Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 252, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 October 1920 — Yellow Men Sleep [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Yellow Men Sleep

Jeremy Lane

The Century Co.

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CHAPTER XV—Continued. -- <—18! in The cry of the watcher at the top •ent a galvanic shudder ever them aIL The riders! Con went up with the* sailor, and from the mouth of the pit they saw three score horsemen strung across the platy. They were like a sword cutting into the desert surface, already far on their way to retrieve their ill-starred prince. Away to the south, as if driven by invisible gods. Yekutoi’s horse was running. Levington grew conscious of many bodies pressing about his own. The little men were creeping up to peer out at their fate. The riders had but one meaning to them. Helen had lied candidly and well. Tn the wind, a screen of fine sand rose behind the flight of horsemen. The miners were heartened by their first favorable turn in their history. The Arab seized the opportunity to Inflame them further. They* began to moan with anger, sensing vaguely the opportunity that had come. The city was open and without protection. Like the rush of a subterranean river their voices came up, a choking rumble. Insectlike they surged up out of the shaft In the blinding daylight the 'Arab fell back, and Levington had no choice but to captain them. He got a joy from It all, a flash of power. They were coming behind him, score upon score, the honeycombed earth giving up her strangest Their faces 'were hairless and pinched, grimy. Each man had a weapon. They were a terrifying rabble.' Strong arms carried earth claws that had yesterday combed the immemorial clay for the seeds of koresh. There were also daggers and pointed horns and a number of dull swords. From the houses beneath the city wall, the women and old men ran to the gates and swung them shut; but they could not hold back the ugly swarm of workers. There was strength in the arms that had tolled so long underground; new. fierce power in the twisted spines. It was a mad holiday of revolt The big gates were pressed In. . Wives and maidens of the monzoul ran across the lawn, Kalka, Turkish, and Arabian; delicate feet were nimble beyond the fountains, and the feminine cries were forbidden music to the Invaders. But there was first a matter of work to be done. The miners hurried on, resistless as- lava. Black slaves, and gray and brown, whined and crouched upon the rugs. It was early, and the palace was but half awake. In the throne room, filled now with golden light, a woman fled, screaming. Beyond were the monzoul’s apartments. This soft and ancient lord reclined among his feathers and silks and fans, like a precious grub. His doorway darkened, his slaves went down, but he gave small heed to the mob that profaned his chamber. He was dreaming, perhaps of dainty white ankles and the tinkle of wind-bells.

The wrinkles of his countenance aasgsd with fat and drug. Now the brazen teeth of an earth-hook gave him < final caress, Here, on the walla hanging amid the most prized trophies—scimitars of Persia, antique firearms of Cathay, and jeweled knives of Hindu hill princes—were the weapons recently taken from Andrew March, also the carbine Lovington had once bought fop* better luck. He repossesesd hinlielf. Down a corridor that thundered with the hist of benighted meh, Levington went to Helen’s door, and hade the nearest of his followers remain outside. They clamored and contented themselves with exploring passages

and winding stairs, and halls and secret rooms from which their lords had sent only cruelty and constant oppression. Levlngton entered and closed the door behind him, and narrowly missed the slash of a sword In the hands of the familiar Chinese servant Con took the weapon from Fu Aft, and commended him for bls zeal. "Where is my father?" asked the princess. “He is with another division of the men. We will go to him directly. You told your story very well.” “Your story," she corrected him. “I was without breath. I spoke rapidly to the guards, pointing. They saw the loose horge, far out It was sufficient They were enraged.” She had crossed the room with a grace, that found every nerv.e —the gentleness of the oriental in her step, but more than that th® clear-limbed assurance of an American girl. Levlngton bowed and burned. He managed to Inquire: “Are you ready to go on a long journey?” “Does my father wish me to go?”. “Yes,” fie lied. “I go.” There was nothing of koresh about her now, unless in the faint shadows belodi her eyes. Neither America alone nor Asia unaided could have produced her sweetness, this frank perfection. She heard the madmen through her palace—all the dread, sanguinary confusion above and 'around —yet did not tremble. If did not occur to her to be afraid. Her thoughts held to other issues. The wise writings of two continents had tempered her mind. Unlike those who knew the fruits of one land or one. age only, Helen was vividly aware of life- In a larger pattern, and though her keenness'was young and softly cloaked. It shone in her eyes, and was mysteriously conveyed to him. She smiled a little. “I do not see what is to come.” “Will you give the order to prepare many camels immediately for a long march. “Has not my father done so?” "I agreed to arrange for it He is occupied at present” Con eluded again. He went to the door and signaled to the nearest rioter, who stopped his play of tormenting a wounded Nubian, and came shambling across the threshold of the princess. Con stated the needs to the girt, who spoke to the Chinese, Fu Ah, in his own language; and the latter, with a supreme disgust stenciled across his face, repeated the order to the man from the mines. The dwarf, abased himself, having expected a death-blow Instead of oral instructions, and crawled out at the door. “There are mountains to the north,” said the princess to Levlngton. “And forests," he added. "Do you think there Is a better direction for us? . We must not tarry.” “No. We go to the north.” Fu Ah then received further personal wishes from his mistress. To Levlngton she explained:' “I am sending him up the stairway, for things I shall require. Kindly go with him and see that he is not ’ struck dead by your butchers.” , Levlngton bowed again, silently, and his cheeks burned. Her bitterness was iron. Had he not upset the’ world? Escorting old Fu Ah clown the corridor, Con went up with him to see what gross mischief was being worked in the higher floors. The top of the stairs was clogged by two bodies, miners who had failed to quell two stalwart sons of warriors, who also lay quiet now a little way -’own the halt The tide of dwarfs had passed on.

While Fu Ah delved In treasure of silk -and leather and silver, Levington found an outer window. Far along the road beyond the city gates, he noted two slaves mounted on camels. The beasts were pacing at their utmost, southward, their mission to bear word of alarm to the distant company of riders. Con examined the carbine in his hands. Resting the barrel upon the latch of the open window, he aimed very carefully, and pressed the long trigger. He* repeated this process four times, and was then ready to go downstairs with the bld servant “When we leave,” he said to Helen, overcoming a reluctance to speak, “these little half-men from the mines will close the gates after us. Your warriors, in returning, w’ill be unable 'to force an entrance until we have gained a greater distance to the north.” "Do not say *my warriors.’ ” She hesitated, then added: “Do not heed my words, if they are quick. I would not turn back.” She was smiling gravely. Her hand came out to him. “A princess may speak as she chooses,” said Levington. > “Not to her equals.” The city was conquered, overrun. The new caravan was being prepared for Immediate departure. Con, feeling that he was not needed elsewhere, had a strong reason for remaining where he was, against the possibility* that some bold pillaging party might mm* and and her alone. ' —.-a.— 4

He endeavored to assist in the hurried gathering together of lovely gar meats, but be was useless. Also, the delicate spice that arose from certain of the dresses was Tike a thin knife in him. The door opened. The silent figure of Chee Ming stood before them, his robe torn, and marks of violence about his head, steady, gray-faced, tense with anger. Helen paused beside the bamboo chest. She felt a rfudden renewal of the ties of many years. Con sensed the situation, and waited. The vizir advanced upon the rug. “I go.” said Helen In English. Chee Ming replied shortly in foreign speech. "I go, at once,” she repeated, and her persistence with the English seeemed to clear the air. .It was her declaration of choice. Chee Ming was speaking to her, a great calmness spread over his intense rage. His eyes grew magnetic with bate. His dream cosmos was crumbling. The princess appeared not to hear him. She said pleasantly! “I am taking Carlyle to read on the way, and the Aqnarlan Gospel." These two volumes were placed on top of the fineries of all Asia. Chee Ming had turned to the white man. Levlngton said, "I am setting free your prisoners.” Helen added: "Mother once tried to do the same.” ' “My riders return.” said the viair steadily. “Not yet,” said Levlngton. He saw a thin brass tube in thv jrellow fiands. In a flash he was upon the old man, before the blower could

be raised to the narrow lips. It was no task to subdue the vizir with physical force, for the Chinese had lost courage, his leathery sinews slackened. The darts fell to the floor. Helen lifted the tube and placed It in the bosom of her dress. She was not smiling. , Upon the window-ledge rested the yellow bowL Con picked up the vizir and carried him across to it. He forced back Chee Ming’s arms and drew up his chin rather inconveniently. No sound came from the Chinese, to whom •. such a defeat must have been thrice bitter and unbearable. The koresh tn the bowl was cool to Con’s fingers, the scent that arose was spice and brandy. He applied the bluish oil thoroughly to the eyelids and temples of the vizir. “He has been my father,” said a soft voice. “I will not hurt him. This seems wonderfully new to him; he has had the world try it first.” Word came that the camels were ready at the gate. The bamboo chest was carried out Con left his strange enemy lying upon the rug, deep in ghostly slumber. The miners were finding their own voices, rearing in new freedom, like masquerading children, before the monzoul was cold in his blood. From the higher windows and balconies of the palace came shrill screams. Twenty camels were laden. "Where is my father?” Con asked the Arab, who sought out the men who had carried the hammock. Only one of these could be found. He pointed back along the road. Helen saw the gesture and insisted on going with Levington. The entire caravan was started out at the gate, for the riders could not be sighted. Certain of the dwarfs were aware of their debt to the white man who was departing, and these raised ’ a shout as the caravan passed under the fortification. Instantly the gates were closed and a barricade begun bn the Inside. — "What have you not told me?” Insisted the girl. "It will be an right.” he answered. “Tell me.” "He has remained behind.” "Tell me J” she cried. They found him near the rock that marked Eithna’s grave. He was motionless in the morning sun, stretched face downward upon the sand 'that had once been a garden. Gon leapt down and ran to him. TMgre was no response. An Insect walked across ‘March'* cheek. The deep-gray eyelids were firmly dosed. He was quite dead ■

Helen stood there, then knelt She closed her eyes, bat did not weep. Her hand went to his shoulder, but the touch frightened her. Levlngton -was bowed with the loss of bls comrade, the man who bad shown him how to live. “You need not go,” said Con. "They' are both there,” she sold slowly. “Shall I take you back to the gates?" For a long minute she remained motionless, kneeling, and the others of the party showed Increasing agitation, with much staring off southward. Helen raised her hand. "I am ill.” she whispered.' “Take me away, far.” He lifted her to her feet A runner had been sent back to the city' with word. The hammock would come again, and March’s body be given final attentions. “It Is useless to remain,” she said. "Take me away.” The other woman of .the party, an ancient sister to Fu Ah, came to her princess and soothed In the wonderful Intoned speech of Asia. She placed a large motherly arm about the shock-, ed and saddened Helen, and, with Con, helped her up Into the saddle. Haste was imperative. It was Helen’s own choice. •; 4/ ' ‘ . Levlngton gave the word. The guide took orders from old Fu Ah. who rode high up, his wrinkled, and scarred visage further complicated by the present twists of fortune. He had no heart-beat independent of his white princess. For the sake of speed, the sister, who was somewhat heavy, was separately mounted. Helen rode alone, as did Levlngton. The wind was in their faces. Levlngton looked back once, shuddering, across the rich low plain, to the strange towering city, now but a tawny Babel in the hands of its enemies, those sad hordes from the caverns—lts destiny awry, all splendor and quiet cruelty ended. The very walls seemed pale now. The white man was silent with a grandeur of pain, a beauty that was anguish. White-hot sun pelted through his garments. Flying sand stung his cheeks familiarly. Helen’s head was bowed in silent agony. It seemed that the fierce,, vengeful hands of the miners pulled at his heart. Back on the vanishing rim of the world, the ancient, mysterious showed for an instant like a faded rose, and then the glaring heat blotted it out.

CHAPTER XVI. Helen's Ordeal. Helen, in her great heaviness of heart, stared down at nothing. Fu Ah gave up the task of comforting her, at the request of his sister, who rode close beside the princess. Fansa’e attention was in fact sorely divided between the marvels of an unknown world and the sorrows of her mistress. The Mongolian driver shoved Levlngton Into the lead, and the white man was alternately alarmed and joyous. He looked back often, and his nerves crawled each time he fancied a puff of dust in the south. His best friend was gone, where he had wished to go. Con saw what had been in Andrew March’s mind when he told of the seed-poison that leaves no dream behind, only a stilled body. Con was not holding that against his friend. The quiet investigator, who had weathered so much, whose worldly grasp had seemed so strong and sufficient, had been broken when his Illusion failed, a woman waiting for him, but in another world. Just now, Levington’s deepest hurt was to recall what he had seen in the devotional chamber underneath the palace, his princess in the same fragrant thrall. Her father had come and gone by strange Haws. Helen seemed to live In a dull tangle of pain. She rode with eyes closed. Training prescribed thoughts of her father, the affectionate stranger who bad mastered the path to her lofty city, only to meet ruin In the yellow man’s form of sleep. The shock of his death brought a heaviness that was unendurable, a new destiny drooping down about her like a cloak. But oddly, the images that passed before her vision were not of Andrew March. He was but the background. She was thinking of Chee Ming, the brutal marks upon his head in that last moment, bls dignity in rage, the magnitude of his defeat. Pictures of bls kindness came again and again—how patiently he had taught her. how he had brought for' her the pretty things of the world. Once he had laughed outright when a golden butterfly had wandered in at the window and rested upon his nose. (TO BE CONTINUED.)

The Miners Hurried On, Resistiess as Lava.

Con Left His Strange Enemy Lying Upon the Rug.