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

pointed to the despoiled rice-bowl be-
fore the idol in support Of his accusa-
tions. Gambok Smell shouted his
angry denials and shook his fist in the
face of his Mantchoo master.
As Cha Fong, with gesture ofrage,
turned from Mr.. Smell and was about
to leave the temple for the room in
which he had left Miss Arnold, I
cramped myself still more in my suf-
locating hidingplace and took good
aim at his breast, where, if he had
any, his heart was located.
Carefully sighting along the barrel,
I fired.
The report of the rife awoke thou
sand reverberations which tlundered
around the rocky cavern.
Cha Fong fell prone upon the floor
dead!
ii Mr.. Gambok Smell became panic
stricken. His face became lived. He
trembled and seemed to lose his head.
Mr.. Smell, perhaps, was brave
enough man in open warfare or in the
face of known and palpable danger,
but when idols dealt out death, and
the very walls of the temple rolled
with the reports of cannon, he was not
terrible as warrior. He turned and
fed.
This was not according to my plan.
I did not fear the result if Mr.. Smell
came back with reinforcements, but
he would do nothing of the kind. He
was on the run, and if he gained the
yacht and made off with it, Miss
Arnold and I would be no better of
than before.
have always entertained a hearty
contempt for an assassin. To shoot a
man in the back was, in my estima'
ton, cowardly thing to do. But it
was Smell or Crickmore, and I had no
choice.
Before the retreating figure got out
of my sight fred again.
Mr.. Smell shrieked with pain and
sank to the floor.
made hasty exit from my hiding
place and went to the side of Mr.. Smell.
As I stood over him, my rife still
grasped tightly in my hand, he rolled
his eyes up at me. He recognized
me, and with a howl of terror he
gasped and tainted.
If it had been to my advantage be.
fore to shoot Mr.. Smell, it was equally
to my advantage now to keep him
alive. I seriously questioned the re-
suit, if I, with Miss Arnold, should
attempt to board the yacht, and the
two priests of Su Foo fail to appear.
I had no means of giving orders to the
sailors, and as they we're no doubt
faithful adherents of Cha Fong, they
would unquestionably be inquisitive
enough to spoil things. 'Hence, Mr..
Smell, wounded, but alive and sub
missive to my will, was just then a
valuable adjunct to our escape.
I rushed to the bedroom, kicked
aside the rug that covered the trap
and pulled it up.
"You can come out now," I called
to Miss Arnold.
SIS it all right now?" she asked,
emerging from behind pile of silks.
care we safe?"
$50 far we are safe," replied. IT
have killed Cha Fong and wounded
Gambok Smell. I want to prevent his
dying. if I can, until we get away from
here"
"Gambok Smell" she exclaimed,
"Why, that is the name of the man
who threw you overheard"
eyes, and this is the man," I re.
piled.
"He is not a Chinaman, is he?"
she asked, shuddering.
mo. I don't know what he is.
But know what he will be if I don't
hurry up. He'll be dead man."
hurried back to the wounded Mr..
Smell, leaving Miss Arnold to follow
at will. She soon joined me, and I
was delighted at the GOODNESS and
courage with which she took hold and
helped me in my attentions to the un-
conscious man.
She had wits, she had tact, she had
a mind.
"By Jove!" I exclaimed, approx.
ingly, after we had succeeded in get
ting Mr.. Snell's eyes open in con-
sciousness again. "You would make
q capital nurse OF physician, or-er-
era physicians wife"
She smiled slightly and blushed.
I succeeded in getting Mr.. Smell
laid out on two or three rugs, and
piled him with restoratives. I was
not so very particular about the
gentleman's comfort, but I was eager
to get him where he would not bleed
to death.
With Miss Arnold's assistance ce I
stanched the blood from his wound
and bandagedit.
He lay for some time with his eyes
fastened upon me. In them there
were wonder, surprise and the fire of
hate.
Pretty soon his curiosity overcane
him. I heard his voice.
TO BE CONTINUED.