The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1902-09-18

PART III.-CoSTINUED.


An hour later the stranger wRs so
Tar recovered as 10 bc able To join
his hosts AZ their evening meal. Re
Tween them they had managed Ia fit
him ont with somewhat composite
set Of garments. lie had shaved off
his beard. had reduced his hair to
something like order, aud IN cOusc-
luencc had now the outward rcsrm-
GLANCE at least Of gentleman.
Come. that's better said Greg
pry. ~ he welcomed him. ~ don't
know what your usual self may he
Ike, but you certainly have more the
appearance of a man, and less that
II a skeleton than when we hrAi
brought you In. You must have
Decn pretty hard put TO IL out yon-
icr."
The recollection of all he had been
through was so vivid that the man
shuddered AZ the mere thought Of
4.
Il wouldn't go through II again for
worlds he said. "You don't know
what I've endured"
Trading over the harder aione?''
jrcgu-y inquired.
The man shook his head.
"Tried TO walk across from Pc
king" he said, via SEcchuen and
Yuhnan. Nearly died OF dysentery Ia
Yunnan city. While | was there my
SERVANTS deserted me. taking with
them every halfpeuny possessed.
Being suspected by the mandarius. |
was thrown into prison. managed
eventually 10 escape. aud so made
my way on here. | thought to-day
was going to prove my last"
''fou have had hard time Of II.
by Joyc," said Dempsey; but you've
managed 10 come out Of II alive.
And now where are you going?"
II want, il possible, 90 get 20 Ran.
goon," the other replied. Then
shall ship for England as hest as I
can. I've had enough Of China To
last me lifetime"
From th&t Romvnt the stranger
did not refer again to his journey. lie |
was singulariy rcticent upon this |
point, and feeling that perhaps the |
recollection of all he had suffered |
might be painful to him, the two
men did not press him to unburden |
himself.
"Iie's a strange sort Of fellow"
said Gregory to Dempsey. later in
The evening, when the other had re-
tired to rest. eff he has walked FROM
Picking here, as be says, he's more
than little modest about Il. I'll be
bound his Is funny story II only be /
would condescend TO tell it."
They would have been more Ger.
tain than ever of this fact had they |
been able to see their guest at thaa
particular moment. In the solitude |
" his own room he had removed
broad leather belt from round his
waist. From the pocket OF this belt
ne shisok out upwards of q hundred |
-ubies and Eapphires of extraordi-
iary Eize. He counted them carefully,
them In his belt, and then
lnce more secured the latter about
his waist.
AT last ! am safe" he muttered
70 himself. "bnt u was q close
lhave--a very close shave. wouldn't
10 thst journey again for aIl the
money the stones are worth. No! not
or twice the Amount.~
Next morning George Bertram. as
ie called himself. left Nampoung for
shamo, with GrsRoFy's check for 500
'upees In his pocket.
"fou mrst take it, said that ipdl.
'idual In reply 20 the ether'a half
,~wrted refusal of fhe assistance. Il
Treat n ne . loan II yun like. rcu
On return II 10 n,e when you are In
,etter circumstances. / assure you
ve don't want IT. We can't spend
money out here Il
Little did he imagine when he made
hat offer. She immense wealth which I
he other carried In the halt hist en-
srrled his waist. Needless 10 sov, II
iswie said nothing 20 him usnn the
uhieei- Hs msreiy paekeaea she
heck with an expression Of hIs graf
Iades prumisipg 10 repay II an snoas
. he reached London. Az i matter
4 fact be did 50. Hnd 10 this day. /
ave no doubt. Gregory regards him
\ man ~ the uiost snrrpalcas ana:
nassiai integFisx II
Two days later ths waadsrsr
cached Bhama. that Iuparssnt mili.
aSy post or fhs sluggish Jrrnwafsdy, ,
III nispeAraness shsnls ID Grkegry' d | /