The Raymer enterprise., 1921-01-27
was. and II they would be able t. =

/ perS was ecDOing. aDO tne SOIt cuinl
of bangles. moving always inwart
along dim. dusky corridors. STANDING
at intersections were bowls of ala
baster. each with a swimming. namini
wick In oil. Many other figures in thu
semi.darkness appeared to be goini
In the same direction. Racial char
acteristics puzzled him.
He found himself in a great vaultet
chamber. inside a lofty pyramid ol
glass. The gray slave made abase
ment previous to entry. repeating thu
gesture every FIVE PAGES. All other
Of inferior cast did likewise as they
proceeded deeper into the room.
Huge silken curtains were swayint
In the breeze. The lower walls vert
indIstinct with rich, deep tapestry
covering bare rock. He heard purr
ing like the echo Of many distant bells
wind-borne. hundred censers Of
Jade were clouding the royal twilight
Human figures, grouped ln back
ground along further side. seemed
insignificant. Leylngton's boyhood
dreams were freshened before his eyes
He forgot he was prisoner. His at
tendant guided him around the border
OF n dragon-rug toward the waiting
group OF men He saw that they were
warriors In council.
They had forsaGen the leathery gear
Of the desert. and were cleanly ap
pareled In sllken tunics, but they re
tained their swords. He glanced In.
stlnctively In the direction In which
all eyes were turned. and noted large
dals, It's canopy reaching out above.
He was standing before q throne.
Three heavy chairs were upon 1t.
narrow and high.backed. with carven
dra -nns for their arms. The central
throne was vacant. A human form oc-
cupied the place Of state OH each side.
The one, a prince sat motionless,
his black hair woven with strands Of
silver. green dladem upon his fore
head, from which jewels shone like a
far cluster of stars. His face was
narrow, yellow as wax, and blank.
Long, tapering hands rested upon the
dragon heads. His robe was worked
with silver and emeralds, and the
royal sandals were bright upon a mat
Of raw silk.
But Lexington was looking at the
other figure. a princess. who likewise
waited very quietly upon her throne
with hands folded In her lap. The
brown tresses that yesterday had
streamed down the gray cloak Of the
supposed sentinel were now bound
high and stuck with jeweled pins. Her
throat was closely wound with dia.
monds. The body of the princess was
small. Upon her countenance was an
expression Of untried powers, or so
Lexington imagined. for he could not
look away from her face. which was
dark hut not yellow. Her eyes. which
seemed all the while to study the rug.
had no upward line, although her
brows slanted delicately. She was
very unlike the prince-unlike any one
else. The white prisoner was troubled.
He had an impulse to cross the marble
tagging, and kneel at her feet.
From a further portal Andrew
March was brought in. and halted
near his companion. The group Of
warriors stood behind the prisoners,
who had no opportunity for exchange
Of words. Then stiff sudden whisper
passed over their heads. followed by a
sharp silence. Chez Ming had entered
the room.
In his peafl. robe. which
was more voluminous than that OF any
other person In audience, he carried
himself with solemnIty before the
assembly, bowed with feeling at the
foot Of the dais, until. at the faint
stirring Of the princes hand, he
Strengthened himself, mounted the first
level Of the daIs. and began to speak.
He disregarded the princess. Leying.
ton thought Of the night Chez Ming
had served the coffee In the Wedger
dlning-room, and Of his first iInpres.
sion Of that small head. stony face,
and lean. everlasting body. Cecil
Wedger. In his gold-tipped ignorance,
had seen nothing more than Chinese
coolie who could cook. Now the same
thin arms were gesturing before roy.
atty. and seemed much more at home.
The talk was meaningless to Leving.
. ton. although II bore upon his fate,
for the speakers glance turned again
and again to the slender, dark prin.
cess. Once-or' was II only a trick
Of his sun-rncked vision ?-she lifted
her eyes to meet hls.s and her lips
moved silently. 1t was done too quick.
ly for him to be certain. He trembled.
Chez Ming was making a speech Of
some length. with bis little back
toward the assembly.
Before It was finished. the princess
arose and, with a stir among her
retinue, stepped down from the dais.
Her feet were small and perfect. her
ankles bound with gray ribbons.
Through the haze In the room her
jewels CLEANED. and the whisper Of
her robe conveyed more to Lexington
than all Chee Ming might be saying.
A curtain near the throne was drawn
aside. and she was gone.