The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-06-28
!CHAPTER Y.
TCoNTINUED.J

ssNo!' I replied, noting the time.
"You had better keep it. 1t is now
Two o'clock. If Cha Fong does not
arrive before night I shall be very i'm
patient. Don't forget to wind your
watch, for we may want it tomorrow" "
ct will not forget"
We went into the temple and ate
some rice from the golden bowl.
'Do be careful, Mr.. Crickmore,
Miss Arnold said. "You must not
give Cha Fong any advantage. He is
no ordinary Chinaman."
'sDo not fear. I shall be prudent, u
I Ireplied. "Now I think I will 90 on
deck and reconnoiter.
"On deck?" she said, smiling.
"Well, what would you call the top
of this thing? How does roof strike
you? By the way is this the tenth OF
january"
:, 'No-this is the eleventh"
- ''Then I spent all day of the tenth
in stupor, as result Of meddling with
Cha Fong's tobacco. No wonder I
was hungry when I got into this world
again. Well, Ralston and Langston
are surely on shore by this time"
We went through the garden and
out into the pit. We climbed up to
the top, and I carefully scanned the
horizon to see if Cha Fong's yacht
was coming. It was not in sight, nor
was any other vessel. I led her to a
spot that was somewhat screened from
view-to prevent any prying glass from
coming suddenly upon US, and we sat
down on the rock.
"This is refreshing!' exclaimed
Miss Arnold, drawing the invigorating
air into her lungs. II did not know
the atmosphere down there was so
close. But it is grand here"
cit is," I replied. "This is an
ideal place for residence, bat one
would need fast yacht to establish
ready communication with the main
land"
ct don't think I would ever wish
to see this place again." she said
with a shudder, ''if I only leave it
alive"
"Probably not. But you will leave
it alive. Don't worry any more about
that. How far do you thlak We are
from Hong Kong?"
''I cannot even imagine. was con-
fined in q stateroom in the yacht
when we came here, and could not
see how fast we came or the direction
We took"
The mention of Hong Kong brought
to her mind her fathers anxiety for
her safety. Her face saddened.
my poor father!' she said. "He
is no doubt frantic with grief and
worry over my disappearance"
''Then he will be frantic with Joy
in few hours, when you are restored
to him." I replied.
We sat there some time, talking.
Aside from the fact that her life and
mine depended upon my efforts, I was
beginningto take more than ordinary
interest in the girl who had been so
miraculously thrown under my protec-
tion. She was very winsome. I
wondered if our acquaintance would
continue after Miss Arnold had re-
sumed her place among the friends
from whom she had been taken.
I was musing thus when she spoke:
81 think I see speck coming this
way, Doctor Crickmors."
I followed the pointing of her
finger.
"You are right. That is sail, and
if I am not greatly mistaken it is Cha
Fong's yacht. 1t will be some time
before he can reach here, as there is
very little wind stirring. But it will
not do for us to remain here. He
might see US, and it would put him on
his guard"
We carefully made our way into the
pit and down the long flight of rough
hewn steps. I led Miss Arnold into
the garden.
"Have you noticed the beauties of
this place." I asked her.
':No, T did not pay much attention
to it when we went out" che replied.
''It is indeed beautiful place. How
musical the fountains are?'
AS the time passed, I noticed my
companion was becoming nervous, al
though she was evidently laboring
hard to rem3n calm. After time I
went out to see where the yacht was.
It was slowly coming toward the rock.
I did not show myself, but cautiously
peered from behind the ledge. I
Judged that in half an hour she would
be in the inlet.
I returned to Miss Arnold. There
were traces of tears on her face. 1t
was a trying ordeal for me. What
must it have been to this gentle girl?
I strove to encourage her, and soon
had the pleasure of seeing her smile
again.
81 think it is time we made move" )"
I said, after time. "You take this
pistol-you know what to do"
"Can't help you if I remain with
~you2" she asked.
''No. prefer to have you out of
harms way until it is over"
every well-I will CO."
put her down in the trap and closed
it. I told her to be perfectly calm and
not to fear the result. I did not feel
sure of it myself, but no harm could
come from encouraging her. Lcare-
fully rearranged the rugs, aud removed
all evidence that any one had been
there. took up the knife and put it
in my pocket. Then with the rife
clasped fondly in my hand, I went to
the rear of the big idol in the temple,
md entered it BY way of an aperture