Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1921-02-11
CHAPTER x.
Gemmed Eyes.

each side Of the trail. The mines were
perhaps n mile or less to eastward;
and beyond that ridge an infinity of
shifting dry naught. The stars sent a
pallor that was diffused In the fog
from the bitches. At night these low
lands about the city were cool. The
black vague hill that was the palace
was recedlng into the gloon rs the
two hastened on. The net of distant
cries was spreading.
''Do you suppose" suggested Lev
ington. that we can keep under cover.
and perhaps manage to get IL beast of
some kind. and then sprint for the wa
ter hole?"
Con realized very well that the near
est water hole was n matter of days,
once they left the zone of fertility.
Food was yet to be considered, and a
city was rising to seek them out and
punish. But he felt the need of cheer
ing his friend.
''We can get into the vineyard" he
continued with enthusiasm he did not
feel, land the fruit will serve for wa
ter. too-and lay for a camel-and you
still have the guidebook on your foot"
Andrew March laughed miserably.
He saw what his friend was trying to
do.
why not knock at the gates" said
March, "and demand water and provi-
sions for our return trip?"
well, we blundered out here" said
Lexington. sand half the planet was
bucking us-stones for rain. and spin
ming dust instead of breeze, with
few robber giants on the side--so may
be we can break away for home
again"
II don't mean TO be sarcastic" said
March very humbly. II understand
you. You are trying TO make me feel
happier. But do pot dodge the re-
sponsibillty. I was grossly selfish. My
work, and all my hopes. led me here.
And l wanted partner. to face the
Gobi, some one strong and young, who
didn't take himself seriously. some one
with the ability to lose decently. 1t
had to be an artist. You were the one
found. But did not want ii to mean
sacrifice. I made myself believe. we
should not actually lose. | held GER
they baited you, as they baited me
long ago, and always: But l am done
with dreaming. Tau Kuan is death to
all dreams except that yellow fantasy,
itself. 1t Is. cold-do you know what
meant The hand that guides II Is the
archetype Of infiexible purpose. The
empire is not contained within thet
walls. 1t spreads beyond the Cobb. ip-
to Dory street; yes. and further.
web of horror. 1t does not spring
from life, The only human heing with
in those walls has been slowly and
fully poisoned. She can never know
life. You have seen that"
March paused, and Lexington shiv-
cred. They peered into the darkness
ahead. One direction seemed as un-
profitable as another. Far TO the rear
the base of the palace showed red in
torch reflection, and the brazen gong
ceased its pulse of alarm March
asked:
"Will You try to forgive me?"
Con sake quietly. "You are forget
ting something. You are the differ
ence between the past and future to
me. Suppose had found my man
that night. away back In Cincinnati i
should have far thicker walls bother
ing me tonight, and all the rest of my
nights. Why do you forget that you
are the man who got me out OF all
that? You We're federal officer and
ought to have jailed me. Instead, i
owe every minute of my freedom TO
I .r1,t I II
to shoot him up. cant recall his name
or his face, but I was out to get him,
and wonld have finished strong only
you came In front of me, and--why. l
never began TO live until after you
took me home that night
81 used TO stand on Rush street
bridge in Chicago and, If ] was far
enough gone, could think was look
ing at the Thames and the lights of the
British shipping, or I'd think i was an
Arabian caliph, nosing about my own
city at night. Only II needed big
thirst To shift the globe around that
way and make a Greek walter look
like the king of Ashamede in disguise.
I've looked over toward Brooklyn and
told myself was on the Bund at
Shanghai. But 1t couldn't be done that
way. | was close to the rocks. You
seemed to know what I wanted You
opened the world. Do you think I
would back up. even IL could? You
did not bait me. 1t was understood
that | should probably die along the
way. in the Cobb It's been grand
passage"
Thanks, boy" returned the elder
man. And In the twilight their hands
met and gripped an instant.
Whatever turmoil was imaginable
within the city, the Americans were