Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-10-29
MYSTERY OF THE
GREAT RUBY.
By LUC1E ST. DEAHE.
Copyright 1905 by American Press Asocia
ton.
CHAPTER XIII.

| CHAPTER Kill
| / have been in moro than one desper-
ate encounter. but never was / caught
more hopelessly than on that autumn
night when the forgotten man leaped
upon my back with tho deadly stealth
Of beast Of the jungle.
His momentum threw me forward on
my face, and at the moment Of falling
he flung his sinewy arms about my
own and pinned them to my side, so
;hat, although my right hand was on
my revolver, / could neither draw IL
nor turn the muzzle toward him. /
was MS helpless rs All infant in his grasp.
As we went down he uttered several
excited sentences in foreign tongue.
| knew like fash that he and his COM
panion were Asiatics. The second man
| bounded forward and leaned over mo
while / struggled fiercely 10 bring my
weapon into play. Hs added his voice
TO that Of the other. One sentence, no
word Of which could understand, was
repeated again and again with increas-
ing anger.
The rising infection at the end show
ed that no was asking question or
making demand Of me. They had
mistaken me for Darius Howard and
meant TO make Inc answer them.
comprehended the error. and knowing
my life hung on the passing seconds i
replied;
IL am an American. l am not Mr..
Howard" "
Without loosening his grasp tho man
on my shoulders wrenched mo partly
round and pcered into my face His
coun,enance was so close that, despite
tho gloom. he must have noted my fea-
lures plainly enough To know tDat my
words were true. The second man
stopped, and his countenanco almost
touched mine.
Not fully satisfied, he drew match
from his pocket and struck il on the sole
Of his shoe. AS the little flamo tiickertd
and came near being blown out in tho
slight air stirring felt the warmth
against my nose. My hat had fallen of,
so tha, tho view he obtained was per.
feet
BY the :iny twist Of flame saw their
faces, black, swarthy visagcs that shone
in the gloom tenfold moro hideous than
under the glare Of the sunlight.
"A thousand pardons, said the man
in my front 1--WE make great mistake.
We look for another man. A thousand
pardons"
His accent was broken and had pecul-
lar Kissing aspiration. The one who
had been holding my arms pinioned
leaped backward with tho dexterity OF
an acrobat, and was free, without a
hair Of my head injured. l picked up
my hat, replaced IL and rose 10 my feet.
Tragedy and comedy arc twin broth
ers, and pathos and humor go hand in
hand. A moment before was strug.
Cling helplessly for my life Now the
grim humor Of tho thing struck me,
though | felt like emptying my revolver
into both of them.
The East Indian who had addressed
mo in English repeated his apology
over and over until il became monoto-
nous.
II accept your explanation, said
when he paused for breath, ''but after
this l suggest that you ask gentle
man for his card before attacking him.
l hope you and your friend are enjoying
good health.
With no appreciation Of my humor.
they both made salaam rs If saluting
ono Of their own potentates at home and
walked of toward the main road
1t would serve you right, " NUT
tered as tho figures dissolved in the
gloom, Ito tes. my Workmanship upon
you. "
But why do that: They had apollo
gized for their mistake and made all
tho reparation possible. Then, too, they
must be- armed. and their return shots
might prove uncomfortable for me.