Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-24
find friends; they would make me IA

I
stood. No one knew better than he the
value which the Chinese slave women rep
| resented to their owners. Yet 1t must be
| confessed he had hitherto regarded them
much IN the same light as did their n as
| ters-mere animals, without sense or feel
lngs, and worth, in the United States, from
sloOo 10 SS,oOo But he shuddered as he
| a life.
And did the officers refuse you landing.
showing All that you have told me?" he
asked, after a pause.
| Some Of them would have allowed me to
remain for money and others would
Her face blushed painfully and sob needed
no explanation Her own countrymen were
| not her only enemies.
What will you do now?" he asked seri-
ously "
There is nothing L can do" was the de-
| spondent reply. Thus far | have escaped
| because l had a little money, but now have
| only what l would have paid TO You. When
/ done-die"
Bob looked grave. Il wouldn't talk Ike
! that he returned, in low tone. That is
a game in which there's no cnaace to win.
Besides, perhaps l can help you.
Ana Will you-will you:' the girl ex-
| claimed eagerly.
IF 1 cam" said Bob. lightly, as if depre-
eating any display of gratitude. But won't
you run up your number-tcn me your
| name, you know?"
Il have none that will ever 1.-THE girl
replied. My mothers name was Helen
| Marscen, and she always called me Nellie
but have no legal right to the name"
| Bother the legal rightr' Bob INTERCEPTED
nonchalantly. My legal ssame is Thurston.
but name is of little consequence unless
it's in the Blue Book or the Rogues' Gal
iery. However, Miss Marsden. are you
| hungry"
The girl shook her head, and Bob again
glanced across the street.
We'll, that's where we differ" he said,
land If you would not be afraid I'd like 20
leave you here for an hour or two You can
read or bang the piano, but don't let any
\ one in"
Il will stay" the girl returned you have
said that you will help me and / believe
you"
Possibly Bob was still somewhat suspi-
cious of his fair protege. With the conclu-
sion of his breakfast his first visit was to
| the Chinese quarter. But there in a man.
ner known only to himsel:, he readily as
certained that she had spoken only the
| truth and that her position was fraught
| with even greater danger than she herself
| was aware of.
turned to the hotel. At the door of his
apartments he paused with his hands upon
| the knob, and from within there came the
soft strain Of the piano. He was a lover of
| music and performer of more than ordi-
4 nary ability; but beneath the fingers Of this
| stranger the instrument seemed 10 speak to
him as 1t never spoke before. Scraps of
church music fragments Of oratorios and
l
| to carry him back to life forgotten. Then
| he entered, and for a moment he stood as
| If reluctant to break the spell. But the girl
| had heard his step and she turned toward
| him with blush of confusion,
Il did not know you were here" she said
! with a slight hesitation.
mo; I'm glad You didn't" he returned.
| Then his expression changed Il dld not in
| tend to remain away so long," he added,
| but, as the doctors say, your case is serl-
Gus. had no intention Of taking you over
in the launch, because you could not stand
the long trip through the woods from where
| we land; and now another difficulty crops
up-the highbinders are looking for you, and
| If they find you no power on earth can
| save you. Still, if you will consent to lose
your hair and do little more masquera-
| ding"
I'll do anything you say" the girl broke
| in; anything"
The smuggler laughed-a laugh that was
| rather nervous than mirthful. Producing a
| pair of clippers, he proceeded to remove her
| dark locks with the skill of A practical bar
Der. This done, he entered a small closet.
| from which he reappeared with several ar
| ticles of clothing.
Its an old, old game" he said, smiling.
as il amused at his own thoughts; still,
| think that this time SIC can fol Cncle Sam
and the whole Monaghan race. But the
proof of the pudding is eating the bag-take
these toys into the next room and see if You
look better in 'em than do
The young girl took the proTered gar
ments and with them disappeared in the
room beyond Bob seated himself at the
piano, but somehow could not produce the
| soft strains to which he lad listened: ope-
ras. lively and jn3ling, songs without words
| and some with words that would have been
/ better without, all ratified from beneath his
| fingers, until at last ne rose from the stool
| with an ejaculation OF annoyance. Then, as
the young girl reappeared, he regarded her
with look of unspoken admiration.
The short hair, parted and brushed across
| her brow in clustering curls, was rather be-
coming than otherwise lending to ner race
a saucy, piquant air, while her nataral
beauty was enhanced by the soft tinge OF
color that glowed on her cheek as her eyes
encountered his admiring SAFE. His clothes
too, fitted her almost perfectly.
well. If We fall I'll go smuggling green
cheese into the moon" was his enthusi lstic
sabe," he added, with a flush. You're out
of sight as a girl boy on the stage. you
know, but just trifle too nice for our pur-
pose. However. We can fix all that in the
morning. And now, If you'll Just take pos
session of that room you were IN you can
consider yourself my guest Conventional
ties must yield to the necessities CT the case
and tomorrow We embark for Seattle
Are you going with me?' the girl asked
! with slight show of surprise.
Certainly; I'll see you safely away from
the coast. But you'd better get back into
your own rig now. While you're at IL IN
see about dinner"
Tears welled to the young girls eyes. yet
| she strove to smile cheerfuliy: and, grasping
| ner ndnuS WIN an lnlpStuouS IrlenullneSS,
Bob led her to the door.
mo more tears" he adjured; you're a
/ man now. And don't lose your appetite
worrying. for they'll cut ice at the equator
! if We don't get through
During the dinner which followed the
young girl appeared to regaia a spirit Of
/ hopefulness and she provea-or So at least
Bob thought-a most entertaining cpmpan-
ion. Then the piano again called into
| play. Helen Marsden had been the daulch-
| ter of a missionary, and from her the girl
/ as a child, had imbibed Ter first ideas Of
| musical harmony. AS Bob listened to The
old familiar airs-airs that have been worn
threadbare, yet, under master hand are
ever ineXpressbly sweet-he was siu,yularly
perturbed i'm mind The abstract iniQuity Of
| smuggling was to him matter Of small
/ consequence and less thought: it paid. and
4 he was on the right side of the line where
/ he a gentleman. Nevertheless although
/ probably untroubled by any qua,ms of con-
| science, he was i'll at ease. He .elt a sort
of self-contempt.
But such thoughts were not of long dura-
ton, and when at last the girl had retired
to the inner room, he laughed lightly as he
| thought of his wavering between his chosen
! calling and pretty face, when the prettiest
face on earth is found on a yellow gold
piece.
! When the Seattle steamer swung ont from
| the pier on the following night Bob Thurs
ton was lounging against the rail of the
1 hurricane deck, and in the young man be-
side him none would have recognized he
/ girl who had sought his assistance Her lin
/ and cheeks had been darkened u-irl, q faint