Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-02-06
Gambok Smell as against the lives OF
Grace Arnold and myself.


failed in what I undertook now, her
fate was plain. My own would be
death; hers worse than death. I did
not know the extent of Cha Fong's &C:
complishments in the way Of crime.
did know that Gambok Smell was, so
far as his knowledge and intentions
went, q cold FLOODED murderer.
had no doubt that both these emf
,pent gentlemen would regard the sec.
,ond effort to kill me mere pleasantly.
Existence had, as I have stated be-
fore. always been very sweet to me;
and since my mishap at the hands OF
Gambok Smell, resulting in the sud.
den acquaintance and friendship of
the beautiful English girl, whom I was
now called upon to rescue, existence
had become sweeter than ever to me.
My love Of life and my resolve
to save Grace Arnold had be-
come now my motive to act; and, as l
said, it was the lives of Cha Fong and
Gambok Smell as against the lives OF
Miss Arnold and myself.
The argument of my two enemies
waxed hotter and louder. Cha Fong
pointed to the despoiled rice-bowl be-
fore the idol in support of his accusa-
tions. Gambok Smell shouted his
angry denials and shook his fist in the
face of his Mantchoo master.
As Cha Fong, with gesture OF rage,
turned from Mr.. Smell and was about
Ito leave the temple for the room in
which he had left Miss Arnold, l
cramped myself still more in my suf-
locating hidingplace and took good
aim at his breast, where. if ne had
any, his heart was located.
Carefully sighting along the barrel,
I fred.
The report of the rife awoke a thou:
sand reverberations which Numbered
around the rocky cavern.
Cha Fong fell prone upon the floor
,deadl
MIR. Gambok Smell became panic.
stricken. His face became lived. He
trembled and seemed to lose his head.
Mr.. Smell, perhaps, was a brave
enough man in open warfare or in the
face of known and palpable danger,
but when idols dealt out death, and
the very walls of the temple rolled
with the reports of cannon, he was not
terrible as a warrior. He turned and
fed.
This was not according to my plan.
Il did not fear the result if Mr.. Smell
came back with reinforcements, but
he would do nothing of the kind. He
was on the run, and if he gained the
yacht and made off with it, Miss
Arnold and would be no better of
than before.
I have always entertained hearty
contempt for an assassin. To shoot a
man in the back was, in my estima'
ton, a cowardly thing to do. But ii
was Smell or Crickmore, and had no
Before tic ~. .-..-e figure cot GU:
of my sight fred again. -
Mr.. Smell shrieked with pain and
sank to the floor.
T made hasty exit from my hiding
place and went to the side of Mr.. Smell
As i stood over him, my rifle still
grasped tightly in my hand, he rolled
his eyes up at me. He recognized
me, and with howl of terror hi
gasped and tainted.
If it had been to my advantage be
fore to shoot Mr.. Smell, it was equal!
to my advantage now to keep hin
alive. seriously questioned the re
suit, if I, with Miss Arnold, shoult
attempt to board the yacht, and tn
two priests of Su Foo fail to appear
had no means of giving orders to tn
sailors, and as they were no doub
faithful adherents of Cha Fong, the
would unquestionably be inquisitiv
enough to spoil things. Hence, Mr.
Smell, wounded. but alive and sub
missive to my will, was just then
valuable adjunct to our escape.
I rushed to the bedroom, kicRe
aside the rug that covered the ira
and pulled it up.
"You can come out now," I Gale
to Miss Arnold.
"Is it all right now?" she asked
emerging from behind pile of silks
care we safer" :.
$50 far we are saie," replied. q
. have killed Cha Fong and wounde
3 Gambok Smell. I want to prevent h
. dying. if can, until we get away fro
. here"
"Gambok Snellr' she exclaimed
? "Why, that is the name of the ma
| who threw you overheard.
? eyes, and this is the man" l r
piled.
"He is not Chinaman, is he
a she asked, shuddering.
+. 'No. I don't know what he
/, But know what he will be if I don
l hurry up. He'll be dead man.
8 hurried back to the wounded NJ
. Smell, leaving Miss Arnold to folio
: at will. She soon joined me, and
O was delighted at the GOODNESS al
' courage with which she took hold al
s helped me in my attentions to the u
t conscious man.
q She had wits, she had tact, she hi
q a mind.
}. "By Jovel" I exclaimed. appro
s ingly, after we had succeeded in 60
n ting Mr.. SHELLS eyes open in co
seriousness again. "You would ma
RI a capital nurse or physician, or-er
It era physicians wife,"
@ She smiled slightly aud blushed.
If I succeeded in getting Mr.. Sn