Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-03-19

linen TO me: nm captain HarWOOd
of the United States Navy. My ship
yonder is the Beaver. L came here,
under orders, to demand al American
prisoner from the hands of the Gov
ernor, Hen-Ko-Hi. The story was
that this Hen Ko- Hi was a murderous
.yrant, and has held two American
prisoners for months. One of them
escaped and reached the American
consul at Hong Kong. Investigation
showed that Hen-Ko- Hi was carrying
things with higher hand than was
permitted by his royal master, the
Emperor. He was supposed to be
merely the Governor of a penal colony,
whereas he made the criminals sent
nnder his care his friends and soldiers
and lived riotously and wickedly.
Now, who are you, and where is the
nan I want?"
"I am the King Of Talmooch. Hen
Ko-Hi was Governor until yesterday.
The people over whom he had ruled
30 long without mercy arose in their
might and crushed him Mt n blow. l
know of no American prisoner, but
have plenty of Chinese in the dun
geons."
"Keep them there. But where is
Hen -Ko. Hi? He might be able to tell
us something?"
"He might, if you had not carried
away his head with your first shot"
"Alas! Then Ralston-poor Raj
ston!-must be dead" muttered
Langston.
"Ralston, did you say? Is it Raj.
ston you are in search of?' l asked in
excitement.
"Ah! You know him?" shouted
Langston. "And you! And you!
Your voice is familiar, yet you are a
native of this island. The only man
| knew whose voice resembled yours
was drowned in the China Sea months
ago."
| looked him full in tho face. He
was laborinS under so great straiu
that I saw it would only increase it to
withhold my identity.
arthur" l said, don't you know
me-"
"Crickmore! Crickmore! You! No
Dead, yet here, and king, while Raj
ston now is missing. What inferna
mystery rules this part of earth?'
He almost reeled. He clasped hi
hands to his head, He trembled lik'
leaf. He started at me as If wer'
a ghost. TO him was one.
Eyes, Arthur, old man-Crickmore
alive and well. I didn't drown. BY I
miracle | was saved. / lived anon.
these people and learned their ways
I taught them rebellion against Hen
Kohl, and we have wiped him out
At last the shot from the Beaver did
the last finishing stroke for us. But
my dear fellow, how thin and old yo'
look! Where"
Don't talk of me, Crickmore,' III
almost walled. "Where is Ralslon'
Have you not seen him."
mo. I did not dream he was any
where save in California.
"Then, oh heavens. he is dead
CrlckmOfe, ueau III lho lo"oi'
"What tower? Where did you leave
him?" l asked quickly.
"In dungeon under the nortt
tower of the palace. 1t was there W.
were kept. If you have not found hin
he has starved to death since yot
came, or Hen-Ko-Hi has murdered
him in his wrath at my escape. Oh
search, Crickmore, search"
"I will, indeed, Arthur. But b'
calm. You are not yourself" "
"No, / am not myself. The tor
tures and Imprisonment L have hat
have shattered my nerves, and tn
eight of you has almost unnamed me
have not yet told you even that wa
glad you did not drown"
He said this with wan smile.
"No need of that. But come. / au
devoured by curiosity to know hov
YOU came here, in the first place. Her
we have been living on twenty-mil'
island and did not guess it. But on
talk must como later. We must loci
for Ralston now"
CAPTAIN Harwood had been an cage
listener to our conversation. When
turned to call Garu-Saak he SAT-
quietly;
II would suggest, Mr.. Crickmore,
King of Talmooch, that, in order tt
avoid mistakes in future, you change
that flag
[ followed his look, and 10, the fla,
of China was flying gayly from th'
north tower.
"Garu- -Saak!" called. My genera
had withdrawn to arespectful distanc
when he saw that Langston and
were friends.
Sire, am here" he replied, step
ping forward.
fDo you know of any dungeon un
der the north tower"
"No, sire; / have seen none. Their
are no prisoners there"
"a friend of mine-of ours--is con
fined there. We must find him, an
quickly. Get detail of soldiers an
follow me. Bring lights. And Oso
Bark"
"Sire, l am ready"
"See that the flag now floating owe
the north tower is taken down"
On our way toward the south towe
we met Mr.. Avery and Miss Arnol
coming toward us. 1 motionod TO
them to so back and wait for us.
"Who is that?" asked Langston.
T ou;okly ;nforma1 him
"But about Ralston," l said
"Where did you leave him, and ho'
was he then?"
"Oh, | haven't seen him in four o
five months. / don't know just ho'
long it is since we landed, but 7 hav
not set eyes Oh him from that day
this"