The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-08-03
CHINESE VENDETTA.


your plan. but be careful not to disturb
his confidence"
The banquet was progressing. It
lacked an hour to midnight. The
smoke grew thicker for the animated
discussion at the headman's table.
1T is agreed, then; well, success to
raising his cup.
Il shall succeed" exclaimed Leu Suey.
draining his liquor. Come on, and re
will find Lem Yek."
Good iuck attend you" insinuated
Guam Him. Return with the woman,
and maintenance and money shall re-
ward you. Your families are the care
of our society. Farewell"
Thou art minister of the wise and
virtuous and we are the ervan Of the
household" murmured the highbinders,
in the flowery metaphor Of C~onfucius,
and shuff1ed from the room.
Lue Seuy slowly threaded a crooked,
reeking passageway beneath the Hop
Sing houses. Everything about him
was hushed. He had passed from the
light and noise of the c%arousal into the
quiet Of vigilance on the enemy's bor-
ders. His arrangements had been CON-
pleted, and success seemed assured:
yet he was restless and uneasy He
wiped his fevered head and cursed his
raging thirst. His thoughts were not
comforting. Could he trust Lem Yek?
The Bing Kung rascal had been abused
by Wong FOng and had sworn revenge
| so he, and Him, and Din said; but
how could he be sure this was not a
trap? But certainly Guam Him sus-
pected nothing. 1t was simple enough.
Sen HO, cOstliest of the Bing Kung
slaves, was struggling to escape the
cp9 SolaSS 6Qh91IcharV RI which hor
masters compelled her; n for money
and protection this knave would be-
tray mis- faction. Well, when~Lem Yek
opened the cage the little bird should
fly to peace n rest in Leu Suey's arms
instead of into the clutches of the
cursed missionaries. Leu Suey la seen
and often coveted the tender lily, Sen
HO, and his sluggish blood grew tur-
bulent with remembrance. She was
plump, and pretty, and full of anima-
| ton. She was a jewel of great price.
! Then, too, she had cost Fong's
all of $4,000.
He grinned in the darkness and fng-
cred the hilt of his double knife. Main
, tenance, reward-pooh! He looked high
er than that Prestige, leadership. Sen
, HO-those were worth a fight. He
| paused and chuckled. Under the next
dull lantern he drew out his big forty
ve" and examined each cartridge. A
distortion of his face revealed his dry
teeth. Leu Suey was smiling at his
thoughts. Visions of the future burned
his senses. Guam Him out of the way.
Suey would be minister. Leu Suey
would make a fine captain, with the
wealth and the women and his pull"
| with the police, and yet-yes, but Ii
Din must go, too. Why had he confided
in Din? This fellow was In old friend
n could be dangerous. Could he but
get Wong FOng's fe-th life of the
Bing kung Tong-complete success
would be his. But would Din betray
him?
Leu Suey tapped lightly upon a pom
! derous iron door which blocked the tun-
mel. It was cautiously opened and he
was admitted to a dingy cell. He
d.. spoke rudely to a fat bag who guarded
the place, and, opening an opposite
door, shuffled UP an incline toward a
distant light. He climbed a slippery
ladder and emerged into a series Of
rooms and cells fitted up for the enjoy
ment of a variety of Oriental entertain
ment, but now unOccupied and gloomy.
Beyond the last of the stout doors he
entered a shop furnished for the sale
! Of clothing, through the closely shut
tered windows of which no sound nor
, light penetrated. A dim flame blazed
d WIN WIllCu lOdlSu III d. DOWlO VI
oil. A small, lean Chinaman, grotes-
quely yellow, moved out from a corner
of the room. Ii Din was peering
through an aperture into the alley. A
group Of ugly cutthrOats smoked GRIM
1y on the hunks or squatted chattering
on the floor. Leu Suey looked them
over from an expressionless face. He
was now in the enemy's country; here
was n who had belonged to them.
rs it time, Lem Yek?" he asked.
The fellow grunted an affirmative re-
ply. 1.-THE mind of Sen Ho is prepared
said he. in the sullen fashion of his
kind. "She is hiding in Wong Yick's
house across the way and below us
five houses, and h waits there for
my signal. But remember our bargain,
Leu Suey, I must be protected from the
hatchetmen of the Bing Kung Tong"
The highbinders exchanged looks OF
amused meaning. Leu Suey's face
flushed with an excitement stimulated
by the copious draughts from which he
had so lately arisen. Caution fed be-
fore Impotence.
go before, you," he exclaimed, harsh
ly. "You shall be truly rewarded. Stay
close with three, Ii Din, and be wary
They stepped out upon the banquette
The moon gave but a dim light from
behind a veil Of f1eecy clouds. hi quiet
was intense.
Ssh! She is there" whispered Lem
Yek, pointing eagerly down the alley
there is Wong Yick's door. See, she
listens and looks"
Sen Holt is she!" cried Leu Suey
under his breath. The woman saw him
She held out her arms appealingly and
moved irresolutely. The Highlander
bounded eagerly toward her. The wo.
nan disappeared within the house.
Crash! vent the heavy door behind
him Bang! a pistol rang the echoes OF
the alley. He sobered at the sounds
n whirled abruptly. Too late his
senses returned. Lem Yek's second bull
let burned through his breast. He stag
gered toward the door.
"Ah-Li Din-thou''-
He choked and lurched forward. A
shot scared his skull and maddened
him. He stared about unseeing. The
| alley spun around and around Where