The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-03-06
CHAPTER AK.

A TALE OF THE FLOWERY LAND
East and West faced one another de-
hantly. Jinfou, as soon as he was dis
covered whipped out a nasty. looking
knife of blush steel, and Teddy la d
his finger on the trigger of a very neat
little ''Webley' Mark 3. Since his for
mer meeting with Jinfou he had been
careful always to carry it in view Of
emergencies. And now the emergency
seemed to have arisen in manner and
place wholly unexpected-in the carriage
of an express train swinging towards
the capital at something like sixty miles
an hour. A most dramatic situation trl-
~, and a terrible one! But Teddy was
worthy the blood of his soldier father,
and never finched. For quite three min
utes the two men watched one another.
why don't you shoot" said Jinfou.
suddenly, and Teddy heard, with genuine
surprise the clear ring of his English.
However, the position was too h:gnIy
fraught with peril to admit of speculation
on that or any other side issue and the
boy still kept the barrel Of the revolver
pointed towards the Chinaman's yellow
face.
81 don't want to shoot" he replied,
eoolly, land won't if you'll just pat that
pig-Sticker on one side
Jinfou tossed the knife on to the
cushion beside him. There is no hurry
said he, with an evil look, this train
does not stop until it gets to Working,
and that's the best part of two hours
away"
Teddy sank back on the cushions, and
likewise laid down his weapon. He was
in one corner of the carriage. Jinfou OPP
posite to him at the other end. In the
silence which ensued. he remarked that
Jinfou was dressed very neatly in Eu-
ropean fashion, in q serge suit with
patent leather boots, high linen collar
and shirt. He wore long light riding
coat, and did not disdain a pair of bright
tan gloves. Quite Chinese dandy appar-
emily; and, in spite of his yellow face and
one eye. there was something eminently
refined about his appearance His pig
tail was coiled neatly on the top of his
head, and, as If to hide it, he put on his
hat again. The extremely sinister eX-
preston had vanished, and Jinfou was
for the time civilized, first-class pas
senger.
die you SHALL" said he, after a pause.
''but, as I have said, there is no hurry. -
He began to roll a cigarette in his lean
fingers. Teddy could have laughed at
the nonchafance of the man; but he felt
his position would not be ameliorated by
infuriating him.. Moreover brave boy
as he was, he had more than many a
boys common sense, and he began now
to wonder whether he could not talk
Jinfou into less offensive state of mind.
If he failed-well, he had every con-
fidence in the little weapon beside him
and his ability to use it. Then quietly
he began.
$50 you want to kill me, do you? i
suppose because I took your idol that
night?'
mot exactly on that account" re-
sponded the Chtnaman, politely. 'T rec
ognized you then as the boy who talked
nonsense to me on the pier of Flet-
mouth when Mr.. Jayne arrived. But you
went off before could recover my senses
completely. 1 must kill you. 1 must
have back that idol.
''Quite So / guessed that was it. But,
come now, as to my talking nonsense on
the pier, you must remember I did not
know you spoke our tongue SO agreeably
or 1 should not have played the fool. You
see, l am rather young" said Teddy,