The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-09-15
CHAPTER 1
WHAT THE DEVIL SAW

AT the foot Of the sheer pink
granite cliffs of the Ganados a man
lay, planting like a run-out dog, on
a sheltered ledge of rock. Nearby
listless and detected pony was
browsing on three legs.
Ahead, for miles on miles, there was
only the drab-colored plain, specked
everywhere with patches of alkah.
The rocky walls about the man rad
itaed heat like the sides of a burning
stove The little lizards scurrying here
and there seemed to enjoy it. But
it meant death to the man. His
tongue was swollen to twice its size.
He reached 'out his hand for the lea
Their water bottle in the crevice be-
hind him. removed the top. and was
on the point of swallowing the en-
tire contents when he checked him
self He little more than moistened
his lips and replaced the bottle. Next
he brought out his big calibered re-
yoIver and began to toy with it re-
Effectively.
mo, no." he murmured; time
enough for that. Perhaps I'll never
see him again. But I'll give him till
sund own
But the desert sunset was already
Son its way. The a1kakH flats were
commencing to simmer in ruby and
rosy hues. Strange-colored vapors
rose and SWAN before the watching
mans eyes and made him dizzy. The
| hills far beyond the great waste be-
gan to outline themselves in purple
and fantastic shapes
Ion, if I We're back on the range
| again." groaned the waiting man.
To get there he still had to cross
| the desert, because the steep sides Of
| the Ganados were a barrier to every
thing human. Then suddenly the
| watcher gave a gasp. The haze had
risen higher over the flats, and he
I could see only limited stretches ahead
| when the ruby vapors shifted and
| swayed.
| Through one of those riffs he saw
a figure coming in his direction.
| Hes shown up" muttered the
watcher. But he's a foot" he added
DULY
AT first the figure was only a pur-
| pie shadow, like every other object
| in the distance. But as it advanced
| the details cleared to view. He wore
a faded suit of khaki and his riding
| boots were worn. On his head was a
| ragged straw sombrero.
The man on the ledge began to
pant again. He wanted to speak
but his voice gave out. He waited
| till the man coming through the des-
ert had staggered up to the ledge;
| H..
The pedestrian fell down breathless
and lay there for a minute. Then he
/ feebly raised his head and looked the
other in the face. A queer expression
| twisted his dried and drawn features.
He uttered one word:
| 'Eure kai"
Il God you don't mean it," said the
man on the ledge in a lifeless tone
The only emotion he was able to show
was a faint flash in his eyes. Where
is it?" he demanded family
cover by the lava butte,' was the
| reply.
| '"The same we passed five days
Iago?" asked the man on the ledge.
still speaking with difficulty
Yes"
Are you sure-sure?" came the
close and eager question,
There amt a doubt. got it,
| God, it can't seem real!" gasped
the other.
There was a silence. The two men
| lay motion1ess and exhausted Then
the one beside the ledge spoke up
Ed, he said.
| Dan"
| Ones hand gripped the others.
| This handclasp signified hours OF
J talk. If they'd had strength and
vigor, they would have SHOUTED