The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-02-13

Ltes l was filled with conjecture as to
what would happen next. Kung's
chair was vacant, but ready to receive
him, and presently he appeared in COM
pany with Koon-Si and another. He
greeted me with smile, which have
n dim recollection Of returning with
stolid stare signifying nothing. Koon-
81 grnned as usual. The other China
man, who wore a rich silk robe. kept
IN impasSlve face.
From Kung and the carpenter my
glance went to this individual and
there rested. For there was something
horribly familiar about his face, and
cudgeled my brains as had not done
for weeks. But whether my sight had
grown dim or my intelligence dull
know not; this l know, a mist seemed
to rise between me and this man
through which vainly strovc to see.
"Behold our visitors" said Kung.
"As l have said, l know not their
names, but perhaps my brother has
met them before?
The stranger came close to me and
pcered into my face, and drew back
with shudder. 1t was the yellow
man with the strange eyes, Wouching,
"You Sec" sad he turning to kuns
md speaking In English, "he recog.
nizes me. Well met, Mr. Kingston"
"Kingston" cried Kung, bounding to
his feet.
"Aye, Mr.. Dnvie Kingston. son OF
Captain Kingston, who sailed away
with the writing Of Kune. This other
&c his uncle, Mr.. Dayic. This is an IN
expected pleasure, gentlemen. Be
leve me, after the adroit manner in
which you Outwittcd me in London l
had no hopes Of meeting you on the is.
land of Ching-hi. At later period. If
you have time, should like you to tell
me how you did 1t. for, believe me,
your getting away was a severe blow
to our prestige. We believed that we
need only play with you until we wish
ed to strike. In your England one has
to be extremely circumspect. Here it
Is different 1t was good of you to
come for it relieves me of a great anX-
iety, as | shall now be able to devote
myself to the pursuit of peace. Cen
tlemen, give you welcome to China"
could only look at him with burn
ing, wondering eyes, my brain with
confused motion hurriedly rctracing
the past, but Jim spoke, and despite
the treatment to which he had been
subjected his voice was clear and firm.
"Why do you talky' he said. Eve
recognize that the game Is up. We
played the fool and must pay for Our
folly. We were not afraid TO come
hither We are not afraid to go hence
"Bravely spoken" answered Woo
ching. 1T is incxpressihly pleasing TO
Know that our guests are men Of such
undaunted courage. would l had met
you earlier"
at Is not my fault" said Jim. II
have searched long enough for you, hut
your courage was only equal TO muir
dering women and old men,
Woochlng smiled lie was not an-
gry. Why should he be? lie could not
have hoped TO succeed SO easily.
81 think you wrong me somewhat
and do not rightly consider all the cir.
cumstanccs. Why are you hclef You
do not answer will tell you. To
kill Kung and me. Why? Because,
through our agency, your sister and
her husband met their death. 1t is
very natural l have no fault to find.
But consider my case. My father was
betrayed to death. and | pursued the
betrayer. What is natural in one i'll
stance cannot he unnatural in anoth-
er."
The caImness of this man, the calm
ness of them all. was amazing. 1t was
very odd to think that this individual
IN the silk robe, who conlesccnded to
argue 80 politely with his enemy. was
the man with the strange eyes who
had walked up our garden path that
awful day at Windsor who had filled
my life with a terror which will al.
ways be q part OF me. WooChing. the
implacable yellow man, the subject or
80 many fears, so many dreams.
could scarcely realize, though standing
face to face with him. that this polite
little gentleman was the ticnd who had
wrought such horror to me and mine.
I was like one caIfoundca, amazed,
md. strange as II may seem, his dread
full presence now awakened in me
feeling more of curiosity than OF ter
FOR, even though knew that death
out of his eyes was staring me in thu
face.
As Jim did not answer Woochin:
turned to KunS with a smile An
still it was impossible to realize thai
these two men. so quiet SO polite
welded such awful power. The i'm
massive Kung. with the thin. curlin.
lips, the meaning smile. Was 1t posi-
bic that this could be the man wh'
willed a crime in China nnI hal II exc
cuted in q countrv town In England
There was no sign Of power. nothing
impress one. as 1t were. AMI vet u
grin was as sure rs death itself.
81 fear our Illus gous guests ron
the force OF my . nrnt." Sn'i
ching. "WeIl. II Is Hn exec 80 T.
to have n good J"Ig"etan '."". NJ
hope It will ana .jtrr, 10 N...t
sophically sn"u e ne sg9H' .*
The ,ocip,y Of, ia -...in.f. D.
lie went larh tu lrs .,E..