Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-02-13
CHAPTER Y.
TcoNTINUFD


"Oh, got here all right enough"
replied, with grin. II have ways |
of transportation that are unknown to
you"
He had been very pale but seemed
to grow winter.
'T - thought - you - would
drown" he said.
I did not inform him that for some
little time I had labored under the
same impression myself.
"Oh, mol never DROWN" replied,
ncnchalantly.'
Miss Arnold smiled. Mr.. Smell
seemed to grow every moment more
i'll at ease.
"What are-you - going-to--do
-wiz-me?" he asked, looking fur
lively at the rife that was placed care
fully out of his reach and easily in
mine.
"Well, Gambok SHELL" I answered
sternly, "that is a problem the solu-
ton of which depends largely upon
yourself. You know all the circum-
stances of my leaving San Francisco,
as we'll as 1 do up to the day you threw
me into the sea. From that time out,
you probably know everything that
has occurred in the fortunes of my
two friends and Annie Ralston, while
know nothing. Now if you value
life, you will obey my orders. Our
first act will be to sail to Hong Kong
and restore Miss Arnold here to her
father. You have had no hand in her
abduction, so are not concerned. Then
we will find Ralston and Langston,
and then Annie Ralston. And upon
the faithful assistance you give me- in
all these things depends your hope OF
life. Obey me implicitly, and you
shall live. Disregard one of my COM
mands, fail to find one of my friends,
and I shall kill you by slow torture"
A peculiar look, partly of triumphant
hate and partly of despair, came over
his face.
"I cannot help you," he said.
"Why not?" exclaimed impatient
~. "Ralston and Langston must have
left the Janeiro when you did. Miss
Ralston was on board the Ketoto,
which has probably landed at thang-
hal before this. You are perfectly
familiar with the course pursued In
these abductions, and must either find
Miss Ralston, if she is not already
found by her brother, or you must
take me to the whelp that got her out
of San Francisco and sailed under the
name Of Sid Kee from Vancouver.
There will be no play about this moi
ter. You will do as L say, or You VIII
die"
Mr.. Smell shut his eyes and shook
his head.
'I tell you, Meester Crickmore, I
cannot help you. do not even know
what has become of your friends. And
the Ketoto was wrecked yesterday
morning off the Chinese coast. No
pairsen haas been found from her ex-
cept three of the crew."
I sat silent, stunned by the terrible
news.
He said it earnestly. A man SO
near death, and with no apparent OBJ
iect to be gained, would not lie on SO
vital subject, I thought--especially
now that it would be so much better
for his own interests to return the girl
TO her friends, unframed.
could see that Miss Arnold, too,
was touched with pity. $40
perhaps Miss Ralston has beer
saved by some passing vessel" she
said, softly.
I shook my head doubtingly.
els il possible that it is SO, Gambol
Sneli?" 1 asked.
"No-eet ees impossible. Nothing
have been heard"
"Then there is but one course to be
pursued" I said sadly. "We must
get to Hong Kong, Miss Arnold, and
you will be safe again with your father
Then I shall hunt up my two friends
They will have learned by that time
of the loss of the Ketoto. 1t may bt
that Ralston will want some proof o.
his sisters death to satisfy his father
II so, we must look for it. Then we
will return to America, sadder than We
left, our journey all for nought. v"
"I am sorry" she answered softly
and I saw tear glisten on her cheek.
81 do not think it advisable to take
anv risks with that crew until morn
ing" 1 continued. cit will, of course,
be unpleasant tor you to remain IL
this place over night; but think you
will agree with me that a little delay
with safely is better than haste and
uncertainty"
She thought moment and said:
81 will do as you think best. 1 am
anxious to get to my father; but if il
seems better to you to wait till to-
morrow, will be content l feel safe
now"
A faint smile played around the
mouth of Gambok Smell.
The events I have narrated took
more time in passing than L had sup
posed even when I decided to remain
in the island over night. Amongtthe
other costly articles worn by Chs
Fong was handsome watch. I tool
this from his body and put it in my
vest-pocket. I glanced at it, and
found the time to be eight o'clock.
Gambok Smell dropped off into {
dose. After short time spent il
planning for the following day, I said
"Now, Mics Arnold, perhaps yor
had better retire. There will b.
enough excitement tomorrow for yot
10 need your strength. You do no