Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-01-16

| Society or the Hidden Meaning was Q
thing of the past. True, Kung had es
capped. but most of the other leaders
had been taken and summarily execut
ed. This, so thought and hoped
meant death blow to the organiza
tion. Presently ! was to be disagreed.
bly, surprised.
Il had returned to Shanghai from q
trip to the Philippines, and on the sec.
ond day of my arrival, about 10 in the
evening, as was going down to my
ship, cody sided up to me and slip
ped a paper into my hand. l guessed
instinctively what it meant l remem.
bered all too wildly the last time such
thing occurred. was rather glad of
the night.
However, drew near a lamp and
opened the missive. 1t was a square
sheet Of black paper, in the middle Of
which was the vermilion sign of the
society. So the snake had been only
scotched after all.
II turned round and discovered the
cody by my side.
"'WellY said.
".The master waits he answered.
my first impulse was to ignore this
command, make my way to the ship
and fortify myself. And then thought
of the man beside me and wondered
what his orders were. Acting quickly,
for sudden thought had come. put
out my hand to, seize him, but he
sprang back so sharply that was foil
ed In the attempt. Looking about me,
] thought ! saw two shadows farther
down the road.
II now realized that this was q seri-
Gus business, that the society, under
the indefatigable Kung, had been re-
constructed and that was suspected
knew, moreover. that to be suspected
was equivalent to condemnation. The
Society of the Hidden Meaning had a
short way with traitors real or imagi-
nary.
Again looked about me, and the
two shadows seemed to be nearer. The
cody still kept a respectful distance,
but he continued to repeat, varying the
repetition slightly: Come. follow me.
The master waits
"I WILL said l. but first must 60
to my ship
"The master cannot wait. he ne.
piled. The ship cam
1t Is imperative that should co.
ct is imperative that the master be
obeyed.'
81 cursed the master for all that he
was worth, but noting my hesitation,
the man grew holder.
"'You must come he said.
:" Tell the master that will see him
hanged firstp
His reply to this outburst was low
whistle, and out of the shadows glided
two forms. AS they approached the fell
low grew holder, and l saw the blade
of knife flash as he raised his hand.
With cry he sprang at me, mingling
with his curses the words death and
traitor
1.-THE attack was so sudden that
had only time to throw up my arms,
into one of which, as received his
charge, he buried his knife. That is
why my left hand hangs SO Imply now.
But with my right drew my revolver,
and as the other two men rushed upon
me l fired hastily, bringing one to the
ground. fired again and again, but in
my excitement missed the mark, and
the two men, muttering excited curses,
began warily to close In upon me,
when the sound of voices down the
road reached my ears. Immediately
cried aloud, Help! Helpp An answer
ing shout came back and clatter of
feet. Then. cursing bitterly, my two
assailants flung their knives at my
head and with bound disappeared
into the night. Luckily, four English
men making their way down to the
river had heard the firing and hurried
forward. Had 1t not been for their op.
perfume arrival. Kung would have had
the satisfaction of counting me among
his many victims.
From that day to this have never
known moments peace. The getting
away from Shanghai was but small
thing. Go where might, Kung's myr-
midons were at my heels. knew this,
and I had to guard against 1t, conse-
quently for years have not dared to
trust even my own shadow. soon
learned that the society was on my
track and that Wooching, the son of
Mang-wah, one of the council who had
persisted in the futile plot against the
throne, had been requisitioned by
Kung as the avenger of the society.
II knew Wooching slightly. He was
an exceedingly Intelligent and desper-
ate man, one who had lived some years
in Australia and as a consequence
spoke English with remarkable fiuen-
cy. For their purpose the society could
not have chosen a better sleuthhound,
for not alone did he bring an exceed
ingly clever brain to bear upon his
task, but he had likewise personal
grievance to avenge. With what cal
lous. cold blooded earnestness he has
pursued his work you know. It was he
who killed your mother. 1t was he
who, frustrated In his attempt on you,
slew your uncle's horses. 1t is he who
will kill me. He Is the man who will
kill you unless you kill him first. 1t Is
from him and his associates that 1
have been hiding these many years. 1t
was he whom you saw that day upon
the platform at Winchester. He will
pursue his course as surely as the sun
In heaven unless you intercept him.
Buoy yourself up with no false hopes.
l tell you there can be no peace for you
with him at large. Wooching must die.
You must kill Kung.
1T is unnecessary for me to enter In
to any further detail, but you must not
fancy that was always the arrant
coward you knew. pitiable condition
is the result of weary growth. Once
! never dreamed Of turning my back
10 the snemy, On $hs contrary. went