Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-01-03

Lalu lOilO"eu us since we urSt seriously
set out to combat our enemies, not
| that Koon-Si was a lovable creature
or one for whom il was possible to
develop any immediate affection His
| manner reminded me too forcibly of
| the awful, mysterious movements of
the society. There were a cunning and
shrewdness in him which, though
extremely valuable, were not pleasant.
When Kung made an enemy of him, he
committed fatal mistake and one
which L believed would cost him dear.
! ly. 1t was not without reason my IA.
/ Their had said, Find Koon-Si"
! Had we searched the whole of China
doubt If we could have discovered
man more fitted for our purpose.
The Chungking was not nice steam
er, and her captain was not a nice cap
tain, but she plodded her way up the
! great river with commendable dignity,
| and one afternoon the gallant skipper
Informed US that we should be in Han
kow early the next morning. We
| thanked him. 1t was a piece Of in
formation supplied gratuitously, even
chucked at US, but we thanked him.
| 1t is extremely pleasant tc meet an
Rmiable fellow countryman In foreign
land.
Toward dusk, as we rounded q long
| bend Of the river, an island opened out
| in the distance, and by the time we
were abreast of it the day had appre,
ciably darkened. AS Jim and stood
| at the side watching the narrow strip
| Of land, upon a slight eminence of
which we could just distinguish the
| outline of dilapidated pagoda, a voice
muttered from behind, 'Ching-hi."
Turning sharply, we encountered the
| form of Mr.. Koon-Si. The beggar gave
me a start. The quiet, crawling, mys-
terious movements of these yellow men
had got upon my nerves. Out OF the
shadows they came like ghosts or
| ghouls, and into them they vanished
again, silent, mysterious, leaving no
| impression behind save q chill round
| the heart.
| "Ching-hi," repeated Jim Indifferent
| ly, though 1 knew that the carpenter
had also given him a start. $50 he is
| there?'
| WAS there, excellency. Where he is
now who shall say? Kung is like the
dark shadows which the clouds fling
before the moor-a moment here, a mo-
| ment there, in one place never"
Then" said jim, you seem to have
| led us on a pretty wild goose chase.
| Anyhow we must see"
'We shall see, excellency, and II, as l
believe, the virtuous are rewarded up
| on this earth as well as in heaven the
1 md 90 g.. ,IN
the birth to the death OF an old man is
long journey; but, exceliency, 1t ends
at last. So is it with the evildoer He
goes his way and wounds and riots and
strikes terror throughout the land, but
his day dawns and his sun sets, and
| behold there is nothing for him but
| darkness evermoreI So shall Ii be
| with Kung. His foot shall grow wea-
ry, his eyes shall fail him, and he who
| has made many tremble shall tremble
himself at last. Like cold north wind
the end shall come swift upon him, and
| the great river shall carry his death
wall down to the great ocean,"
He stopped and with horribly IA.
miliar movement laid his hand upon
my shoulder, and felt cold shudder
| sweep me from head to foot Indeed |
almost fancied could hear the wailing
| OF ghosts in the mists of the river.
With an exclamation OF anger 1 shook
the cold claw from me and drew back
pace. Mr.. Koon-Si smiled, and 1 was
fearful lest he should understand the
movement. What's to become OF the
white mans dignity If he allows a
( heather to brighten him in this fash.
| ion?
That's all very WELL" said Jim, who
however much the carpenter may have
impressed him, showed no sign Of It.
but we haven't heard his death wall
yet, and l should like to know how you
intend that we shall hear it."
ExceIlency, the future is in the
hands of the gods, and who am that
| l should say them yea or nayY
| My worthy Koon-Si, the future s
also somewhat in our hands. How
know you that the gods have not cho
sen us as instruments of their pleas.
] ure?"
| Nay, excellency, 1 know not. II
may be even as you say; the gods NOV,
mysteriously. If L could only think so,
4 would spit IN the face of Kung"
First meet him, my illustrious car.
peUter. Tell me, what are your plans?'
Tomorrow we shall be iG Hankow
IN the country of Kung, one might say
Tie utmost vigilance will be pecessary
II we wish to escape detection
! "WelI?"
Il have arranged all that We shall
land early tomorrow morning, when !
hope few people will be about. YouI
excellencies will follow me from tn,
ship, but without speaking. You may
bring your servant with you, as h.
may be useful. / have a cousin in
Hankow, worthy tailor, who has sui
fered somewhat through Kung. He
will give us hearty welcome"
"And them"
K HOnpa I hava vour avooJIoroioo -