Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-01-30

[ found an opening in the floor abou
three feet square. There were some
steps leading downward.
uttered shout of joy and called
Miss Arnold. She came running
toward me.
II have found something" I said,
''but whether it is a cellar OF store
house, I can't tell. I am going
down."
I descended the steps.
The place in which I now found
myself was but dimly lighted. There
had been no attempt at ornaments
ton; it was simply huge cavern il
the rock. This cavern was strewr
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. Gases
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. I found two things.
One would Of itself have repaid me
for the search. for it was what I had
come after. I found liquors, wines
and cordials, in bottles and casks.
But the other discovery meant much
more to me than the liquor. 1t meant,
perhaps, rescue-life. 1t was large
cabinet, in which were various
weapons of war and of the chase.
Guns, pistols, knives were packed
away in good order. This was, no
doubt, Cha Fong's armory.
Miss Arnold's establishment was so
great that L laughed at her wide.
opened eyes when she saw me emerge
from the hole in the floor, carrying a
bottle of wine, Martini-Henry rife,
an English navy revolver, a long
hunting-knife and q bag of car
tridges.
81 am we'll fixed, you see," I said,
laughing, as deposited my spoils on
the floor.
Snow, then." I said, "I am going
TO get ready to meet Mr.. Cha Fong.
DO you know what time he intends to
return?"
"Not accurately. But he expected
TO be back tonight, for he said, when
he cut thu. cords that bound me help.
less: Now you can walk, but you
cannot escape from here. You will
be my bride tonight.
"Ah, exactly! Now what kind of
bridesmaid do you think this will
make?" I asked, caressing the rifle.
81 would turn it against myself, if L
thought you could not conquer, she
said. 81 am not afraid to die"
"Well, L doubt if there is Su Foo
here tonight" I said grim
Iy. "And as for killing yourself, don't
think Of it. At any rate, don't do it
bill I am dead and all hope is lost.
When we get ready for business, you
take the pistol, which I will load for
you, and 60 down into that chamber
under the floor. L will replace the
rug so no one can tell it had been
moved. Then I shall get inside of
that idol in the temple, and await de-
Whatever seems best to
10 shall do. If, after long enough
lime, I do not come and let you out,
oy great effort you can push up that
If Cha Fong is still mas
er of the situation, you must try to
shoot him. If you don't succeed in
;hat-why--"
81 understand" she said, in low
,oice.
I loaded the pistol, which was FIVE.
of large caliber, and also the
life, which was repeater.
Miss Arnold sat and watched me in
Hence. Now and then tear would
how itself in her eye, but she brushed
t away. She was trying to be brave,
'oor girl, with horrors before her Of
which she could only imagine the ex-
emit.
I had not told her why I had
eft America. We had had but little
ime for talking; and when L explained
ny presence in the island 7 began my
tory from the accident on board the
lily of Rio de Janiero. So when I
ad loaded the firearms I told her the
tory of Annie Ralston. She listened
agerly with clasped hands and pale
ace.
"She is my sister in misfortune"
be said, when I had finished. "There
J no doubt that Annie Ralston is the
ictim of another Cha Fong-or per-
aps the same. I know that the Sg
90 has agents in all parts Of tbs
orld, to choose and obtain the most
eautiful girls for sacrifices to tho
lol."
"No so much to the idol as to his
orshipers, I fancy" 7 said. my
wn impression is that the sacifce to
10 idol is nothing more than a plan
} get rid of their victims. If done
nder the cover of religious fanatic.
IN it would no doubt be more diff.
lit to obtain proof of the actual muir.
srers OF the cooperation of the Gov
'nment in bringing about their pun
hment."
perhaps So" she said simply.
eff my friends. Ralston and Langs.
n, have succeeded in getting on land,
ely probably met the Ketoto at Shang-
Ii or will meet her to-day, in which
SO Annie is safe. We have only
Irselves to think of-and that seems