Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-05-08

I called two Jumars.
Here" said, Grub his body with
this"
We went at it with a will. We
worked an hour. At times it seemed
hopeless, but as long as Ralston con
tinued to breathe, so long was I de-
termined to try to save him.
At last q sigh escaped him. He
shuddered from head to foot, and
made peculiar noise with his throat.
We waited-ws almost held on,
breath, so anxiously did we watch tho
signs Of returning life. At last hi.
eyes opened. Slowly the heavy lida
parted. There was no intelligence in
his eyes. His gaze was vacant.
motioned them ell away.
'Don't disturb him." Isaid. t'Don't
even talk to him. In q short tins
we will try to revive his memory, but
now he must have rest. A little
cruel, now--ah, he swallows i'll Not
too muoh-snough. I think he will
live"
"Thank Godp CALCULATED Langstop.
''Let Us leave him now" + said!
I'VE have plenty to do. Tomorrow
Ralston will be able to talk to u.s."
"What next?" asked Captain Har.
wood, as we stepped from the room
in which we had laid Ralston.
"More work. But I'd like to know
where that villain yonder gets his
luck. He is full Of it. First he
evades the police of San Francisco,
then those of Vancouver, and now
here he is high and dry when every.
body else on the Ketoto was drowned. /"
Everybody else drowned! I hadn't
heard of it"
The possibilities that suggested
themselves to me when I heard these
words from the captain of the Beaver
were startling. L stopped suddenly
and grasped his arm. He looked at
mo wonderingly.
"What's that you say?" I demand
ed. "You never heard of the loss Of
the Ketoto?"
"No, certainly no. When did you
get the news?"
"Six months ago, before"
"Oh, nonsense! The Ketoto has
mover been lost. Size sailed safely
into Hong Kong last week, and once
every two months before that. Nor has
she, so far as L know. sustained any
injury from storm or accident. What
are you driving at, anyhow"
"Di2n't-why-wasn't-oh, J. see it
all now. I see it as plainly as L see
you. The thing was planned as care
fully as plot could be planned"
POSSIBLY" said Captain HARDWOOD.
"but if you told me what was planned,
perhaps I could follow you"
''You have not yet heard the story
OF my escape from drowning, and time
is too precious to waste any in telling
you now. But you will be enlightened
on the ways Of this part of the world
when I tell you"
81 know them now pretty we'll, )" he
replied.
"But come" I said, starting off.
"Come on and learn more"
81 can't keep up with you mentally
or physically, Crlckmore," said Lang
ston, tagging a little behind us.
"And L am as much in the dark about
that Ketoto business as HARDWOOD is,
"Never mind, old fellow, it will be
clear enough to both of you soon."
We found Sid Kee where we had
left him, and the faithful Garu-Saak
standing guard over him.
"Garu -Saak," I said, "get some in.
strument Of torture"
"Sire, I am ready to obey you, but
I do not know what you mean"
Langston and Captain Harwood
looked worried.
Bring a thumb-screw or an iron
maiden OF anything else that's handy.
Something HenKo-Hi used to torture
his victims with. I want to interview
MIR. Sid Kee, and I need some assis.
lance in getting at the truth
"Me no blad Chinaman," groaned
Sid Kee. "A1e do eblyt'ing for UNI.
Me do"
ooh, you will, will you?" I replied.
"Well, I think you will before J. get
through with you. But I am going to
have some good medicine handy. I
am tired sticking you with this sword"
''No stick sword. Me glood."
Garu-Saak went out and soon reap.
peared with the ugliest-looking ma.
chine for twisting a human body to
pieces I ever saw"
~ IT found this in the prison." ne said.
'Put it on and give him q taste OF
it," 7 said.
Garu-Saak found great pleasure in
obeying me. Sid Kee groaned and
squirmed. placed myself squarely
before him.
"Did you ever see me beforo?" ]
asked.
mo. Me no slice afore."
"Think again. In San Francisco.
for instance?"
"Me no slice. What for you make
say wrong? Me no be in Sian Flan.
cisco. Me not know him."
You lie! If you persist in lying,
[ am going to twist you all to pieces.
Do you hear?"
"Me hear; me hear. Mo velly solly,
but me glood Cinnamon.
"Where is Annie Ralston?"
"Lannee Raslon, me no slee," re.
piled the Chinaman, shaking his head.
"Twist," ] said.
"Oaouw!" howled Sid Kee, as the
giant arm of the lunar chief rscked
his body with pain. Then herhrieked
gan, OF inc in his own lanouaOe that [