Cheyenne Wells record., September 01, 1921, Image 6

About Cheyenne Wells record. (Cheyenne Wells, Cheyenne County, Colo.) 1???-1969

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A PRINCESS
OF MARS
Oopjrlfbt, A. O. McClttrg sad Oompsa?
CHAPTER Xll—Continued.
—lo—
la always sufficient reserve of
the ninth ray stored In the great
building to maintain the present Mar
tian atmosphere for a thousand years,
and the only fear, aa my new friend
told me. was that some accident might
befall the pumping apparatus.
Before I retired for the night ha
promised to give me a letter to a near
by agricultural officer who would help
am on my way to Zodanga, which he
•aid was the nearest Martian city.
“But be sure that you do not let
them know you are bound for Helium,
as thev are at war with that country.
Ify assistant and I are of no country
we belong to all Baraoom and this tal
isman which we wear protects us In
all lands, even among the green men—
though we do not tree: ourselves to
their nands If we can avoid It" he
added.
“And so good-night, my friend," he
continued, “may you have a long and
restful sleep—yes, a long sleep."
And though he smiled pleasantly I
caw In his thoughts the wish that he
had never admitted me, and then a pic
ture of hltn standing over me In the
Bight; 7 and the swift thrust of s long
dagger and the half-formed words. “I
an. w rry, but It la for the best good of
Barroom."
Wluf was I to do? How could I es
cape through these mighty walls?
Easily could I kill him now that I was
warned, bnt once he was dead I could
no more escape, and with the stop
ping of the machinery of the great
plant I should die with all the other
Inhabitants of the planet—all. even
Dejah Thorls were she not already
dead.
Cautiously I opened the door of my
apartment and, followed by Woola,
•ought the Inner of the great doors.
A wild scheme had come to me; I
would attempt to force the great locks
by the nine thought waves I had read
In my host's mind.
Creeping stealthily through corridor
after corridor and down winding run
ways which turned hither and thither
I Anally reached the great hall In
which I had broken my long fast that
morning.
I was on the point of stepping bold
ly out Into the room when a slight
noise behind me warned ms back Into
the shadows of a recess In the corri
dor. Dragging Wools after me I
crouched low In the darkness.
Presently the old man passed close
by me, and as he entered the dimly
lighted chamber which I had been
•bout to pass through I saw that he
held e long thin dagger In his hand
and chat he was sharpening It upon
a stone. In his mind was the decision
to Inspect the radium putnps. which
would take about thirty minutes, and
then return to my bedchamber and fin
ish me.
Aa he passed through the great hall
«nd disappeared down the runway
which led to the pumproom, I stole
stealthily from my hiding place and
crossed to the great door, the Inner
of the three which stood between me
and liberty.
Concentrating my mind upon the
massive lock I hurled the nine
thought waves against It In breath
loss expectancy I waited, when finally
the great door moved softly toward
me and slid quietly to one side. One
after the other the remaining mighty
portals opened at my command and
Woola and I stepped forth Into the
darkness, free, but little better off
than we had been before, other than
that we had full stomachs.
Hastening away from the shadows
of the formidable pile I made for the
Erst crossroad. Intending to strike the
central turnpike as quickly as pos
sible. This I reached about morning
and entering the first enclosure I came
to I searched for some evidence of a
habitation.
Hiere were low rambling buildings
of concrete barred with heavy Impass
able doors, and no amount of ham
mering und hallooing brought any re
sponse. Weary and exhausted from
sleeplessness I threw myself upon the
ground commanding Woola to stand
guard.
Some time later I was awakened by
his frightful growltnga and opened my
eyes to see three red Martians stand
ing a short distance from us and cov
ering me with their rifles.
“I am unarmed and no enemy," I
hastened to explain. “I have been a
prisoner among the green men and
am on my way to Zodanga. All I ask
la Coed and rest for myself and my
cakrt and the proper directions for
reaching my destination."
They lowered their rifles and ad
vanced pleasantly toward me, piecing
their right hands upon my left shoul
der, after the manner of their custom
of salute, and asking me many ques
tions shout myself and my wander
toga. They then took me to the
house of one of them which was only
a short distance away.
They were the personification of
cordiality and hospitality and I spent
several days with them, resting and
recuperating from my long and ardu
ous experiences.
When I was ready to depart they
furnished me with a email domestic
br& thaet. sreh as Is need for saddle
purposes by all red Martians. The
animal is about the size of a horse and
quite gentle, bnt in color and shape
an exact replica of his huge and fierce
cousin of the wilds.
The brothers had supplied me with
a reddish oil with which I anointed
my entire body and one of them cut
my hair, which had grown quite long,
in the prevailing fashion of the time,
square at the back and banged In
front, so that I could have passed any
where upon Barsoom as a full-fledged
red Martian. My metal and orna
ments were also renewed In the style
of a Zodangan gentleman, attached to
the house of Ptor, which was the fam
ily name of my benefactors.
CHAPTER XIII.
An Air Scout for Zodanga.
As I proceeded on my Journey to
ward Zodanga many strange and In
teresting sights arrested my attention,
and at the several farmhouses where
I stopped I learned a number of new
and instructive things concerning the
methods and manners of Barsoom.
The water which supplies the farms
of Mars is collected in Immense under
ground reservoirs at either pole from
the melting Ice caps, and pumped
through long conduits to the various
populated centers. Instead of flooding
the surface of the fields, and thus
wasting Immense quantities of water
by evaporation, the precious liquid Is
carried underground through a vast
network of small pipes directly to the
roots of the vegetation. The crops
upon Blare are always uniform, for
there are no droughts, no rains, no
high winds, and no Insects, or destroy
ing birds.
On this trip I tasted the first meat
I had eaten since leaving Earth —
large. Juicy steaks and chops from the
well-fed domestic animals of the
farms. Also I enjoyed luscious fruits
and vegetables, but not a single ar
ticle of food which was exactly simi
lar to anything on Earth.
At a second stop I met some highly
cultivated people of the noble class
and while In conversation we chanced
to speak of Helium. One of the older
men had been there on a diplomatic
mission several years before and spoke
with regret of the conditions which
seemed destined ever to keep these
two countries at war.
•‘Helium,** he said, “rightly boasts
the most beautiful women of Barsoom.
and of all her treasures the wondrous
daughter of Mors Kajak, Dejah Thorls,
is the most exquisite flower.
“Why,” he added, “the people really
worship the ground she walks upon
and since her loss on that 111-starred
expedition all Helium has been draped
In mourning.
“That our ruler should have at
tacked the disabled fleet as It was re
turning to Helium was but another of
his awful blunders which I fear will
sooner or later compel Zodanga to ele
vate a wiser man to his place.
“Even now, though our victorious
armies are surrounding Helium, the
people of Zodanga are voicing their
displeasure, for the war Is not a popu
lar one. since it Is not based on right
or Justice. Our forces took advantage
of the absence of the principal fleet of
Helium on their search for the prin
cess, and we have been able easily to
reduce the city to a sorry plight.”
“And what, think you. may have
been the fate of the princess, Dejah
Thorls?” I asked as casually as pos
sible.
“She is dead.” he answered. “This
much was learned from a green war
rior recently captured by our forces in
the south. She escaped from the
hordes of Thark with a strange crea
ture of another world, only to fall
Into the hands of the Warhoons. Their
thoats were found wandering upon the
sea bottom and evidences of a bloody
conflict were discovered near-by.”
While this Information was In no
way reassuring, neither was It at all
conclusive proof of the death of Dejah
Thorls, and so I determined to make
every effort possible to reach Helium
as quickly as I could and carry to
Tardos Mors such news of his grand
daughter's possible whereabouts as
lay In my power.
Ten days after leaving the three
Ptor brothers I arrived at Zodanga.
From the moment that I had come In
contact with the red Inhabitants of
Mara I had noticed that Woola drew a
great amount of unwelcome attention
to me, since the huge brute belonged
to a species which Is never domesti
cated by the red men. Were one to
stroll down Broadway with a Numi
dlan lion at his heels the effect would
be somewhat similar to that which I
should have produced had I entered
Zodanga with Woola.
As 1 would willingly have offered
my life In the service of her In search
of whom I was about to challenge the
unknown dangers of this, to me, mys
terious city, I could not permit even
Woola’s Ufe to threaten the success
of my venture, much less his momen
tary happiness, for I doubted not he
soon would forget me. And so I bade
the poor beast an affectionate fare
well, promising him, however, that If
I came through my adventure In safe
ty that In some way I should find the
means to search him out.
nwwYBMNE WELLS RECORD
He seemed to understand me fully,
and when I pointed back In the di
rection of Thnrk he turned sorrow
fully away, nor could I bear to watch
him go; but resolutely set my face
toward Zodanga and with a touch of
heartsickness approached ber frown
ing walls.
The letter I bore gained me Imme
diate entrance to the vast, walled city.
The Ptor brothers had given me ex
plicit directions for reaching the point
of the city where I could And living
accommodations and be near the offices
of the government agents to whom
they had given me letters. My way
led to the central square or plaza,
which Is a characteristic of all Mar
tian cities.
As I was crossing the great square
lost In wonder and admiration of the
magnificent architecture and the gor
geous scarlet vegetation which carpet
ed the broad lawns I discovered a red
Martian walking briskly toward me
from one of the avenues. He paid
not the slightest attention to me. bat
as he came abreast I recognized him,
and turning I placed my hand upon
his shoulder, calling out.
“Kaor, Kantos Kan!"
Like lightning he wheeled and be
fore I could so much as lower my
band the point of his longsword was
at my breast.
“Who are you?” he growled, and
then as a backward leap carried me
fifty feet from his sword he dropped
the point to the ground and exclaimed,
laughing, “I do not need a better
reply. There Is but one man upon all
Barsoom who can bounce about like
a rubber ball. By the mother of the
further moon, John Carter, how came
you here, and hare you become a Dar
seen that you can change your col
or at will?
“You gave me a bad half minute,
my friend,” he continued, after I had
briefly outlined my adventures since
parting with him In the arena at
Warhoon. “Were my name and city
known to the Zodangans I would short
ly be sitting on the banks of the lost
sea of Korus with my revered and
departed ancestors. lam here in the
Interests of the Tardoe Mors, Jeddak
of Helium, to discover the where
abouts of Dejah Thorls, our princess.
Sab Than, prince of Zodanga, has ber
hidden In the city and has fallen
madly In love with her.
“I have been here three days, but
I have not yet found where Dejah
Thorls la Imprisoned. Today I Join
the Zodangan navy as an air scout
and I hope In this way to win the
confidence of Sab Than, the prince,
who Is commander of this division
of the navy, and thus learn the where
ubouts of Dejah Thorls. 1, am glad
that you are here, John Carter, for
I know your loyalty to my princess and
two of ua working together should
be able to accomplish much.”
The plaza was now commencing
to fill with people going and coming
upon the dally activities of their du-
A* I Rom Abov* th« City I Circled
Savaral Tlmu aa I Had »«n Kantoa
Kan Do.
ties. The shops were opening end
the cafes Blllng with early morning
patrons Kantos Kan led me to one
of these gorgeous eating places where
we were screed entirely by mechani
cal apparatus
After onr meal, Kantos Kan took
me with him to the headquarters of
the air-scout squadron and Introduc
ing me to hla superior asked that I
he enrolled as a member of the corps
In accordance with custom an exam
ination was necessary, bnt Kantos told
me to hare no fear on this score, as
he would attend to that part of the
matter. He accomplished this by tak
ing my order for examination to
the examining officer and repreasnt-
Ing himself M John Carter.
By
EDGAR RICE
BURROUGHS
Author of
Tanan of the
Apes
"Tills ruse will lie discovered later,
he cheerfully explained, “"hen they
check up my weights, measurements,
and other personal Identification datu.
hut It will be several months before
this Is done and our mission should
he accomplished or have failed loug
before that time.”
The next few days were spent by
Kantos Kan In teaching me the In
tricacies of flying and of repairing
the dainty little contrivances which
the Martians use for this purpose.
The fourth day after my arrival at
Zodanga I made my llyst flight, and
as a result of It I won a promotion
which Included quarters In the palace
of Than Kosls.
As I rose above the city I circled
several times, as I had seen Kantos
Kan do. and then throwing ray engine
Into top speed I raced at terrific ve
locity toward the south, following
one of the great waterways which
enter Zodanga from that direction.
I had traversed perhaps two hun
dred miles In a little less than an hour
when I descried far below me a par
ty of three green warriors racing mad
ly toward a small figure on foot which
seemed to be trying to reach the con
fines of one of the walled fields.
Dropping my machine rapidly to
ward them, and circling to the rear
of the warriors, I soon saw that the
object of their pursuit was a red Mar
tian wearing the metal of the scout
squadron to which I was attached.
A short distance away lay his tiny
flier, surrounded by the tools with
which he had evidently been occupied
In repairing some damage when sur
prised by the green warriors.
They were now almost upon him;
their flying mounts charging down on
the relatively puny figure at terrific
speed, while the warriors leaned low
to the right, with their great metal
shod spears. Each seemed striving
to be the first to Impale the poor Zo
dangan and In another moment his
fate would have been sealed had It
not been for my timely arrival.
Driving my fleet air craft at high
speed directly behind the warriors I
soon overtook them and without di
minishing my speed I rammed the
prow of my little flier between the
shoulders of the nearest The Impact,
sufficient to have torn through Inches
of solid steel, hurled the fellow’s head
less body Into the air over the head
of hit thoat where It fell sprawling
upon the moss. The mounts of the
other two warriors turned squealing
In terror, and bolted In opposite di
rections.
Reducing my speed I circled and
came to the ground at the feet of the
astonished Zodangan. He was warm
In his thanks for my timely aid and
promised that my day’s work would
bring the reward It merited, for it
was none other than a cousin of the
Jeddak of Zodanga whose life I had
saved.
Hastening to his damaged machine
we were bending every effort to fin
ish the needed repairs and had almost
completed them when we saw the
two green monsters returning at top
speed from opposite sides of us. When
they had approached within a hun
dred yards their thoata again became
unmanageable and absolutely refused
to advance further toward the air
craft which had frightened them.
The warriors finally dismounted and
hobbling their animals advanced to
ward us on foot with drawn long
swords. 1 advanced to meet the larg
er, telling the Zodangan to do the
best he could with the other. Finish
ing my man with almost no effort,
as had now from much pract'ce be
come habitual with me, I hastened
to return to my new acquaintance
whom I found Indeed In desperate
straits.
He was wounded and down with
the huge foot of his antagonist upon
his throat and the great longsword
raised to deal the final thrust With
a bound I cleared the fifty feet Inter
vening between us, and with out
stretched point drove my sword com
pletely through the body of the green
warrior. His sword fell, harmless, to
the ground and he sank limply upon
the prostrate form of the Zodangan.
Quickly completing the repairs we
rose together into the still, cloudless
Martian sky, and at great speed and
without further mishap returned to
Zodanga.
As we neared the city we discov
ered a mighty concourse of civilians
and troops assembled upon the plain
before the dty. My companion sig
naled that I Mow down, and running
his machine close beetde mine sug
gested that we approach and watch
the ceremony, which, he said, was
for the purpose of conferring honors
on Individual officers and men for
bravery and other distinguished
service. He then unfurled a little en
sign which denoted that his craft bore
a member of the royal family of Zo
danga, and together we made our
way through the maze of low-lying
air vessels until we hung directly over
the Jeddak of Zodanga and his staff.
One of the staff called the attention
of Than Kosls to the presence of my
companion above them and the ruler
motioned for him to descend. I could
not hear their conversation and pres-
enttr It ceased end »tt
as the last body ot troops h#d
Into position before their <™P e cor. A
member of the staff advanced toward
the troops, and calling the name of
0 soldier commanded b.m to advance.
The officer then recited the nature
the heroic act which had won th
approval of the Jeddak, and the lat
ter advanced and placed a ™ e * a '
nnment upon the left arm of the lucky
‘"'Ten men had been so decorated when
the aid called out.
“John Carter, air scout.
Never In my life had I been so stir
prised, but the habit of military dls
eipline Is strong within me, and I
dropped my little machine lightly to
the ground and advanced on foot as
I had seen the others do. As I halted
before the officer, he addressed me
In a voice oudible to the entire as
semblage of troops and spectators.
"In recognition, John Carter, he
said, “of your remarkable courage and
skill In defending the person of the
As We Neared the City We Dlscov.
ered a Mighty Concourse of Civilians
and Troops Assembled Upon the
Plains Before the City.
cousin of the Jeddak Than Koala and,
single-handed, vanquishing three green
warriors, It la the pleasure of our Jed
dak to confer on you the mark of hla
esteem."
Than Kosla then advanced toward
me and placing an ornament upon
me, said:
"My cousin has narrated the details
of your wonderful achievement,
which seems little short of miracu
lous, and If you can so well defend a
cousin of the Jeddak how much better
could you defend the person of the
Jeddak himself. You are therefore ap
pointed a padwar of the Guard and
will be quartered In my palace here
after."
I thanked him, and with an order
ly from the palace to guide me I re
ported to the officer In charge of the
palace.
CHAPTER XIV.
I Find Dejah.
The major-domo to whom I reported
had been given Instructions to station
me near the person of the Jeddak, who,
In time of war. Is always In great
danger of assassination, as the rule
that all Is fair In war seems to con
stitute the entire ethics of Martian
conflict
He therefore escorted me Immedi
ately to the apartment In which Than
Kosls then was. The ruler was en
gaged In conversation with his son,
Sab Than, and several courtiers of
his household, and did not perceive
my entrance.
The walls of the apartment were
completely hung with splendid tapes
tries. My guide drew aside one of
the tapestries, disclosing a passage
which encircled the room, between the
hangings and the walls of the cham
ber. Within this passage I was to
remain, he said, so long as Than Kosls
was In the apartment When he left
I was to follow. My only duty was
to guard the ruler and keep out ol
sight as much as possible. I would
be relieved after a period of four
hours. The major-domo then left me.
Scarcely had I gained my post than
the tapestry at the opposite end of
the chamber separated and four sol
diers of the Guard entered, surround
ing a female figure. As they approach
ed Than Kosls the soldiers fell ts
either side and there standing before
the Jeddak and not ten feet from
me, her beautiful face radiant with
smiles, was Dejah Thorls.
Sab Than, prince of Zodanga, ad
vanced to meet her, and hand In
they approached cloaa to the Jeddak,
Than Kosls looked up In surprise, and
rising, saluted her.
**To what strange freak do I owe
this visit from the princess of Help
um, who, two days ago, with ran
consideration for my pride, assured
me that she would prefer Tal Hajaa
the green Thark, to my sonr
fro m ooimirpBD.)
Viewpoint
It takes the eyes of the rich to sol
the blessings of poverty.—Boston
Transcript
Trample on a man’s good Intentions
and he will consign you to the
that la paved with them.
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mail. Mlllicent Hart On.. 721 J
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orders careful attention Eat.
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BUY YOUR GROCERIES AT W
ttookgrawort' Whaltiale Sapply Co . 1323 !tlwi«^^HH
Freight Rate Reduction.
Sail Francisco, Calif—Sharp
tton of eastbound freight rutes on
machinery from California point*
Wyoming, effective within the
moiltli, were announced hy
Luce, freight traffic manager for
Southern Pacific railway. The
tion, which amounts to about 80
oil the hundred pounds, was mad*
California might compete on a
equal basis with tlie Last for
ming business.
Planes Must Conform to Rules.
Chicago.—Hydro-airplanes
along the lake front were
an motorboats In a ruling by J.
Colvin, deputy collector of
Il«? decided that they must carry
on front and rear; a whistle,
horn, life preservers for each
ger and member of the crew,
equipped with fire extinguishers
that eucli pilot must also he a
licensed operator of motor boats. Bll
Gardens of Blue and Gold.
Pasadena, Calif —Kvery
or in Pasadena will bo asked in
spring <>f HU!-I to plant bis
blue and gold flowers that year,
cording to present plans outlined
iho oolobration committee already
ganl/od to make plans for tin*
na golden Jubilee celebration
bold during the year 11124.
colors were chosen as the official
ors for the celebration.
Police May Walk.
Pittsburgh, Pa. —City patrolM^H
will not ho pormitted to tide to
from tholr stations in tholr own
vldual automobiles hereafter,
ing to an order of Police
Thomas Carroll. The order
that there would ho no objection
tla> patrolmen riding in machines
or than tlioir own. It is
tho rule was mado to save
■
Scatter Ashes From Plane.
New York. —Flying at an
of 3,000 feet over Long Islninl
Charles S. Haight unfolded an
lean flag containing the ashes of
father, Charles F. Haight, and sctt-H
tered them to the winds. This
eeremony which took place was
from the ground by the dead roauiM
widow and two other children. H
200 Witness Execution.
Butte, Mont.—Albert Yelk was ett
cuted at the Dillon penitentiary (or
the murder April 21, 1020, of Sheriff
C. K. Wyman at Monidu, near the Id*-
ho line. Two hundred persons trit*
uesMed the execution.
Newspaper Industry Big.
Washington.—More tliuti eleven
u quarter billion copies of dally news
papers are printed annually In tb*
Cnlted States, averuging one ropy f*
every three and one-fifths persons
the country’s total population.
Circulation of the nation's £1®
dally newspapers aggregated 32,"Av
037 copies a day, an Increase of 13A
per cent in the five years since WO-
The circulation of the 592 Sundaj
newspapers was 19,929,834 copl*
each Sunday during 1919, an lucre**
of 14.9 per cent.
The aggregate circulation of thes*?
dally and Sunday newspapers, tbcro
fore, was 11,270.559,310 copies, " r
100.0 copies per capita for the year.
Total circulation of the country*
newspapers and periodicals aggrcgtf*
ed 15,475,145,102 copies for the year,
an increase of 7 per cent per issue i°
five years.
Negro Lynched in South Carolina.
Columbia. S. C.—Will Allen, negro,
who shot and killed Noah Krlck* *
while farmer of near Chapin, I* 1 '
Ington county, was lynched by :»P 09 ®*
of 150 men near Chapin.
Airships May Use Steam.
London.—Invention of a system ol
steam propulsion for airships ■*
claimed by Copt. W. P. Durtnell,
was a British naval officer durln* U*
war and up to a year ago staff
tain In the chief mechanical him! el«e
trim I engineer's department °f
Royal air force. It Is maintained tin
the new system will function at atti
tudes hitherto unatainahle with t i»e or*
dlnnr.v type of Internal combustion -*•*
Bine. The Invention Is said to J®
practical work.