The Raymer enterprise., 1921-01-20

| SoIu obb q iVtuAsVh VA ul0H "
the earth and sun-where the heats OF
sex are but a new zero. All the moist
forces Of Lexington were turned In.
ward to sustain life itself.
as that that | hear thunder?"
Maybe the pulse In your own ears"
answered March.
They staggered up third series Of
hills, which were spread fan-shape In
the midst of the world. Looking back,
they noted that the first range appear.
ed to have turned partly about since
they passed that way. The sun Of
afternoon showed in the wrong quar-
ter Of the sky. March sank to his
knees and began to draw intersecting
lines In the sand. To Con. as he
sprawled near his friend. II was like
forcing the solar system back into
place. West and north were again es.
tablIshed, alm"et against conviction.
They dragged across the third range,
but the instructive futter Of hope In
their hearts died quickly. when they
saw that had miscalculated. Across q
deeper valley was another monster
bank Of dust, another range.
Abruptly Con stopped and pointed
down the slope. Directly below them
something was moving.
Stones were rolling down the hill.
II was not clear from what point they
started. Perhaps a dragon had bur
rowed into the hill and was kicking
out the earth from his nest. Clods
Of red clay went flying down, below
the two watchers. Lexington peered,
forgetting the awful sun. It was like
recovery from blindness. to find some.
thing In motion In the dead world.
At length. from hole In the hillside,
Ii ing creature appeared, resembling
somewhat man.
Now others OF the sane species
emerged and stood on a sandy ledge
halfway down the slope. They seem.
ed like fat. misshapen children, thin.
legged, hunched Of shoulder. with
heads set close. Their caps were coils
Of their own hair. The arms of all
were dwarish. They had come out to
take the air after their labors within
the hill. The falling clay had stopped.
More and yet more Of these demi.
humans came out into the sunlight,
until the slope was darkly patched
with their leathern bodies.
March shook his head. Lexington
noted the first sign Of fear in the elder
man. who remained silent.
From that distance they determined
that the creatures were naked above
the waist, but that they wore short
dark skirts III those pictured upon
the ancient walls Of Assyria. Their
canes or slaves proved to be imple'
ments resembling garden hoes. The
faint sound Of their conversation drift
ed up to the Americans. But this was
drowned In the slow thunder Of Cons
temples.
Gave menT' muttered Lexington.
witches children"
"Aren't they solidl Have my eye,
gone out?"
March did not hear. for he simply
whispered to himself, What world =
A dromedary was coming across
from the further hills. Leisurely II
followed q slantlng way up to thu
cluster Of creatures around the pit
On the beast were strapped foul
baskets. Now many hands set abou'
filling these with pebbles, or so II ap
peared. The camel-driyer was another
Of the crooked dwarfs. When thu
baskets were full, he led the ANNA
down by the same path, starting acros,
the valley toward the opposite barrier
Of sand
The little men who had come out o.
the hill began to disappear. Theil
bare bodies were like rough nuggets o.
copper. Levington's eyes twitched, an1
he brushed a hand across his face
He wanted to laugh and fling himself
down hill. He would ask them fol
water. For an .iustant he hated An
drew March for being afraid. and al
instant later realized this feeling wa.
merely his own deepstirrIng fear. HI
swallowed thickly. A tear stood Il
one eye, making humorous the pain Il
his heart.
didn't know I had It In me-" h,
said. grinning. 0
March did not see the tear. He hat
grown pale beneath the CRIME.
"Oh, God!" he mumbled, "this ism
what we came for"
Suppose we'd better not ask then
for a drink" said Con. "We'll 20 OF
and hunt for II, because II must grow
natural somewhere around here. Shal
we follow the dromedaryr'
The little men had gone In. Dus
rose like smoke from the open shaft
The laden beast was etching his wa,
across the valley. March had rouse
from his apathy. He looked at Cor
who asked:
! Can you make it-down hlllT
Boy" said March steadily. "you'v
got tungsten nervous system"
Commanding their scant energies
the white men made final play 70
life, and walked along the crest Of tn
ridge, to keep the animal In view with