Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1902-04-10

the foot of hill. where little stream
came spiashing down ion a miniature
cascade from the rocks above. Then
Grantham realized the meaning OF the
little mans action. Stretched out be-
side a rock was the tall figure Of man.
Like his companion, he presented
miserable appearance. His clothes. il
clothes they could be called, were in
rags. his hair was long and snowy
white. matching his beard, which de-
seconded 60 within a few inches OF his
waist His eyes were closed, and Tor
moment Grantham thought he was
dead. This was not the case. however,
for upon his companion approaching
him he held out his hand and inquired
whether he had discovered the man
who had fired the shot?
70 Grantham's surprise the other
made no reply in words, but, taking
his friends hand he made some mys-
FERROUS movements upon IL with ms
fingers. whcreupon the latter raised
himself TO a sitting position.
'My friend tells me that you are
an Englishman." he said, in voice
that shook with emotion. I'm glad
we have found you. heard your
rheshot and hailed you. We are in
sore distress. and have been through
such adventures and such misery as
no man would believe. | have poi
soned my foot, and am unable to
walk any further. As you can see
for yourself / am blind, while my
companion is dumb
This statement accounted for the
smaller mans curious behavior and
the Others closed eyes.
"You have suffered indeed said
Grantham. pityingly. But how did
II all come about?"
1--WE were traders. and we fell into
the hands OF the Chinese" the taller
man answered. with their usual
amiability they set 10 work TO tor
ture Us. NV companions tongue they
cut out at the roots, while as | have
said. they deprived me of my sight.
After that they turned ms loose to
20 where we would. We have wan
dercd here, there and everywhere,
living on what we could pick up, and
diving a thousand deaths every day.
Il would have been better IL we had
died outright-but somehow we've
come through. Can you take US TO
place where we can procure food?
We've been living on jungle fruit for
an eternity My foot wants looking
TO pretty badly, too
Wen do all we can for you said
Grantham. That's if we can get you
down to the ford. which is about five
miles away"
You'll have to carry me, then,
for I'm too far gone To walk"
81 think il can be managed" said
Grautham. AT any rate we'll try"
Turning 10 the little Shan he dis
patched him with message 10
! Handiman. and when the other had
! disappeared knelt down beside the
| tall man and set 10 work TO examine
/ his i'm mred foot. There could be no
doubt that il was in very serious
condition. Tramping through the
| Jungle he had managed 90 poison il,
and had been unable 10 apply the
necessary remedies. Obtaining some
water from the stream Grantham
bathed il tenderly, and then bound il
up as well az be could with his hand
| kcrchief.
That's the best l can do for you
for the present" he said. I'VE must
leave il as il is. and, when we get
you 60 the station, we will see what
else can be managed"
lie looked up and saw the little
mans eyes watched him intently
There was n look of almost dog-like
affection in them for his companion
that went TO the young soldiers
heart.
by Jove," he said, I'm sorry for
you fellows. You must have suffered
agonies. The Chinese are devils. But
yours is not the first case we have
heard Of. We only come up here for
a month at a time, but the man we
relieved told us a strange tale about
another poor beggar who came into
the station some two months ago
He had been wandering In the Jungle
and was nearly at deaths door"
The blind man gave a start, while
the little man seized his hand anC
| MADE nuHDtT OF lapiu movements
upon il with his fingers.
My friend wants TO know il you are
aware of that mans name?" he said
Eve lost a companion, and he think.
that he may be the man. For heav
ems sake tell us what you know
You have no idea what il means
TO us"
"Since you are so interested in him
am sorry TO have TO say that dc
not know very much. You see he hac
very little TO do with us. As | hav,
said, he turned up while our prede
ccssors were here. From what
heard about him from Gregory, hi
gathered that he was a tall, thin
man, who had come through from
Picking by way of Yunnan."
"Are you sure IL was from Yum
nan?"
That's what they told me-" sale
Grantham. "Since then have hearC
that he was on his way from Pekinl
to Burmah, and that his coolies haC