Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-01-02
- &s%
IN THE CHINA SEA
NARRATIVE OF ADVENTURE.
By SEWARD w.:HoPKINs.
copYn1sHr 1899 ROBERT BoSNhR's soNso , i.
u,,> ,1>D>nc,1sng

for ne to do" hereplied. "Our police,
Of course. have no standing in China.
The Ketoto sails for Shanghai. 1t IS
now a matter for national action. In
that Mr.. Ralston is better posted than
am.
grew hot and impatient. The loss
of the promised reward being prooa'
BILE, the police ceased to be greatly IN,
terested. l was very indignant but
powerless. Poor Mr.. Ralston sat WIFI
bowed head, now and then an uncon.
trollable sob shaking his stalwar'
frame. Oh, how my heart ached Tor
himl HIS white hair seemed almost
holy as I pictured the awful grief tina,
had come upon him in his old agel
could not give up the fight.
"Langston," I said, with ugl y de-
termination surging all through me,
s'this is a shame! This hunt must 60
on! I am as certain that Annie hal
ston is on the Ketoto as I am that we
are here. Couldn't get out OF this city
and the police not know it! Nonsense!
Suppose they told us that no person
could have left that house without
Sykes seeing him. What then? we
know they left the house. What, then,
Saust be our conclusion IN regard 10
the honesty of Sykes? And now Sykes
is synonym for the entire force.
do not include in this the superinten'
dent or his officers of rank; but this
soy, that Annie Ralston has been taken
out of San Francisco, and there is an
other Sykes in the case somewhere: "
Langston stood pensively studying
the floor. His hands were thrust deel
in his pockets. L had seen him tina
way when studying out case for pre-
sentation before jury. When hat
finished, he slowly raised his head
He did not reply to me. He LOOKED
calmly and steadily at the superln
tendent
"He is right" he said.
eff that is so," said the superin
tendent, ct will find the man, If
lakes my entire lifetime. I regret tina
[ am placed in this position, seeming
" Indifferent in the case. 1 know how
YOU feel about it and do not blame
YOU. But I am not omnipotent.
have done all that one man IN my pc
sition could do, and have failed.
Mr.. Ralston jumped up from hi
chair and grasped the hand OF tn
superintendent.
"You have done nobly. I honor you
sir, and thank you. That you hav
failed is, I am convinced, not you
,ault. But 1 am almost crazy! VIVA
shall we do?"
He sank into his chair and gaze
helplessly at Langston and me. Ec
ward Ralston stood by, as helpless
his father. His hungry eyes-hungr
for news of his beautiful sister-hur
CRY for hope-seemed to burn thel
way into my soul. felt rebuked b
the speech of Mr.. Ralston. 1, too
advanced and took the hand OF tn
! superintendent. =.
''Pardon my hasty Words" / sale
.'t am little overweight. l NEAR
, nothing"
The superintendent smiled YEARLY
cit is nothing" he replied. go
that every day."
"Have you anything in the way
advice to offer?" asked Langston.
"Not now. Give me time to thinl
, Como here tomorrow, and [ will tt
TO plan something"
Every WE'LL" said Langston, in
; tone of disappointment. Then turf
.. ing to me, he said: "Crickmore, lie
, as 60 to my office, where we can tai
6 this over calmly and at our leisure.
,, "Better 50" 1 replied. Come, MI
Ralston, will you go with us?''
Langston led the way, walking wit
, Edward. followed with Mr.. Raj
ton. We d little on the stree
: Each one of us was deep in thought.
Reaching the Office, Langsto
opened the door.
1--WE are at least comfortable her
, and can study this thing thorough,
. Sit down, Mr.. Ralston, take that cas-.
chair. 1t will rest you"
e The old man dropped into a bi
I arm chair and sat with bowed head.
+ "Hurry up,"I said. "Let's he'
s what you've got to say first"
e "Well, in the first place." bega
t the lawyer. getting himself in an ea'
attitude and speaking slowly, "yc
D are thoroughly convinced from the d
8 scription that this girl on the Keto
Q is Annie Ralston?"
t "There is no doubt of it," I L
d piled.
''No, there is no doubt of it, so
: Edward.
!. "Not bit of it," added his fathe
g Langton stared ut the ceiling
s silence.
!. "Oh, you are too Slow" said il
a patiently. "Lawyers are so methot
d ical. Now, in my business, we leal
}. to act quickly"
t "Weil, go on" replied Langsto'
D smiling. \
s "There is no use sitting here, pla
ming and studying" I continue
6 'The girl is gone. Now, then, Il
g thing is how to get at her. Gent
& men, I am going to China"
e Langston nodded approvingly. II
e two Ralsions looked at US as if wa
O ing for the next word. Their powe
of concentration were gone. 1t W
Il plain to be seen that they depend
l. upon us.
l. eyes, T am going to China"