Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1923-05-02
CHAPTER x.
said Con,
cemmed Eyes.

SSHIIuGU Eyes
Square patches of koresh lay on
each side of the trail. The mines were
perhaps a mile or less to eastward;
and beyond that ridge an infnity of
shifting dry naught The stars sent
pall0r 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 receding into the gloom as the
two fastened 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 a beast OF
some kind, and then sprint for the wa
ter hole?"
Con realized very well that the near
est water hole was a matter of days,
once they left the zone of fertility.
Food was yet to be considered, and
city was rising to seek them out and
punish But he felt the need of cheer
ing his friend.
1--WE can get into the vineyard" he
continued with enthusiasm he did not
feel, "and 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 Numbered out here" said
Lexington, land half the planet was
bucking us-stones for rain, and spin
ming dust instead of a breeze, with
few robber giants on the side-so may
be we can break away for home
again."
Il don't mean to be sarcastic" said
March very humbly. 81 understand
you. You are trying to make me feel
happier But l do not dodge the re-
sponsibility. 1 was grossly selfish. MY
work, and all my hopes, led me mere.
And I wanted a partner, to face the
Cobb, some one strong and young, VINO
didn't take himself seriously, some one
with the ability to lose decently. 1t
had to be an artist. You were the one
I found. But l did not want 1t to mean
sacrifice. l made myself believe we
should not actually lose. | held GER
tain dreams. They were beautiful
they baited you, as they balted me
long ago, and always. But / am done
with dreaming. Tau Kuan is death TO
all dreams except that yellow fantasy,
itself. 1t is so cold-do you know What
mean? The hand that guides ii is the
archetype Of infexible purpose. me
empire is not contained within the
walls. 1t spreads beyond the Gobl' IN
to Dory street; yes, and further,
web of horror. 1t does not spring
from life. The only human being WIN,
in those walls has been slowly ana
fully poisoned. She can never kno"
life. You have seen that"
March paused, and Lexington SHY
cred They peered into the darkness
ahead. One direction seemed as uu-
profitable as another. Far to the rear
the base of the palace showed req IL
torch reflection, and the brazen gons
ceased it's pulse of alarm. Marcn
asked:
"Win you try to forgive meT
Con spoke quietly. 'You are forgel-
ting something. You are the dlIer-
ence between the past and future -
me. Suppose I had found my man
that night, away back in Cincinnati: l
should have far thicker walls bother
ing me tonight, and all the rest Oh my
nights. Why do you forget that you
are the man who got me out Oh a.,
that? You were a federal officer anu
ought to have jailed me. nsteau'
owe every minute of my freedom ~
you. I don't know now why | Wanteu
to shoot him up. can't recall bis naii'e