The progress-itemizer., 1921-01-07

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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 q
little cry of dismay the servant of the
princess arched his back and ran for
ward, quite hide6us in haste and hate.
Lexington stopped him and picked up
the knife that fell from the yellow
hand. There was further brief busi-
ness of wadding the mouth of old Flu
All and securing his enraged members.
Then the white man. his heart pound
ing, ran to 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 be-
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 up! They are giving you death.
l do not mean to make you unhappy.
Do not sleep, it is poison. you must
not! 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
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
smoothed 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, a 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 taboret
white rose petals dfifted down to the
rug. Curtains swayed gently In the
movement of the air, Afternoon sun
Light 81 crossed ss Eoblasns thqEStssb the a
Lexington knew the mystery Of high
desire, as If race of men, stalwart,
tender, true, had gone before him, lived
and loved and perished, 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-'Tell me, tell me-"
Helen's throat trembled, beneath the
smooth skin a 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. a
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 grap-
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 1t.
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 wrlthed loose his
right arm, and flashed blow to the
black neck, hut 1t was like hitting a
rug. The African was mouthing hot
ly. For all that life meant, Con clung
to the dagger-arm. He was lifted clear
Of the floor, to enable the black to ad-
just bim at his leisure for the final
stroke. All the agony of life's untast-
ed cup came to Lexington as he
thought of Helen. He could see her.
Suddenly the Nubian cried out and
seemed to lose control. He dropped
Lexington, who snatched the weapon
from him. He was screaming and
stamping. Upon his shoulders clung
small white-faced monkey, his teeth
holding deep, eyes staring out at moth
ing. The infuriated black would sum-
mon the entire palace with his howls.
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 fled
past the gagged and fright-ridden Flu
All. and out Of the apartment. lodging
down the corridor. There were run
ming shullies behind him. He gained