The Weekly Tallahasseean., 1901-01-31

/ yellow skins and strange eye8.
"I turned to the man who had
brought this missive, who was stand
ing watching me from the stern of the
vessel. and. waving him to me. learned
from him the spot chosen for the as
signatiOn. Up to that moment | had
no knowledge of Kung's presence at
Tien-tsin. believing him to be still at
bis place in Fuchau. nor could the mes
senger offer an explanation or give me
the slightest information. Like all the
members Of the society. he spoke with
| the utmost reserve, a commendable
habit in community where each man
was spy upon the other.
However. late that night put in an
appearance at the appointed place and
was received by Kung and some score
Of the chief members Of the society. |
could not help wondering what busi-
ness had brought him so near the capi-
tai. though had known that the stout.
surly looking fellow on his right was
the governor of the imperial province
Of Pe-chi-li, l might have guessed that
something of the utmost importance
was in the air. AS it was, | knew that
1t was for no ordinary business had
been summoned.
Nor was it The plot, briefly ex-
plained, was the capture Of Peking. the
deposition Of the emperor and the set
ting up Of Chinese as against Mant-
choo dynasty. fairly gasped for breath
as this scheme was unfolded, foresee-
Ing certain failure in such a gigantic
undertaking. But this did not seem to
dtsconcert Kung and his friends. A
thousand men had been secretly armed.
The Tartar governor Of the capital was
one Of the revOlutionists. He would
open the gates; the rest was easy. The
imperial family were to be put to the
sword. wiped out root and branch-the
only way to prevent trouble with pre-
tenders in the future The popuIace.
once assured of the end Of the Mant-
chOO dynasty. would rally to the new
order of things.
"As kung deliberately unfOlded this
gigantic scheme. which from time TO
time was met with a 'wah' Of approval
from his listeners. | thought that he
addressed more Of his remarks to me
personally than | cared to receive.
Round and round the stOIid faces Of his
council wandered his piercing eyes. but
as l came within their radius they
seemed to fix and glitter into mine. |
tried hard to think that this was only
fancy, that he paid no more attention
to me than to others present, but my
instinct had not erred. Kung had ac-
cented some Of his remarks especially
for my benefit.
After he in no ambiguous language
had outlined the principal features of
this gigantic scheme some whispered
conversation took place between the
leaders. and to my gradually increas-
ing diSmay l saw that their looks were
constantly centering upon me. Then
after few preliminary remarks Kung
disclosed the part l was to play in the
conspiracy.
1.-The SUCCESS or failure OF their plans
ANS~~N NHOA OHC o(IIIUOC VI LOWdu, l10 |
taotai, or chief magistrate of the capi- |
tai, a vigilant guardian, an incorruDti- |
bic official. He had already been aD-
preached, the result of which was that |
the would be cOrrupter was now Ian |
gushing in prison. Therefore LOwan |
had to be suppressed. and. to make a |
very long story short. l had been chO- |
sen by the council as the instrument of |
its vengeance. So far. as Kuhg ex-
pIalned with rather miSchieYOGS curl !
ing of the mouth. thought. l lad not
been called upon to prove my loyalty to
the cause. Not that 1t was ever doubt
ed-this he explained quite READILY
but this was an undertaking wthch re-
Quired a clear brain and a firm! hand.
ana the council had done me the. honor
Of intrusting me with this most impOr
tant mission.
listened steadily enough. bit my
heart was black with rage. What a
state my folly had brought me TO. 1t
was one thing to give the cause my
moral support, another to go and COM
nit deliberate murder. But tie fat
had gone forth, and l knew that those
yellow devils would give me short
'hrift If eVinced the least sArn of
leSitancy. Therefore | at Onck Dro-
claimed nv willingness tn ohnv tho no.