The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1898-04-02

thought ] would be safe, for the roofs
of the houses in our block were as
well known to me as the street. ]
was something of a tomboy. and on
evenings when the cats made the night
air hideous with their concerts, Tom
and | used often 10 go on the roofs and
hunt them, sometimes chasing them
the whole block, he clad in his pajamas
and in my cycling suit.
It was therefore an easy matter for
me to climb the ladder, but just as l
had crossed the roof and was about
! to drop myself on the next, which was
/ lower than ours, the dreaded celestial
( head again appeared, this time just
above the last rung of the ladder. Oh,
if only | had the power to hurl him
down before he reached the roof.
/ tore at the bricks in the chimney, but
not one would loosen. There was moth
/ ing to be done but to run and to scream
in the hope of attracting the attention
of some passer-by on the street be-
low, but when | opened my mouth to
cry out no sound would come from my
parched throat Ny gymnastic train
ing stood me In good stead. |
ran, dropped to the lower roofs,
climbed to the higher ones with
the agility of monkey. But still |
would have had no advantage over my
pursuer had it not been for my superior
knowledge of the roofs. The Chinaman
followed me swiftly. Though | dared
not look back, | could hear his quick
breathing not far behind
When we got near the end of the
block lodged my pursuer and doubled
on my trucks. For moment he seemed
puzzled: | seized the opportunity,
slipped quickly behind him, grasped his
pigtail, jerked him backwards; he lost
his balance and fell on his back. Then
| ran to the edge of the roof overlook
ing the street and screamed; to my sur
prise, my voice had come back and my
scream was heard by man passing on
the opposite side of the street He
stopped and looked around bewildered.
| screamed again, and, guided by the
sound, he looked up and saw me; the
moon was just rising behind the house,
and my form was clearly outlined
against the light the moon threw before
il. But my shouting had also shown the
Chinaman my whereabouts; he had re-
coverd himself and was again after me.
| could hear his quick, animal painting
| Just behind me. ran on, he following,
but hope now gave added speed to my
steps: help would soon be mine; for
a crowd had gathered on the street,
and seemed clearly to realize my dan
ger. Men ran to and fro, or eagerly con
suited together, and presently a num-
Der of werkmen came along dragging
fireman's ladder. This they placed
against one of the houses; men
swarmed up like flies, and in less time
than ii takes me to tell it the Chinaman
was seeured-strangely enough, he
made no resistance and did not appear
to be armed-and we were both taken
down.
When the crowd heard what the Mon
golian had done. they declared they
would lynch him then and there. They
tore him from the policeman who had
him in charge, dragged him to the near
est tree, which was not far, for our
street was planted with trees; a rope
was brought from somewhere, and, de-
spite the wretehed mans pleadings in
imprisoned Chinese for mercy, was
slipped around the branches. At that
moment broad-shouldered man broke
through the crowd and demanded the
cause of the uproar 1t was Tom. The
mob paused to explain. | ran to my
brother, chung to his arm, and between
my ineohercnt words and their expla-
nations, he at last gathered the mean
ing we wished TO convey, but still he
looked puzzled.
"Nellie? Did | understand you to say,
Dora, that it was Nellie this man muir
dered?"
"Yes."
"Why, ! have come straight from the
house, and Nellie was there as well as
she ever was in her life, only anxious
at your long absence and curious to
know the cause of the disturbance in
the street"
"There must be some mistake" an
swered. 81 saw her blood streaming
from under our bedroom door Per-
haps it was her spirit you saw"
"A pretty substantial spirit, then, |
must say, and one that can enjoy NUT
ton chops and fresh eggs as well as "A
mortal. Come right along, boys" turn
ing to the crowd, "and see for your
selves that my sister is all right. Come,
Dora"
He drew my arm within his own and
turned toward home, the mob follow
ing with the Chinaman, the rope stitl
around his neck. When we reached
our house there was Nellie safe and
sound standing on the steps Before
we could say a word she cried out:
"What are they doing to All Sin? Oh,
what shame to treat poor Chinaman
sol" and impulsively she ran down,
and, while the Mongolian made voluble
explanation, pulled the rope from his
neck.
Speak little slower, All Sin, then |
shall be able to follow you nicely" said
Nellie kindly. forgot to tell you that
Nellie can speak Chinese-she used to
teach in the Chinese mission school.
what does he say?' | asked. And,
Tell us what the heather is saying,
young lady," cried the men.
Nellie asked the Chinaman few
questions, which he answered with
much gesticulation, for he was more
excited than have seen a Chinaman
either before or since, as well he might
be; then She turned TO us: