The Savannah morning news., 1901-07-14
will have to shut up shop and go out

tie less crowded, they halted curiously by
an open gateway. Within, across vast
paved court, rose a splendid mansion. A
terrace of pink stone flanked by massive
bronze urns and carved storks, led up
to the main entrance. The embattled
parapets, roof and gables were covered
with purple tiles, which lent a striking
and brilliant effect to the house.
4Who lives here?' Alec inquired.
"A Lord High somebody or other-I for
get his name Dan replied. They call it
the Purple Palace
Just then, through the parting ranks
of the people in the street, approached
two mounted men in purple liveries, close
ly followed by a carriage that was partly
of European make. 1t was closed in with
red curtains, which, as the vehicle passed
the two boys, were lifted sufficiently for
them to catch glimpse of a young girl,
whose delicate Oriental features were
crowned by a mass of dark fluffy hair,
ornamented with bodkns of green Jade.
She favored Dan with a smile and a nod
of recognition. then drew back into the
shadow.
who was that?" Alec exclaimed in sur
prise.
AS he spoke the sharp crack of pistol
was heard from opposite the lads, and in
The man who had fired was swallowed
hopelessly by the crowd. The carriage, 10
which a pair of fine horses were attach
ed, rolled on through the gateway, and
stopped with jerk. A dignified elderly
Chinaman, in a yellow jacket. his face
livid with rage, leapt to the ground.
Then half a dozen attendants sDrang
cut from the courtyard of the Purple Pal
ace, and, with cries of anger, unsheath-
ing their swords as they ran, they made
furiously at Alec and Dan, who had been
eft isolated by the sudden scattering OF
the bystanders. They had barely realiz-
ed their peril when the cold steel flashed
before their eyes.
Were the two brave boys, after emerg-
ing in triumph from the deadly perils of
the native city, to be cut down almost N
sight of the American Legation? They ex-
pected nothing else, as for an instant of
chilling horror they stared death in the
face. and then a single word shouted in
the Mandarin dialect, rang loudly and i'm
periously above the babel of savage, clam
oring voices.
Stop
The command came from the China
man in the yellow jacket, whose keen
glance had discovered the imminent dan
ger of the young foreigners. He spoke just
back. the glittering swords Kissed over
their heads, to be reluctantly lowered
and sheathed the next moment. There
was a hoarse murmur of disappointment
from the throng of spectators. The
palace servants, equally disappointed,
but not daring to disobey the word that
had thwarted their murderous intent, in
dictated with angry gestures the revolver
that Alec had thrust carelessly into his
"elt when he entered the Tartar City.
But their master, with unmistakable
meaning, first swept his arm toward the
crowd, and then pointed to bullet hole
in the sleeve of his jacket.
''There. that ought to satisfy you,"
Alec said. in the native tongue, to one
of the attendants. You are wrong, my
good fellows; 1 didn't fire that shot.
Will YOU tell me the name of your hon.
ored maSter?
His highness, Prince Lam" was the
sullen reply, given in English.
Yes, that's it, remember now" ex-
claimed Dan. He has lots of pluck to
expose himself like this. He makes a
splendid mark for second shot"
Some one else, apparently, thought the
same. The young girl suddenly showed
herself at the carriage window and call
ed entreatingly to the Prince. who at the
same ulOIueHb ScOuica " ACohAC Ihoe hO
was inviting disaster. With glance at
the crowd, which had begun to press for
ward again, he made a sign to his serv-
ants. Back they FASTENED to the court
yard, and in a trice the heavy gates had
changed shut.
THAT'S what I call cool treatment"
said Dan. Not even an apology"
The lads were left outside, confronted by
the mob of two or three hundred natives
that filed the street before the palace
They seemed mostly to belong to the low
er classes and they had been wrought
up to a dangerous pitch of excitement by
the recent stirring event. With black
scowls and threatening looks they regard
ed the young Americans.
"They mean trouble" muttered Dan.
Keep COOL" Alec whispered. Don't let
them see we're afraid"
Foreign devilsl" cried a man from the
rear.
The insulting epithet was taken up by
others, and a couple of stones were hurl-
ed though with poor aim. The situation
looked very serious.
SHOW them your revolver" urged Dan.
I've half a mind to pound on Prince
Lan's gate. Shall I?''
But just then a most fortunate diver
sion occurred. The distant blast of a ou-
gle heralded the approach of the foreign
troops, and at once the crowd. their feel
ings of hatred transformed into eager
childish curiosity, began TO melt rapidly
away in the direction of the sound.
The lads waited several minutes before
they followed at a slower pace, and they
had gone but a dozen yards from
the palace when Dan suddenly stopped
with an exclamation of surprise and pick
ed up an object at his feet IL was a
brass-mounted pistol. oddly engraved and
large of caliber for its size.
THAT has been dropped by the scoun-
drel who fired at Prince Lam" said Alec.
He dived into the crowd so quickly that
didn't get a glimpse Of him"
Dan was staring at the weapon. II
fancy I've seen this before he said,
slowly
"Where7
"on-on a certain person at the Amer
lean legation"
That's queer"
TITS more than queer. II I'm right,
but I may be mistaken" Dan put the
pistol in his pocket. Come on" he
added II want to see the guards march
past"
II don't understand that attempt 10
XIII Prince Lam" said Alec, as he has
tened with his companion towards the
legation quarter. "fve heard OF him be-
fore. and II strikes me he r. prom
inent member Of the government
Il know very little about tho Prince"
Dan replied. except that he used 20
belong 10 the Tsung IA famen' but