The morning news., 1899-12-31
THE MORNING NEWS: SUNDAY, DECEMBER 81. 1soa

nor sealin up of anything done just vet.
though have 20 see there amt anything
disturbed. But kalki,ate to walk out on
the Veranda for a spell ana look at the
landscape Be paused again and said
with a sigh of satisfaction, IT'S a
mighty pooty view out thar, Il Just takes
me every time"
As he turned and walked out through
the French window. Cissy did not for a
moment comprehend him; then, strangely
enough. his act of rude courtesy for the
first time awakened her to the full sense
OF the situation. This house-her father 9
house-was no longer hersi II her father
should never return she wanted nothing
from it-uothing! She gripped her beating
heart with the little hand she had cleuch-
ed so valianty a moment ago Suddenly
her hand dropped Some one had glided
noiselessly into the back room, a figure
in blue blouse-a Chinaman their house
servant All Fe. He cast a furtive glance
at the stranger on the veTanda and then
beckoned TO her stealthily. She came to-
ward him wonderingly, when he suddenly
whipped a note from his sleeve and with
deNterious movement slipped Il into her
fingers. She tore il open. 4 single glance
showed her a small key inclosed in a line
of her fathers handwrltiug.~ Drawing
quickly back into the corner she read as
follows; IF this reaches YOU In time,
take from the second drawer Of my desk
an envelope marked private contracts and
give II to the bearer" There was neither
signature nor address.
Putting her finger TO her lip, she cast a
quick glance at the absorbed figure on the
veranda and stepped before the desk. She
fitted the key TO the drawer and opened
ii rapidly but noiselessly There lay the
envelope, and among other ticketed papers
small roll of greenbacks-such as her
father often kept there. 1t was his money.
she did not scruple to take II with the
envelope. Handing the latter 20 the Chin
eman, who made il instantly disappear up
his sleeve like conjuror's act. she
signed him to follow her into the hall
who gave you that note, All Fe?" she
whispered, breathlessly.
"Chinaman."
"Who gave it to him?"
"Chinaman."
"And to him?"
"Nollee Chinaman."
Another Chinaman?"
'Yes-heap Chinaman-alle same MS
gang"
You mean 1t passed from one China
mans hand to another?'
"Alee same"
"Why didn't the first Chinaman who
got 1t bring it here?"
"Spose Melikan man want to catchee
lettel. He spotty Chinaman. He follee
Chinaman Chinaman passee lettel next
habe got sabe?"
Then this package win go back the
same way?"
"Allee same"
"And who will you give It to now?"
"Allee same man blingee me lettel. Hor
Li--who makee washee."
An idea here struck Cissy which made
/ 1. n
All Fe gazed at her with an infantllJ
smile of admiration.
How far did that letter Gomez" she ask
ed with eager, questioning eyes
"Lettee me see him." said All Fee.
Cissy handed him the missive; he exam
ined closely some half a dozen Chimes,
characters that were scrawled along the
| length of the outer fold and which she
had innocently supposed were a part o.
the markings of the rice paper on which
| the note was written.
Heap Chlnaman velly much walkee-
| lcugee wayl S'pose you look" He pointed
through the open front door to the pros
pect beyond. II was a familiar one ic
Cissy-the long canada, the crest on cres
Of serried pines, and beyond the dim snow
lines. All Fe's brown finger seemed Il
linger there.
'In the snow" she whispered. her cheek
whitening like that dim line but i1tT- eyes
sparkling like the sunshine over il.
"Allee same, John" said All Fe plain
lively.
"Ah Fe." whispered cissy. take me
with you to Hop Lii
mo good" said All Fe stolldly. "Hop
Ii he givee this"--he indicated the envel-
ope In his sleeve-'to next Chinaman. He
no 90. Spose you go with me- Hop II
you no makee nothing-allee same dam
fooleew
Il know; but you just take me there,
Dor
The young girl was irresistible. All Fe's
face relaxed IAN liteev' he said, with a
resigned smile.
"You wait here moment" said Cissy.
Frightening. She flew up the staircase.
In a few minutes she was back again.
She had exchanged her smart rose-sprlg-
ged chintz for a pathetic little blue check
frock of her school days; the fateful hat
had given way to a brown stray fiat"
bent like a frame around her charming
face All the girlshness-and, indeed, a
certain honest boyishness of her nature
seemed to have come out in her glowing,
freckled cheek, brilliant audacous eyes,
and the quick stride which brought her TO
All Fe's side.
Now let's 60" she said, "out the back
way and down the side streets" She
paused, cast glance though the drawing
room at the contemplative figure of the
sherlffs deputy on the veranda, and then
passed out of the house forever.
CTo Be Continued Next Weekly