The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-18

nung. moved ana uttered u cry, anu at
once a man came to me-a Chinaman-
and gave me cup of tea. While l was
drinking the tea / was shaking off the
fun from my brain.
II found myself in a large chamber, or
hall without windows. Their absence, and
the dampness of the air, convinced me
that the place was underground AS soon
as was able to get on my feet and move
about, my attention was caught by huge
bowl of porcelain standing on bamboo
table in the centre OF the floor. i went
up to it. and found that 1t was full of wa
ter. At first | could see nothing more:
but after a while, as l peered down into
the depths of the bowl. saw goldfish wav-
ing to and fro in the darkness like NOV
ing flames.
Il must not forget to mention that while
l was under the influence OF the opium
some one had deprived me of the golden
fish which had served as the bait to catch
me. 1 never saw it again.
1T did not take me long to realize that
I was prisoner in this strange place. The
Chinaman who had brought me the tea,
and who continued to wait on me while I
remained there, could not speak even pid-
gin-Englsh. so that it was useless for me
to question him. l racked my brains to
find out why l had been brought there,
and 1 could only come to the conclusion
that 1 had been kidnapped for the sake
of the reward my father would have to
pay.
After a few hours the man who had
inveigled me, and whom I learned to call
Yen, entered the hall, together with half
dozen other Chinese. l received him
with very sour looks but TO my surprise,
instead of showing anger or contempt, he
appeared -as anxious to conciliate me as
he had been before / was in his power.
One of the Cinnamon with him could
speak little English, and through him
Yen gave me to understand that he wish
ed US to be friends. lie .ald me to ask for
anything 1 wished, and l should have 1t.
OF course, 1 wanted to be set free but that
was the one thing he would not hear of.
Il soon saw that Yen was the head of
the society, and that the others were his
followers. During the weeks that followd
they all treated me with the greatest
kindness-in fact, with Difference. They
came to and fro. sometimes together and
sometimes singly but I was never left
quite alone. Escape was out of the Ques-
ton.
Il was completely bewildered by this
treatment. Another thing that puzzled
me was sort of ceremony they made me
go through every now and then, to which
they seemed to attach great Importance.
One of the Cinnamon. usually Yen himself
IL present. would approach me with a lac
quered tray, on which1he had previously
placed knife and a piece OF wood COW
cred with paper handkerchief. l was
expected to put out my hand and take
hold of one or the other of these two
things, Of course without knowing which
If l happened to take hold of the knife.
every one seemed pleased, and one or the
other would take the knife from my hand
and go cut with it If chance led me to
select the stick they appeared disappoint-
ed. and put the tray away. 1 knew that
this singular ceremony must have some
meaning, and I used to feeel quite a pecu-
liar thrill go through me when the tray
was held out. and all their narrow. treach-
erous eyes were fixed on me.
"One day l ventured to question Yen
about what they meant to do with me. /
asked if my father had offered a ransom.
He told me. through the man who acted
as interpreter, that a ransom had been
offered, but that they did not mean to ac-
cept it. Yen wished me to remain with
of the others objected. noticed, in fact.
that l was no longer so popular as I had
been at arst- Several of the men had be-
gun to eye me with more malice than
friendship. One night woke up from
sleeep, and saw 2. s:5up at the other end
OF the hall disputiag in low tones and
making threatening gestures In my direc-
ton. j hastily closed my eyes, so that
them. From that moment literally went
In fear of my life. 1t was to Yen. | have
no doubt, that owed my safety But for
his influence my throat would have been
slit.
Fortunately the term OF my lmprison-
ment was nearly over. The end came very
suddenly. One day when there was no one
in the hall except the Chinaman who acted
as my guard and attendant, a knock came
at the door. My companion opened It, and
saw on the threshold a young boy. who
handed him a scrap of paper and instantly
darted OFF. The Chinaman glanced at the
paper, uttered cry, and as he threw il
away from him turned around and gave
me glance, as though he were asking
himself what he should do with me. For
tunately his fears oyerpowered every
other consideration, and with a gesture of
despair he fed out after the messenger.
i was free. / had already risen to NV
feet, prepared to resist any attempt on the
part of my jailer. l now walked to the
door, stopping on the way to pick I'D the
piece of paper which had SO terrified him.
That is it,
Gilohrist waved his hand toward the
drawing of the goldfish. and stopped.
You escaped. them
81 escaped. No doubt the society which
had held me captive had received warn
Ing that their den had been discovered by
the Government. That. at least. is my |
of the affair. The proprie-
tor of the fiower-shop disappeared at the |
same time
He belonged to the secret society,"" the |
professor put in tentatively. Did you as
certain its name?"
II heard that the Chinese Government |
lad been taking active measures against |
4 body described as the Guild Of the Ce- |
estial Carp. / concluded that those were |
my friends and that the goldfish was |
heir emblem; but why they should have |
gone to so much trouble to kidnap me,
md why they treated me as they did, |
ave never understood TO this day
The professor smiled. Il am afraid you
IRE not an anthropologist-that is why.
You have inherited your fathers indif-
erence to the habits and modes OF
bought of the race among which you
ound yourself. To me the explanation
If your adventure lies on the surface"
What is your theoryT'
Simply this: you were a mascot"
"A mascot?"
Gilchrist's face betrayed the most in
ense astonishment.
..ya, uSlo c,,i.1 Of he |