The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-29

were only of the Three Brothers of the
Hatchet; and In the darkness he could see
with the eye OF the mind the face Of the
TAN Brother with the scar running from
eye to chin, and the Stout Brother with
wart on his cheek and the Small Brother,
who limped with his right leg. And the
three glOwered as they hOated before him
through the atmosphere of thought, and
threatened him with silent words as he
walked. So il was with alarm that came
almost to CONSERVATION that An Kim
found that his feet had brought him once
more to the doorway from which he had
seen the Three Brothers 20
with such mystery into
the vacant house; and he halted
as a man struck TO stone To his excited
vision the three faces peered menacingly
at him from every dark window, and told
him that even in the obscurity of the
doorway to which his feet had brought
him he was observed; yet he could not
fly from the danger. and watched the
house as the bird watches the snake.
He looked Intently for a sign of life
vel none was to be seen. No light glim-
mered from the windows. Men came by
i'm ones and twos. and he shrank back into
the shadow. Then, on a sudden, he saw
a figure glide along the walk across the
street, and disappear in the fatal door
way Now All Kim shook as with an
ague, and was alert for what might nap
pen
Was this the man for whom the Three
Brothers had laid their snare? No vic
tim would 20 so unsuspectingly to such
a house and alone. Yet curiosity was
strong upon him, and he wished that he
dared venture 20 the door and listen,
and perchance learn something of the
dreadful deeds of the Three Brothers OF
the Hatchet.
As he looked and listened and trem-
bled, two men came along the walk. He
was relieved to see that they were
white devils, and listened TO their talk
Il was sure that was the number
said one.
Now. that's quare." said the other;
and All kim was stricken with fear TO
see that this was one Of the white dev-
lis policemen-for he had been arrested
for the awful crime Of holding lottery
ticket, and had been kept thirty days in
iall Yet he was not too much in fear
to hear the policeman as he said That
house has been 90 rint liver since l came
ON this BATE
1T is not so strange" said the other
with a laugh, for houses are some times
rented
Now All Kim trembled again, for at
these words he knew the voice; and IL was
the voice Of the good doctor for whom he
worked who had stood by him when he
was in trouble, and had given back his
place after he had come from the Jail.
Il would keep out OF there If l was
you" said the policeman.
ITS an old servant who is hurt to death
and has sent for me- said the doctor,
and l couldn't refuse. A DOCTOR you
know. must go when he's called
well, that's the first Chinaman I liver
heard of aslIn' for a white doctor said
the policeman; and he bade the doctor
good night and went his way.
Now. All Kim wished to cry out for he
had found the man who was to pass the
door that hid the Three Brothers of the
Hatchet. Yet his voice refused to come
for he was in fear of the white policeman
And shaken with the double apprehension
for his employer and himself he did not
recover power of voice or movement until
the doctor had crossed the street and was
swallowed up in the dark doorway. Then
he fastened after him with a cry in his
throat, that was stilled when he saw the
door opened and a tail Chinese usher the
doctor within. He halted as the face of
the tall Chinese stamped itself on his
mind for 1t was a face of much evil, and
Il bore a scar that reached from eye 10
chin; and there was a malignant pleasure
under its polite air as the tail man re-
ceived the doctor and closed the door be-
hind him.
All Kim leaned against the post without
the door faint and shivering and put
forth all his strength 10 keep his teeth from
chatterng. He was in mortal terror lest
the sharp eye of the Tail Brother had
spied him and the shadow of death was
even now upon him. Two or three minutes
passed, and his heart steadied its fluttering
beats. Yet, instead of following his inn
pulse to fly. he crept closer to the door
and crouched in the corner. that he might
listen and think, and be out of the obser-
walton of any one who should come along
the street 1t was near the middle hour
of the night, yet belated wayfarers passed
now and then.
What idea was in his mind he could not
have said Gratitude he did not know. and
friends one does not have among the white
devils. Yet il was before him that he
ought to save the white doctor from his
doom, for he was a kind master, and ii is
not fit that one should see a man go thus
10 his death when one eats his bread. And
then there was curiosity-the eager wish
to know the work of the Three Brothers.
Thus All Kim crouched against the door
post and strained his ears to catch q sound
from the mysterious house. Yet listen as
he might, the only sounds that came to
him besides the smooth purring of the
distant cable that draws the white devils
street cars We're the loud beats of his
heart and the breathing that he tried to
re9ress.
AS he lay straining his ears at the door
it came to his mind that this was case
for the shrewd Wong Chez. and he started
10 rise and so and seek him. Then he
sank back, for he feared what might hap
pen while he should be away and that
Wong Chez might come too late What
ever was TO be done must be done by him
alone The notwithstanding fear that fof-
lowed this thought seemed to give him
strength that was not from himself He
rose laid off the Chinese shoes that he
wore, listened intently again. and then put
his hand cautiously on the door knob No
sound had come from the house while he
had lain there. and he felt assured that the
Three Brothers were elsewhere than in the
haH. 1t was his fear that the door was
locked, but to his surprise and relief it
yielded as he turned the knob and no sound
followed as inch by inch he opened it. He
drew his knife from his blouse and listen
ed again; then he slipped through the mar
row opening and closed the door without
sound
Tho la