Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-12-20

The mark upon hts forehead tDds that OF
the Society of the Hidden Meaning"
writing which was scrawled across the
sheet 1t simply said, "Yorr fathers
friends are watching over you" There
was no signature, no other word. but
In the left hand corner, drawn with a
vermillon pencil, the color of which |
had learned so to fear and TO detest.
was the fateful elliptIcal sign of the
Hidden Meaning.
III had only known OF this sooner"
l said as 1 handed it back to her, 1--WE
might both have been spared so much.
at least we should have laid our hands
on the sssailant Now. unless he Is the
most reckless man In the world. he has
surely given US the slip"
Howl What do you mean? My as
sailant was a black man. have been
assured that there is no such person on
board"
Your assailant may have been black
for the occasion only. Unknown 60
you. unknown to me, there has been a
Chinaman In the cooks galley all
along. l only knew this the night of
the attempt upon your life. which re-
garded as one OF those brutal outrages
which mad. bad men sometimes com.
NIT How could I possibly guess you
were Miss Hilbury or connect you with
the society?"
Then this Chinaman. II IL be he. is
still on boardT" She grew white Mt the
mere thought OF his proximity. while
Mrs. Hilbury began visibly to tremble.
I'VE shall soon see. but IL he be what
suspect he viii have left us at Colon
bo."
"You will 60 and seer" she said.
AT once In Eve minutes will re
turn"
Without more ado l made my way TO
the main deck and then forward to the
galley. i peered In ut the door. but not
seeing any one at ell resembling a Chi.
naman | beckoned TO the chief cook.
You know who am, of course?'' 1
said.
"oh. yes. sir" and he smiled good
naturally. "A plucky thing. too, sir.
and no mistake"
Thanks" / replied. Bur can you
tell me where your Chinese scullery.
man isT'
IL wish l could. sir. But. TO tell you
the truth. ! haven't seen the varmini
since we left Colombo"
do you mean he is not on boardY
We'll, sir. II hunting high and low
and not finding him Is any proof /
should say decidedly he is not on
board"
you have searched
"Everywhere. sir The slit eyed ras.
cal went ashore at Colombo and evi.
IDENTIFY forgot TO come back"
Seeing the look OF intense disappoint.
ment In my face. his eyes quickened.
why. sir" he began. do you sus-
pect"-
well, yes, do-rather. But IT'S toe
late now to fuss. You might keep il 20
yourself"
Certainly. sir. 1 only wish I'd
known"
$50 do l."
do you know. sir. now you've come
to mention It. I've heard OF him prowl.
ing and prowling like an evn spirit.
and l know that Quartermaster lessor
found him late one night on the after
deck and kicked him forward and that
one Of the stewards while on night
duty caught him In one of the saloon
aleyways. Lost himself. he said II
all looks mighty queer. sir"
''It is l would have given $1,000 tc
have known of this before"
Sorry, SIR" said the cook, with Z
smile. you could have had the in
formation and the man himself fol
half the price"
gave the good fellow a present and
wendell my way aft to the ladies, tc
whom had such little consolation to
offer. Yet, meager as It was, the
thought that their enemy had quilted
the vessel seemed to cause them in
finite relief. They were not vengeful
They had no wish to cut, torture or
hang. Like myself at one period of my
existence, they longed for nothing but
peace, peace.