Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-03-03

me. That at least we may share in
common. That, and the memory of
the brief days among the Thanks You
must go now. nor ever see me again.
Good-by my chieftain that was
Disheartened and detected. l with
drew from the room. but was not en-
tirely discouraged. nor would I admit
that Dejah Thoris was lost to me I'M
til the ceremony had actually been
performed.
AS l wandered along the corridors
was as absolutely lost in the mazes
of winding passageways as had been
before I discovered Dejah Thorls
apartments.
Presently I came upon spiral run
way leading to lower floor. and this
followed downward for several stories
until l reached the doorway of a large
apartment in which were a number of
guardsmen. The walls of This room
were hung with transparent tapestries
behind which I secreted myself with
out being apprehended.
The conversation of the guardsmen
was general, and awakened no interest
in me until an officer entered the room
the detail who were guarding the
princess Of Helium. Now, knew, my
troubles would commence in earnest
and indeed they were upon me all too
soon. for it seemed that the squad had
scarcely left the guardrOom before one
of their number burst in again breath
lessly. crying that they had found
their four comrades butchered in the
antechamSer.
In a moment the entire palace was
alive with people. Guardsmen, off.
GERS. courtiers, servants and slaves ran
heller SHELTER through the corridors
and apartments carrying messages and
orders. and searching for signs of the
assassin.
This was my opportunity and slim
as it appeared l grasped ii, for as a
number of soldiers came hurrying past
my hiding place I fell in behind them
and followed through the mazes of the
palace until, in passing through a
great hall, / saw the blessed light of
day coming in through series of
larger windows.
Here l left my guides, and, slipping
to the nearest window, sought for an
avenue of escape. The windows opened !
upon a great balcony which overlooked !
one of the broad avenues of Zodanga. !
The ground was about thirty feet be-
low, and at a like distance from the |
building was wall fully twenty feet
high, constructed of polished glass
about a foot in thickness. To red |
Marian escape by this path would |
have appeared impossible, but to me,
with my earthly strength and agility,
it seemed already accomplished. My |
only fear was in being detected before
fell, for l could not make the
leap in broad daylight while the court
below and the avenue beyond were
crowded with Zodangans.
Accordingly l searched for a hiding
place and finally found one by acct
dent, inside a huge hanging ornament
which hung from the ceiling of the
hall, and about ten feet from the floor.
Into the capacious bowl-like vase
sprang with ease, and scarcely had
settled down within it than heard a
number of people enter the apartment.
The group stopped beneath my hiding
place and 1 could plainly overhear
their every word.
"It is the work of Heliumites," said
)ne of the men.
"Yes, o Jeddak, but how had they
access to the palace? We shall soon
know, however, for here comes the
'oyal psychologist"
Another man now Joined the group
ind, after making his formal greetings
o his ruler, said:
20 mighty Jeddak. it is a strange
ale I read in the dead minds Of your
aithful guardsmen. They were felled
lot by a number of fighting men, but
" a single opponent"
He paused to let the full weight Of
his announcement impress his hear
RS, and that his statement was scarce
y credited was evidenced by the impa-
lent exclamation of incredullty which
scaped the lips of Than Kosis.
"Where is my erstwhile savior?"
poke another of the party, and ] rec
'gnized the voice of the cousin of
han Kosis, whom had rescued from
he green warriors. "By the metal of
ny first ancestor" he went on "but
he description fits him to perfection,
specially as to his fighting ability"
"Where is this MANI" cried Than
-osis. "Have him brought to me at
nee"
Word was soon brought that l was
owhere to be found either In the
alace or at my former quarters in /.
he barracks of the air-scout squadron.
-antos Kan they had found and ques-
Oned, but he knew nothing of my
and as to my past, he /,
ad told them he knew as little, since
e had but recently met me during
nr captivity among the Warhoons.
Keep your eyes on this other one"
Than Kosis. "TIe also is !,
stranger and likely as not they both
all from Helium, and where one is !
e shall sooner or later find the 9th !,