The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-01-17

g So SO 81 SO So
II had returned to Shanghai from
trip to the Philippines. and OH the sec
Ond day Of my arrival, about 10 in tn
evening, as | was going down to IN!
ship, a cody sided up to me and slip
ped paper into my hand. guessed
instinctively what it meant. remem
bered all too wildly the last time sucl
a thing occurred. was rather glad OF
the night.
However, drew near a lamp nnt
p opened the missive. 1t was n 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.
Il turned round and discovered the
cody by my side.
"'WcllT said.
""Thc 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, l put
out my hand to seize him, but he
Eprang back so sharply that was foil
ed In the attempt. Looking about me.
thought I saw two shadows farther
down the road.
81 now realized that this was a seri-
ous business, that the society, under
the indefatigable Kung, had been re-
constructed and that l was suspected.
knew, moreover, that TO be suspected
was equivalent to condemnation. The
Society Of the Hidden Meaning had
short way with traitors real or lmagl.
nary.
again I looked about ME. and the
two shadows seemed to be nearer. The
cody still kept respectful distance,
but he continued to repeat, varying le
repetition slightly: Come, follow me.
The master waits
"I WILL said l. but first must 60
10 my ship
"'1he master cannot wait he re-
pliAd. The ship can
at Is imperative that should CO.
"'lt is imperative that the master be
obeyed.'
II 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 first"
Ills reply to this outburst was low
whistle, and out of the shadows glided
two forms. AS they approached the fell
low grew holder, and saw the blade
Of a knife flash rs he raised his hand.
With cry he sprang AT me, mingling
with his curses the words death and
traitor
'rhe attack was so sudden that I
had only time to throw up my arms.
into one of which, MS I 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 fired hastily. bringing one to the
ground. fired again and again, but in
my excitement missed the mark, and
the two men, muttcring excited curses.
began warily to close In upon me,
when the sound Of voices down the
rOad reached my ears. Immediately l
cried aloud. Help. Help! An answer
Ing shout came back and a clattcr Of
feet. Then cursing bitterly, my two
assallants flung their knives Mt my
head and with bound disappeared
into thc night. Luckily, four English
men making their way down to the
river had heard the firing and hurried
forward. Had it not been for their OPP
perfume arrival, kung would have had
the satisfaction of counting me among
his Sany victims.
"Frtm that day to this | have never
known a moments peace. The getting
away from Shanghai was but Il small
thing Go where l might, Kung's myr
midons were at my heels. | knew this. |
and had to guard against it. conse-
Qucntly 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 rcquisltoned by |
kung as the avenger Of the society.
II knew Wooching slightly. He was |
an exceedingly intelligent and dcspcr-
ate man. one who had lived some years |
IN Australia and as consequence
spoke English with remarkable fluen-
Cy. For their purpose the society could |
not have chosen better sleuthhound,
for not alone did he bring an exceed
ingly clever brain to bear upon his
task, but he had likewise personal
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