The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1898-07-08
THE BEAUTIFUL
WHITE DEVIL.
By GUY B00THBY.
Copyright, 1895. by d. Appleton 8 Col
[coNTINUED.]

long cane chairs. A tall native was il
waiting. and when she had said some
thing to him he withdrew.
"Now you will have an opportunity
of witnessing a little piece of retribu
tive justice, she observed, "and als(
of observing how l treat those who mis-
conduct themselves in my domains.
She had hardly spoken before the
tramp of feet sounded from round the
corner, and next moment two stalwart
natives appeared escorting a young man,
also an islander, whose bright, attract.
i've countenance won my regard from
the first. Behind this party came the
complainant an elderly native, whose
puckered and wrinkled face was about
as unprepossessing as the others was
pleasing. Seeing their ruler before
them, they Frustrated themselves with
one accord and remained in that position
until they were told to rise. When they
had done so, Allie narrated the features
of the case to me in English. The old
man, it appeared, had young wife;
the prisoner was her cousin, and, if the
complainant could be believed, had
shown himself fonder of her than was
comfortable for the husbands peace of
mind. Age, proving jealous and at the
same time suspicious of the motive of
youths cousinly affection, had trumped
up a charge of stealing gardening inn
plements against him and had brought
sworn testimony to prove that the stolen
articles had been found in his possession.
But it so happened that Allie had been
aware for some time past that the real
object of the youth affection was one
of her own domestics, comedy enough
damsel, employed in the house.
The upshot of it all was that the
charge was dismissed; the old man had
to listen to short homily on jealousy;
the young couple were married there
and then and given hut in the town
ship for their own use, while the old
man was ordered, by way of compensa-
ton for the false accusation he had
brought, to provide them that selfsame
day with certain goods and chattels
necessary Co their housekeeping. AS
for the three false witnesses, who had
placed so small a value upon their repu-
tations for veracity as TO allow them
selves to be suborned against an inno-
cent man, their case was somewhat
harder. They were taken TO the rear of
the house, where they received ten
strokes of the rod apiece, we'll laid on,
as warning to them against future
dealings in unsound evidence.
This oaca Finished h1;a IL
sign to one of her men, who instantly
disappeared. Then she settled herself in
her chair, and noticed that harder
look came into her face.
'You have witnessed how conduct
one side of my court ;" she said. "Now
you shall see the other"
Again the tramp of feet was heard,
and once more guards and prisoner
made their appearance round the corner.
To my surprise, the latter was none
other than my old acquaintance Kwong
Flung, the notorious Chinese pirate.
But though he must have remembered
me his sullen, evil face betrayed no
sign of surprise. He only stood between
his guards watching my hostess and
waiting for her TO speak. Presently she
did so, In Chinese, and once, only once,
did he answer her. During the harangue
glanced at her face and was amazed
at the change in it, The old soft EXPIRES.
sion was completely gone, and in its
place had come one that, to tell the
honest truth, even frightened me. Never
before or since have seen such per.
feet exhibition of self contained but all
consuming rage. Once more she spoke
TO the prisoner, who refused to answer.
She instantly addressed herself to the
escort.
The man il command was in the act
OF replying when the prisoner, by some
means which | shall never be able to
explain, raised his right arm before his
guards could stop him. In the palm of
his hand lay knife somewhat resem.
bling Malay creese, but with a shorter
and straighter blade. With the swift
ness of thought the hand seemed TO drop
back and instantly resume its upright
position. The impetus thus given sent
the weapon flying along the veranda to-
ward u.s. and if | had not thrown nv
left arm before her there could be no
doubt that it would have found a scab-
bard in Allies breast. AS it was, it stuck
in the sleeve of my white Jacket, pass
ing through the fabric without even
scratching the flesh. Unnerving as the
incident was, the Beautiful White Devil
did not show the slightest sign of fear,
but simply said, "Thank you'll" to me
and then resumed her instructions to
the guard. Kwong Fung was immedi-
ately led away.
For some seconds after this departure
neither of us spoke, then, noticing that
her face was regaining its old express
sion, / took courage enough to inquire
my enemy's fate.
death, she answered. II have for
given that man times out Of number. j
have helped him when he was in dis
tresa and once rescued him when Re