The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-10-04

we nave plunSeu uafe Ill eno
Every soon," I replied. "We are
nearing the end of them now" Then,
turning again to the Chinaman, said:
"Look here! I know you, and you
will do we'll to obey me-"
He shook his head to indicate that
he did not understand me.
I jabbed the point of my sword into
his arm. II am the doctor who swal.
lowed your lies in San Francisco. Do
you remember?"
Again he shook his head.
And again he received my compli-
ments at the end of my sword.
'"You spoke good enough English
then; you would better speak it now,
or I'll kill you"
He yelled with pain.
"Ah, you have a tongue, of least.
Well, your name is-or was-Sid Kee,
and you left Vancouver on the Ketoto.
Eh?"
"No. Ne no Sid Kee. Me no be
Vancouver, me no leave It."
"Aha! can tell that gentle voice.
But never mind Vancouver now. Tell
me where are the keys of the dun
geons under the north tower"
"No. Me no hab keys"
"You are liar" yelled Langston,
strong again in his wrath. He
grasped Sid Kee by the throat, and
nearly choked the life out of him.
'sNow tell me where they are."
"Less, Less" squealed Sid Kee,
gasping for breath. "No kill! Me
glood Chinaman. No did harm to
anybody"
"My experience hasn't proved it.,
but never mind that. Hurry up with
those keys" ordered Langston.
"Kleys lunder table in glubnor's
room. Me see um there"
"And where is the Governors
room?" growled Langston. turning to
me.
ct suppose he means gorgeous af-
fair in the south tower" I said. ''We
use it for sitting-room, but I never
saw any keys then"
"Lunder table, lunder table, "
howled Sid Kee, as Langston made as
if to choke him again.
"Well, let's 50 and search there.
We may have overlooked them," I
said. "Garu-Saak, keep this fellow
here until we return. Have all the
other prisoners returned to their
cells"
Langston, Captain Harwood and I
sped to the south tower and went into
what Sid Kee had been pleased to term
the Governors room. Miss Arnold
and Mr.. Avery were there, sitting 81
lently, waiting to hear what had taken
place. I hurriedly introduced Lang
ston and Captain Harwood, aud began
looking for the keys. I found them
where Sid Kee said they were-under
table, near the window, upon which
were piled sundry pipes and other
items of comfort to Chinamsn.
There was no time to talk much.
We said very little. When I held up
the keys, Langston started for the
door.
"Now for the dungeon, quick" he
said.
We rushed back to the north tower,
and down into the stone vault. There
were three keys in the bunch, one for
each door there. One door was open.
There were two to try. I tried the
the nearest one first. The first key I
placed in the lock failed to open it.
The second turned back the bolt, and
we pushed open the heavy door. The
dungeon was dark. We swung Ian
tern in there, and found it to be
empty.
went to the other door and with
nervous fingers fitted a key in the
lock. Every second seemed an age.
The bolt plunged back in its socket,
and with lantern held before US, we
ell three crowded into the cell.
The figure of man lay on the stone
floor. I knelt beside him. It was
Ralston, and he breathed, but slowly
and family.
"Oh, heaven help us nowl Is he
alive, Crickmore?"
eyes," Ireplied. "He is alive, and
that is all. He won't be in an hour.
unless we work miracle. We must
get him out of here into the pure air
and get him back to consciousness.
He is starving to death"
Tenderly we lifted the emaciated
form, and carefully, but with as much
speed as possible, carried him out.
1t was no easy task to get out of the
vault with our burden, but we accom-
plished it. The regular tramp of our
feet as we crossed the stone corridor
sounded like funeral march.
Miss Arnold and Mr.. Avery came
to meet US.
"Do you want anythins?" asked
Miss Arnold.
Eyes. Order some Cruel made at
once. Mr.. Avery, you know that
case of drugs I made in the Sacred
Forest? 1t is in my bedroom. Will
you get it?"
Indeed will," said the old man,
as he started of.
Miss Arnold was out of sight. She
did not stop TO ask questions. She
was woman for an emergency.
/ called two Jumars.
"Here," I said, rub his body with
this"
We went at it with will. We
worked an hour. At times it seemed
hopeless, but as long as Ralston con-
tinued to breathe, 80 long was I de-
termined to try to save him.
At last q sigh escaped him. He
shuddered from head to foot, and
IL