Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-12-25
Gambok Shell as against the lives Of
Grace Arnold and myself,

fate was plain. My own would be
death; hers worse than death. I did
not know the extent of Cha Fong's &C.
complishments in the way of crime. J
did know that Gambok Smell was, so
far as his knowledge and Intentions
went, q cold .blooded murderer.
had no doubt that both these emf.
nent gentlemen would regard the sec.
ond effort to kill me mere pleasantly.
Existence had, as [ have stated be-
fore, always been very sweet to me;
and since my mishap at the hands Of
Gambok Smell, resulting in the sud.
den acquaintance and friendship Of
the beautiful English girl, whom 1 was
now called upon to rescue, existence
had become sweeter than ever to me.
My love of life and my resolve
to save Grace Arnold had be-.
come now my motive to act; and, as l
said, it was the lives of Cha Fong and
Gambok Smell as against the lives Of
Miss Arnold and myself.
The argument of my two enemies
waxed hotter and louder. Cha Fong
pointed to the despoiled rice-bowl be.
fore the idol in support of his accusa-
tions. Gambok Smell shouted his
angry denials and shook his fist in the
face of his Mantchoo master.
AS Cha Fong, with gesture of rage,
turned from Mr.. Smell and was about
to leave the temple for the room in
which he had left Miss Arnold, l
cramped myself still more in my suf-
locating hidingplace and took good
aim at his breast, where. if he had
any, his heart was located.
Carefully sighting along the barrel,
1 fired.
The report of the rifle awoke thou
sand reverberations which thundered
around the rocky cavern.
Cha Fong fell prone upon the floor
dead!
Mr.. Gambok Smell became panic.
stricken. His face became lived. He
trembled and seemed to lose his head.
Mr.. Smell, perhaps, was a brave
enough man in open warfare or in the
face of known and palpable danger,
but when idols dealt out death, and
the very walls of the temple rolled
with the reports of cannon, he was not
terrible as Il warrior. He turned and
fled.
This was not according to my plan.
n did not fear the result if Mr.. Smell
came back with reinforcements, but
he would do nothing of the kind. He
was on the run, and if he gained the
yacht and made Off with it, Miss
Arnold and I would be no better of
than before.
1 have always entertained hearty
contempt for an assassin. To shoot
man in the back was, in my estima.
tion, a cowardly thing to do. But it
was Smell or Crickmore, and l had no
choice.
Before the retreating figure got out
of my sight fired again.
Mr.. Smell shrieked with pain aud
sank to the floor.
made hasty exit from my hiding
place and went to the side of Mr. Smell.
AS stood over him, my rifle still
grasped tightly in my hand, he rolled
his eyes up at me. He recognized
me, and with howl of terror he
gasped and tainted.
If it had been to my advantage be-
fore to shoot Mr.. Smell, it was equally
to my advantage now to keep him
aliye. [ seriously questioned the re-
suit, if I, with Miss Arnold, should
attempt to board the yacht, aud the
two priests of Su Foo fail to appear
| had no means of giving orders to the
sailors, and as they were no doubt
faithful adherents of Cha Fong, they
would unquestionably be inquisitive
enough to spoil things. Hence, Mr..
Smell, wounded. but alive and sub
missive to my will, was just then
valuable adjunct to our escape.
[ rushed to the bedroom, kicked
aside the rug that covered the trap
and pulled it up.
"You can come out now," l called
to Miss Arnold.
'Is il all right now?" she asked,
emerging from behind pile of silks.
"Are we safe?"
. $50 far we are safe, - replied. II
have killed Cha Fong and wounded
Gambok Smell. 1 want to prevent his
dying. if can, until we get away from
here"
"Gambok Snellw she exclaimed.
"Why, that is the name of the man
who threw you overheard"
Eyes, and this is the man." I re-
piled.
"He is not Chinaman, is he?"
she asked, shuddering.
"No. / don't know what he is.
But I know what lie will be if l don't
hurry up. He'll be dead man"
/ hurried back to the wounded Mr..
Smell, leaving Miss Arnold to follow
at will. She soon joined me, and 1
was delighted at the coolness and
courage with which she took hold and
helped me in my attentions to the un-
conscious man.
She had wits, she had tact, she had
q mind.
"By JoveI' I exclaimed. approx
ingly, after we had succeeded in get
ting Mr.. SHELLS eyes open in con-
sciousness again. "You would make
a capital nurse or physician, or-er-
era physicians wife"
She smiled slightly and blushed.
I succeeded in getting Mr.. Smell
laid out on two or three rugs, and
piled him with restoratives. was
not so very particular about the
gentleman s comfort, but I was eager
to ,,et hin, whera he would not bleed