Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-09-04
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helped old Shadbelly considerably on
the way toward salvation. But he was
right about one thing, Miss TriXit. The
house is in the hands of the law. I'm
representing it rs deputy sheriff-meb-
be you might remember me-Jake
Poole-when your father was address
in the last citizens meetin, sitti
next to him on the platform. I'm
possession. 1t isn't n job I'm hankeril
much AFTER I'd as lief rather hunt hos
thieves or track down road agents than
this kind of fancy. underhand work. So
you'll excuse me. miss, If l amt got
the style"
He paused, rubbed his chin thought
fully and then said slowly and with
great deliberation: "Ef there's any lit
tie thing here, miss-any keepsakes or
such triiles rs you keer for in partick-
Ter, things you wouldn't like strangers
to have-you just make little pile of
'em nno .lrop 'em down somewhere
outside the back door. There amt no
inventory taken or sealin up of any
thing done just yet, though have to
see there amt anything disturbed. But
| kalkilate to walk out on that veranda
for a spell and look at the landscape"
He paused again and said with sigh
of satisfaction: ITS a mighty pooty
view out thar 1t just takes me every
time
AS he turned and walked out through
the French window Cissy did not for n
moment comprehend him; then, strange
ly enough, his act of rude courtesy for
the first time awakened her to the full
sense Of the situation. This house
her fathers house-was no longer hers!
If her father should never return, she
wanted nothing from it-nothing. She
gripped her beating heart with the lit
tie hand she had clinched so valiantly
a moment ago. Suddenly her hand
dropped. Some one had glided noise
lessly into the back room, a figure in a
blue blouse-a Chinaman, their house
servant. All Fe. He cast a furtive
glance at the stranger on the veranda
and then beckoned to her stealthily.
She came toward him wonderingly,
when he suddenly whipped a note from
ment slipped it into her fingers. She
tore 1t open. A single glance showed
her small key inclosed in line of
her fathers handwriting. 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 1t to the bearer"
| There was neither signature nor ad,
dress.
Putting her finger to her lip, she cast
n quick glance ut the absorbed figure
on the veranda and stepped before the
desk. She fitted the key to the drawer
and opened it rapidly, but noiselessly
| There lay the envelope and. among 9th.
er ticketed papers, a small roll of green.
backs, such as her father often kept
there. 1t was his money. She did not
scruple to take it with the envelope
Handing the latter to the Chinaman,
who made it instantly disappear up his
sleeve like a conjurer's act. she signed
him to follow her into the hall.
"Who gave you that note, All Fe?'
she whispered brcathlessly.
"Chinaman."
"Who gave it to him?"
"Chinaman."
"And to him?"
'Nollee Chinaman."
"Another Chinaman?"
Eyes, heap Chinaman. Alice same as
gang"
you mean it passed from one China
mans hand to another"
"Allee same
"Why didn't the first Chinaman VIII,
got it bring 1t here?'
"S'pose Melikan man want to catche,
lettel. He spotty Chinaman. He folle,
Chinaman. Chinaman passec lettel mex
Chinaman. He no get. Melikan maj
no hab got. Sabe:"
''rhen this package will go back til,
same way?'
"Allee same"
"And who will you give it to now?"
"Allee same man blingee me lettel
Hop Lii, who makee washee."
An idea here struck Cissy which
made her heart jump and her cheek.
flame. All Fe gazed at her with an in
fantile smile of admiration.
How far did that letter Gomez" sh,
asked with eager, questioning eyes.
"Lettee me see him." said All Fe.
Cssy handed him the missive. II,
examined closely some half a doze1
Chinese characters that were scrawlet
along the length of the outer fold ant
which she had innocently supposed
were part of the markings of the ric'
paper on which the note was written.
Heap Chnaman vclly much Wake,
-longee way! S'pose you look" II,
pointed through the open front door t,
the prospect beyond. 1t was famil
lar one to Cissy-the long canada, TIN
crest on crest of serried pines and be
yond the dim snow line. All Fee
brown finger seemed to linger there
''ln the SNOW" she whispered. he
check Whitening like that dim line, bu
her eyes sparkling like the sunshin,
over it.
".lllee same. John" said All Fe plain
lively.
"Ah Fe," whispered Cissy, take m,
with you to Hop Ii"
mo good" said All Fe stoidly "Hol
Ii, lie givee this"-he indicated the ell
velope in his slceve-''to next China
man. He no go. S'posc you go will
me. Hop Ii You no makee nothing
Alice same heap foolee!"
81 know. but you just take me there
Dol"
The young girl was irresistible. AL
Fe's face relaxed "All litee" he said
with resigned smile.
You wall here Il moment" said Cts
sy, Frightening. She flew up the stair
case. In q few minutes she was bach
again. She had exchanged her smar
rose sprigged chintz for II pathetic lit
tie blue check frock of her school days
The fateful hat had given way to ;
brown straw fiat" bent like frame
around her charming face All til,
grlishness. and, indeed. a certain hon
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