The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-09-15

then squeezed cautiously through and
let himself down to the narrow space
between the wall and the hedge of
thorn bushes. 1t was a dark night,
though the stars were shining over
head. A deep silence brooded over the
great bloodthirsty city. Dan closed the
block of stone and waited. minute
passed, and then a single sharp cry
was followed by the rapid patter of
footsteps. The noise soon faded from
hearing. and all became quiet again.
With thankful heart Dan CROPPED his
way back to the dimly lit chamber.
Old Nan Ho was crouching in far
corner, amumbling incoherently to her
self. She paid no heed to the lad, but
Loo-Lao came eagerly to his side.
rs it all right" she whispered.
Yes; so far so good" Dan replied.
Ping Tang has given the spy the slip
The girl sat down on a low stool, and
he stretched himself at her feet. "Prin-
cess, will the Emperor really help u.s."
he asked.
THAT depends" Loo-Lao answered.
with a sigh. He is sure to send his
dragon-soldiers if he gets my message
and can act of his own free will. His
Majesty Kuang Hsu has always been
my friend and my fathers and both
of them are we'll disposed to foreigners
and in favor of Western progress. But
the Empress Dowager would have the
country for the Chinese alone. My
father has much influence, and, hav-
ing made him a prisoner, both the
Boxers and the Empress Dowager
wishes to get a still stronger hold upon
him, so that they might bend MIN to
their will. 1t was for that reason,
think now, that they tried to take me,
also, first the Boxers and then the i'm
perial soldiers"
I'm that case" said Dan, your faith
er's life is safe"
Yes; they would not dare to kill
him." assented the girl. He must be
locked up in the Forbidden City"
You have made several things clear
that l did not understand before"
Dan went on. But tell me, Princess,
what about that ring?"
Loo-Lao blushed and averted her
eyes. 1T was given to me by the
Emperor himself" she answered, in a
low voice.
with his own hands?">
Yes; and he promised at the time
ii was but a few months ago-to grant
any request I might make in the flu
ture"
81 see." exclaimed Dan. And you
sent the ring to him tonight as a proof
and a reminder. I'm beginning to think
there's chance of our pulling through
this scrape, after ALL
IF the Son of Heaven can save us,
he will do it," declared the girl
A thoughtful silence fell between the
two.
There is something back of all this"
the lad shrewdly told himself "I
shouldn't wonder If the Emperor had
taken a fancy to a certain little Prin-
cess I know of, and had tackled the
first stage of the negotiations with
Prince Ian"
The personal affairs of Loo-Lao and
Kuane Hsu, and the pleasing sugges-
ton of an Oriental love romance, quick
ly slipped the young Americans mind,
and were succeeded by reflections of a
gloomy and depressing nature. The
next hour was the mcet trying, the
hardest to endure, of any that Dan
and the Princess had spent since they
came 10 share Nan Hos refuge.
IF the dragon soldiers do come"
asked the land. where will they take
us?"
The Son of Heaven will instruct
them wisely" was Loo-Loa's confident
answer.
The minutes dragged slowly by. each
one fraught with a little eternity OF
suspense, Old Nan Ho. half dazed with