The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-18

0<totCtng me 10 coudpse upon TIE UooT.
led In once more. He was horribly pale
and emaciated. his blue eyes shining with
mad sort OF light, but when he saw me
glad look frightened up his face How
ever. he did not speak, and had moth
ing 10 say save such as would cause
Kung infinite satisfaction. But we an
derstood each other. Jim and l. We were
still alive.
He was quickly tied up to his old po-
sition against the wall. and then almost
Immediately after there entered through
the same door man bearing a burning
brazier This he deposited between Kung
and me and turned the iros with ma
ioious movement. / stared at the glow
ing Goals spellbound, horrifed wns the
wretch going To torture us7 I looked at
him. and he smiled. Without a doubt ha
read my thoughts.
Then long and painful silence fol-
lowed, broken only by an occasional low
crackle OF the fire. AS / have said the
horror OF these men was intensified by
the extraordinary silence they Invariably
maintained and by the secrecy OF their
movements But presently Kung spoke.
II presume you have seen the writing
OF Kung?" he said.
Seen IL! Heaven but II had come be-
tween me and my sleep for many yearsl
Now / was to feel II upon my forehead
1T IL written in many ways" he con-
tinued suavely. though we always use
the one design that OF our illustrious So
ciety, OF which l am the unworthy chief
If you have not seen It. you shall-and
feel II too. II is a mark we sometimes
place upon the disobedient, but oftener
upon the enemy. IL is a very Interesting
operation, l promise that you shall take
part In IT." He smiled again: he always
smiled with an easlness which I'm some
indehnable way proclaimed power. The
man knew, what he could do and seemed
content
Neither Jim nor I answered. and at our
obstinacy he smiled more darkly still.
while at the same time the corners OF
his mouth curled with unmistalxaple
scorn.
'Mr. Carter and Mr.. Gray" he said.
your names are strange TO me, but your
movements are not. You arrived from
Australia by the steamship Airlie and
took up your residence at the Hongkong
hotel From there you sought to find one
koon-Si. worthy carpenter who crossed
our path and Is No more. But being un-
able to discover his whereabouts, which
might puzzle much wiser men, you called
In the aid OF one All Yon, who quickly un-
earthed the illustrious Koon-Si Strange.
Is II not? And yet not strange All Yon,
like Koon-Si. is a member OF this society,
and you rendered II comparatively easy
for the one to play into the hands OF the
other. When you set out TO match your
selves against me, you were not thorough
ly equipped for the encounter"
For the fret time l was almost en-
sumed With rage as thought how easily
we hnc been trapped. OF course An
Yon was worthy to rank with the rest OF
his detestable race. but we had liked him
and had treated him with the utmost
Kindness and consideration Indeed had !
almost grown 20 fancy that he I'm turn had |
conceived something more than a passing |
interest I'm us. oh. these yellow men
they were horrible beyond ali imagining. |
"Ah Yon." continued KunR. has been |
an invaluable aid 10 our Organization but |
he has feelings. Those |
feelings have at last brought him under |
my displeasure. Weaknesses OF this de- |
scripuon must be checked"
He nodded. and some one ran 20 IN. |
door and called. and presently Yon en-. |
tered between two guards, prisoner |
like ourselves. His arms were bound mas ,
dress disarranged. and his face. especI- |
ally when he saw the brazier I'm the mid |
de or the foor, took unto Itself n look OF /
the most abject terror.
This man." said Kung worked well /
10 begin with. but he was not prour
against Kindness. and II IL our intention |
10 eradicate such contemplate weaK-
ness. Gratitude is n commendable quali-
~ and one with which we are much In /
but we hold that loyalty 90
he cause is the FIRST principle OF exist
snce. This man has not been loyal. ana /
N he must be punished"
In what has he offended7" asked Jim
We believe II II through 10 fault Of
,ls that you have been enabled 10 mage
,ur acquaintance under these most aus
)icious circumstances. II Is through no
auit OF his that the illustrious Roon-si
vas enabled TO carry out our wishes ~
= believed that on more than one occa-
ion he sought 90 warn you. That f. a
rhine for which he must be punished. We