlement
of workers, every one deformed below
the shoulders.
Out of the red-lighted press of these
came n figure but slightly more erect
than his fellows. He was dark OF skin,
but his eyes We're full and did not
slant. or pinch. His barred throat was
significant of strength and poise. from
no mean ancestry, but his knees locked
and jointed pitifully, as from some
calamitous accident.
'Friend." he said In Il low voice.
II was music to hear the English
word.
The miners were waving torches of
bitumen over their large heads, The
lnnnth nnl nr,iIitr Of thnI,. nrr,,a NM.