Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-01-10

oNiLhy ule 10 the wall facing
the curtains, and almost before l
knew what had happened felt steel
band snap around my throat. | jerked
my head quickly, but the sharp teeth
OF the collar Immediately cut into the
flesh. | heard the short chain to which
1t was attached rattle, and realizing
the awful situation stood stock sill
Then the men retired, extinguishing
the lights, and l was left once more to
darkness and my own darker thoughts.
For time | 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 sharp. If by any chance
my legs failed me, and felt dizzy and
weak enough for fainting, death by
hanging in it's most horrible form too
surely awaited me. The torture was of
that exquisite nature which is pecul.
iariy Chinese. 1t was the very refine
ment of cruelty and thoroughly in keep
ing with the traditions of the yellow
race.
Another long wait followed. and then
feet on the tagged floor. Then all OF
a sudden a voice cried out, and again
the lamps were lighted, and / saw be-
fore me, seated on a chair, a Chinaman.
singularly dark and shrewd of feature.
IL - ;SS, =: ,;;:: sc SrcS --hicl. Sloa
ed like living Sits OF fire. He must
have been man considerably over GO.
for his hair was something more than
tinged with gray, and about his mouth.
which was very thin, and round his
eyes there were wrinkles innumerable
Though dressed as a common cody.
there was something Enthusiastically
commanding about the man, so that
his occupation of the chair while 9th
ers stood around him seemed in nowise
incongruous. | think that men who
have been accustomed to command i'm
sensibly take to themselves certain
airs OF privilege, so that in time they
come to fit them as a second nature
That this cody was one who had com.
manded men his very attitude pro
claimed. There was, unless | erred
greatly, a keen brain behind those
deep set eyes. That square jaw and
will and a callous nature.
or the men who surrounded him
there were three, and in spite of his
change of apparel Immediately recog-
nized the one on the right OF the chair
as our esteemed friend Koon-Si, the
carpenter. AS his eyes met mine he
smiled, but without speaking, and / no
longer doubted that the cody IN the
chair was no less a parsonage than the
formidable Kung, and again and again
my eyes went TO him, and though at
last stood face to face with him I'M
der such dreadful conditions 1 could
hardly realize that this was the man
who welded such awful power, who
had brought such destruction on me
and mine, whose image had pursued
me like nightmare for so many years
That we had been betrayed was now
self evident, but how came Koon-Si,
he whom my father had entreated us
to join, to be on the side of the enemy?
That he was only a fool / could no
longer doubt unless he was playing
deep game. l looked again, and
once more he smiled. but had mis-
giving as to the correct reading OF that
smile. If Kung was the father OF evil,
1 verify believed that Koon-Si was his
own son.
And so for some little time we watch
ed each other in silence. Silence SEEM
ed popularity Of these people, and
under such conditions 1t was really
nothing less than species of torture
rendered singularly impressive. 1t
gave one time to think when thought
was least welcome. But eventually
Kung waved his hand, and one of the
attendants Immediately disappeared
Shortly after the patter of bare feet
was heard, and presently two men,
leading third between them, entered
the chamber, and my heart gave a
great thump. Was it Jim?
His head was enveloped In a cloth of
some description, but as soon as he
was fastened in a collar like mine the
cloth was removed. and 1 saw Jim's
race; but, oh, so dreadfully pale and
emaciated! He blinked at the light
for little while, and then his gaze
went slowly round the room. AS his
eyes met mine his face frightened up.
and he exclaimed, for all the world as
sincerely and earnestly as If we had
been alive:
still alive, my boy! Thank Godp'
'Why do you thank GodY' said Kung
in excellent English, for so the cody
occupant of the chair proved in very
truth to be. ''What has he done fol
you"
1t was a very pertinent question and
one which it was not easy to answer
offhandedly with any degree of con
viction, but Jim replied somewhat dog
gedly, Because we are still alive?'
Truly that is something's small
matter, but something. Tell me to who
am l indebted for the honor of this
visit? How is it find your exalted
excellency thus condescending to hon.
or with your illustrious presence my
contemplate abodeY
'Who are you that asks?" said Jim.
81 am known by MANY names in