Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1902-12-18

move the panel, but at last it came up.
found an opening in the floor about
three feet square. There were some
steps leading downward
/ uttered shout of JOY and called
Miss Arnold. She came running
toward me.
IT have found something" / said,
'but whether it is cellar or a store.
house, / can't tell. [ an going
down"
I descended the steps.
The place in which + now found
myself was but dim'y lighted. There
had been no attempt at ornamental
ton; it was simply huge cavern in
the rock This cavern was strewn
With various kinds of material, look.
ing like packages taken from wrecks
or, perhaps, stolen along the coast.
Roll upon roll of the finest silk and
linen was piled up on one side. Case.
of the choicest pottery stood I'm.
packed, many of the delicate pieces
| broken. Other things were there in
plenty, but I did not take time to ex-
anime them. J. found two things.
. One would OF itself have repaid me
! for the search, for it was what | had
come after. [ found liquors, wines
and cordials, in bottles and casks.
! But the other discovery meant Inuch
more to me than the liquor. 1t meant,
/ perhaps, rescue-iife. 1t was large
cabinet, in which were various
weapons of war and OF the chase.
Guns, pistols, knives were packet
away in good order This was, NJ
/ doubt, Cha Fong's armory.
Miss Arnolds astonishment was 80
great that i laughed at her wide
opened eyes when she saw me emerge
from the hole in the floor, carrying Il
bottle of wine, II Martini Henry ride,
IN English navy revolver, long
hunting-knifc and bag of car.
trdgcs.
81 AN well fixed, you see," / said,
aughiug, as | deposited my spolIs on
the floor.
"Now, thea" l said. 81 an going
70 get ready to meet Mr.. Cha Fon:,
Do you know what tim. he intends -
veturn:'
Not accurately. But lie expected
70 be back tonight, for he said, whan
he Gu. the. cords that bound me hslp,
tess: Now you can walk, but you
cannot escape from here. You will
be ny bride tonight "
"Ah, exactly! Now what kind OF a
bridesmaid do you think this will
Makc:" | asked, carcssing the rifle.
Il would turn it against myself, If /
.hought you could not conquer . she
said. Il am not afraid to die ="
"Wcll, J doubt if there is Su Foo
wedding here tonight / said grim
V. And as for killing yourself, don't
iui4k OF it, At any rate, don't do 1t
till am dead and III! hope is lost.
When we get ready for business, you
take the pistol, which | will load tor
YOU, aud 80 down into that chamber
under the floor. ] will replace the
rug so 40 one can tell it had been
moved. Then | shall get inside OF
that idol in the temple, and await de.
yelopments. Whatever seems best to
10 [ shall do. If, after long enough
time. [ DO not come and let you out,
by Il great effort you eau push up that
,rap door. If Cha Fong is still mas
ter OF the situation, you must try 20
shoot him. If you don't succeed II
that t-why-----'
Il understand" she said, il low
voice.
/ loaded the pistol which was five
bavreled, of large ca!iber, and also tn:
rifle, which was repeater.
Miss Arnold sat aud watched me III
silence. Now and then a tear would
show itself in her eye, but she brlshc i
it away. She WAS trying to be brave.
poor girl, with horrors before her OF
which she could only imagine the ex-
tent.
/ had not told her why | had
left America. We had had but little
time for talking; and when explained
u.y presence i'll the island l. began my
story from the accident on board tho
City OF Rio de Jauiero. SO when
had loaded the firearms I told her the
| story Of Annie Ralston. She listened
eagerly with clasped hands and pale
face.
''Sha is my sister in misfortune,
she said when ] had finished. "Ihe"e
is no doubt that Annie RaIston Is the
/ victim of another Cha Fong--or per
haps the same. know that the Su
Foo has agents in al! parts of tbs
world, to choose and obtain the most
beautiful girls for sacrifices to the
IDOL. "
"Nu SO much to the idol as to his
worshipers, L fancy" ] said. MY
own impression is that the sacifice Il
tue idol is nothing more than plar
to get rid of their victims. II done
under the cover of religious fanatic
ism it would 10 doubt be more diff
cult to obtain proof OF the actual muir
derers or the cooperation of the Gov
eminent i'll bringing about their pun
ishment.'
Perhaps so, she said simply.
"If my friends, Rn,ston and L.ngs
ion, have succeeded in getting on land
they probably met the Ketoto Mt Shang
hai or will meet her to-day, in whic!
case Annie is safe. We have ONLY
ourselves to think of--and that Seem
to be about enough just now. w
had better eat some Of that idol''
rice" I said after Il pause. "Iou1
prospective husband aud eXecutionei
may drop i'll any minute, and va wan
to be ready for him. ] am hungry
and hungry man is not a goo(
tighter. In that respect he is diiferen
4 1 Y, y