Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-24

Hhlch had suddenly appeared ,-r,or So
C CbiT,,i ne started IL was Chung Foo the
,iihese contractor. who supplied him with
sound. ~S'"SS the
Bob doubted whether Foo would dare 70
denounce him, yet he felt that trouble VS.
coming. Foo had a certificate ana ooniS
visit the United States at will bu- h. bad
not crossed Puget Sound without cause
ana unquesconably his purpose was 10 nre
vent The girls escape. To Bob his presence
was unlocked for and a seriols obstacle
IhurstOn had fully realized that in aseist
ing The girl he would incur the hostility Of
the Chinese, but he had relied upon her
olsSulse TO pass even their keen scrutiny
however, the passengers were already
ulsenloari.ing, and delay OF hesitation
would only arouse suspicion Placing his
hands upon the shoulders Of his co,nnan-
Ion with an air of convivial good fellow
snip, he sauntered toward the plank, laugh
Gus tone
Half way down the plank he stopped. The
INN niilaI ma was conversins with the GUS
Give me a-hic-cigarette Dodo. old
ooy' ne said in a tone of affected inebrie-
y, s!apping his companion on the back
WIN rough playfulness.
., ne eiI was trembling violently. yet she
at once produced a package Of cigarettes
Ieeardless Of the grumbling passengers
pehlhd Bob stopped to light one Then he
r ,l.osea - forward The Chinaman had hur-
I1ed on into the darkness and thai he had
not betrayed their identity Nas shown l,v
. .ne careless glance which he officer gave
them as they passed.
.s BOD nreathed a sigh of relief as he left
the wharf; yet he glanced unzasily about
as he noticed that there were no cabs in
waiting and that a dark expanse Of MANY
docs mad to be traversed before they
would reach the brilliantly lighted streets
OF the city. But there was no evidence Of
trepidatlon in his voice, as ne laughinyly
freedom" Va
THE mayor would have been here "a
receive US in person, you know" he OBJ
served lightly, but he saws that peonie
taik about him IL he stays out after dark"
m glad he wasn't" was the response
Bob smiled, and reassurinyly drew her
arm through his own
quietly. '~'~
The girl shuddered and returned NO an
sWer; she was gazing steadily at the twin
KING lights of the city beyond. moment
iater several dark forms darted from be-
nina Pile or rubbish which Uttered the
| sidewalk in front of an unfinished build
ing. Bobs hand dropped into his coat
and reappeared grasping a shining pistol
Shng TO me. whatever happeas" he said
The figures stood motionless as n wait
ing Tor them to pass. and by the aim out
lines OF their loose garments Bob knew
halt or hesitate
suddenly one OF them leaped toward him
with mis- arm appraised. Bob's pistol cracked
ana the man fell back with a low CRY. Then
there was rush; the pistol cracked again
| and again: they were surrounded The
girl screamed a blow from behind felled
Bob to the ground, but she snatchei The
weapon from his hands and turned 4
against one of the men, who had clasped
his arms about her
The next instant a shriu whistle broke
upon the still night air. AT the sound
the men disappeared as IL by magic and
the young girl, half fainting sank beside
| Bobs inanimate form
| The brilliant sunlight of another day.
SHINING through an open window and a.
| iumining comfortably furnished room.
greeted Bob's eyes when he at last regain
ed Consciousness. For a brief interval his
gaze wandered about his new SURROUNDINGS
/ with a dazed, bewildered .ook Then IL
rested upon an elderly, pleasant-faced
woman seated beside the bed. She did not
perceive that he had awakened, and he
stared at her. endeavoring TO account for
her presence.
VIII you tell me where 1 am, ana how
/ got here?' he asked at last
The woman turned quietly toward him.
you're not to talk"
Bother the DOCTOR" he returned irnpetu-
ously. "A rap on the head and a million
or two Of stars don't always Kill a man.
/ / went under?'
Your wife-she is here now, bu; she il
| taking a few moments rest. She was
watching you for many hours. you know"
J
he did not know, neither was he aware
/ that he possessed a wife. Then his face
frightened. He had distinct recollection
of all that had taken place up to the mo-
ment when he had received q crushing
blow. His wife could be none other than
the young girl whom he had smuggied into
known only to herself had assumed thae
/ title.
could 1 ask you to call my-my xifev'
he said, stumbling over the word. and.
J d1cv 10 IT,,
cally. Il won't keep her long. She might
like to know that I'm alive"
The woman at once rose and left the
room. In few moments the door was
softly opened and the young girl entered.
She had discarded her male attire and was
clad in a gown of some dark material.
which fell about her tall graceful fgure
| in soft, clinging folds Her face was pale
and looked careworn. but her eyes sparkled
! brilliantly, and they filled with a tender
/ light as she advanced to the bed.
Il am glad you are better" she said In
a low tone. but You must be very quiet
The doctor fears your skull is fractured"
We'll. doctors don't always turn trumps."
| he lightly returned But tell me about the
fracas: 1 was not in at the finish. you
know"
There is very little to tell" was the giri's
4 reply. when you fell 1 took your pistol
and shot at one of the men who was going
TO carry me away; then a whistle sounded
and 1 tainted. When 1 recovered two 10
/ licemen were standing over us. They WANT
/ ed TO take you to the hospital hut / per
suaded them to bring You to this hotel
where We are now.
| And dii they ask for no explanatione~
| Yes. They knew / was a woman be-
cause 1 screamed, but remembered your
advice. I gave them some money, and
told them that there We're come things We
would rather not explain"
Bob grinned. But how about the hotei
people?" he asked.
The young girl blushed. and for a moment
made no reply.
The doctor discovered my SEX" she fall
tered at last. "and they were going TO send
me away, but 1 told them that was your
your wife, and that frequently accompanf-
ed you at night, dressed in your clothes"
/ Rather a well-told lie for a novice" Bob
coolly observed. Then his face changed
and he looked grave Yes. and you a bet
ter keep it up a few days longer" he added.
/ Il can't go back 10 Victoria now, after
4 what has happened, and are both
liable to be arrested here i think I'll ac-
| company You across to Boston. There I
I the care OF your friends"
But he didn't. Three thousand rni,es In
not long journey by rail, but mentally the
traveller may cover a far greater stretch,
/ and before they reached the Atlantic's shore
! Bob had recited the old. old story.
! ''You see, Nellie" was the way he put II,
/ Il have associated with the chinese so long
that l feel somewhat out Of place without
/ one around the house."