The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-09-17

Aieht nave peen tWo-counting by IN,
! apprehension IL was a veritable eternity
but suddenly through the gloom ther,
came once more the creaking of hinges
ana this time two men entered the apart
ment, one OF whom bore a lamp. which
upon approaching. he held over me. Ths
other advancing, stopped and with q
khiie severed the bonds which held m,
feet.
Then. each seizing me under an arm.
was ifeted bodily TO my feet, but IL was
some time before ! could use them prom.
eriy. However. the circulation came
pack, slowly at first. then with n rush
ana during this process I suffered an
exquisite agony. But my guides, hav-
ing but scant sympathy for such a tri.
lilng matter seized me and somewhat
roughly hurried me from the chamber
gloomy passage some ~ or IA paces
In length was next traversed. and then
we all three stopped before a door upon
which one OF the men knocked
Almost instantly II was opened. and
1 was ushered into a chamber not les,
oreaiy than the one ! had Just vactted,
albeit that IL was bright with light.
looked about inquirinsiy. seeing moth
ing on three sides OF the room but the
bare stone walls: a fourth was hung
with heavy black curtains. Ny guides
swftly hurried me TO the wall facing
the curtains. and almost before I knew
what had happened felt a steel band
snap around my throat. / jerked my
mead quickly. but the SHARP teeth OF the
collar Immediately cut into the flesh
heard The short chain to which II was at
tached rattle. and realizing the awful SIT
uation ! stood stock still.
Then the men retired. extinguishing
the lights. and / was left ence more to
darkness and my own darker thoughts.
For a time 1 stood afraid to move, but
growing accustomed TO the situation, /
gradually began to move my head. test
ing the limit of the chain and the teeth
OF the collar. The one was very short.
the other very shap. II by any chance
my legs failed me. and felt dizzy and
weak enough for fainting. death by hang
ing In Its most horrible form too surely
awaited me. The torture was that ex-
quisite nature which is peculiarly Chi
nese 1t was the very refinement Of cru
city and thoroughly in keeping with the
traditions Of the yellow race.
Another long wait followed. and then
! once more heard the patter OF bare
feet on the tagged floor. Then all of
sudden voice cried out. and again
the lamps were lighted. and I saw be-
Tore me. seated on a chair. a Chinaman
'ingularB dark and shrewd Of feature,
who owned a pair OF eyes which gieam-
ID like living slits of fire. He must
nave been man considerably over go,
or his hair was something more than |
inged with gray and about his mouth. |
Which was very thin. and round his eyes |
here were wrinkles innumerable.
Though dressed as q common cooly. |
here was something unmistakably COM |
about the man. so that HIS oc- /
upation OF the chair while other stood |
round him seemed in nowise incon- /
'rouous. ] think that men who have |
'een accustomed to command insensfbly |
"A n hhYfaaa arxsaG rot, rt.
lege. so that in time they come to ft |
hem as second nature. That this cody
Vas one who had commanded men his
cry attitude proclaimed There was, |
Mess / erred greatly. a keen brain be-
Ind those deep set eyes. That square
NV and thin mouth proclaimed an In
omitable VIII and a callous nature
OF the men who surrounded him there
'ere three. and In spite OF his change Of
pparel, i Immediately recognized the one |
n the right Of the chair as our esteemed |
lend, Koon-si, the carpenter. AS his
yes met mine he smiled. out without
peaking. and I no longer doubted that
he cooly I'm the chair was no less a per- |
mage than the formidable Kung, and
gain and again my eyes went to him,
nd though at last stood face to face |
ith him under such dreadful conditions |
could hardly realize that this was the |
an who welded such awful power. who |
Id brought such destruction on me and
Inc. whose image had pursued me like
nightmare for so many years.
That We had boen betrayed was now
lf evident. but how came Koon-S 81. he |
HON my father had entreated us 10 Join |
be on the side of the enemy? That
was only n fool l could no longer
,ubt unless he was playing n deep game.
II L had misgiving as 10 the correct
aiding OF that smile. II Kung was the ,
ther OF the evil verify believed that
81 was his own son.
And so for some little time we watch |
each other in silence. Silence SEEM
popularity OF these people and
lder such conditions Il was really moth
< less than species OF torture render
singularly impressive. II gave one
me to think when thought was least
elcome. But eventually Kung waved |
$ hand, and one OF the attendants i'm
disappeared. Shortly after the
tier OF bare feet were heard. and pres !
lily two men. leading n third between
en- entered the chamber, and my heart | J
We n great thump. Was II Jim7
His head was cnveloped in n cloth OF !
me description, but as soon as nc | .
rs fastened In a collar like mine the | .
,th was removed. and I saw Jims face: ! /.
4. oh. so dreadfully pale and ema-
tied! He blinked at the light for little
lille. and then his gaze went slowly !
und the room. As his eyes met mine !,
: face frightened up. and he exclaimed :,
all the world as sincerely and earn :
ily as II we had been alive.
still alive, my boy Thank Godr' =
Why do you thank God7" said Kuuu | -
excellent English. for so the cooly !"
'upant OF the chair proved I'm very ~
Ith to be. What has he done for
~"
was very pertinent question and
: which IL was not easy To answer or
ldedly with any degree OF conviction.
Jim replied somewhat doggedly. "Be. m
Ise we are still alivei"
Truly that II something-a small mat n.
but something. Tell me 10 who 7 IA
indebted for the honor OF this visIts
" II u find your exalted exceilency sy
= condescending To honor with your
strtous presence my contemptible
de7"
Who are you that asks7' said Jim. 81,
am known by many names In rnanx | -.