Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-05-01

Wonder is the Beaver. I came here,
under orders, to demand an American
prisoner from the hands of the Gov
ernor, Hen-Ko-Hi. The story was
that this Hen-Ko-Hi was murderous
syrant, 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 penal colony,
whereas he made the criminals sent
under his care his friends and soldiers
and lived riotously and wickedly.
Now, who are you, and where is the
man I want?"
ct am the King Of Talmooch. Hen
Kohl was Governor until yesterday.
The people over whom he had ruled
50 long without mercy arose in their.
might and crushed him at q blow. 1
know OF no American prisoner, but l
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's"
she might, if you had not carried
away his head with your first shot"
"Alas! Then Ralston-poor Ral-
ston.-must be dead" muttered
Langston.
"Ralston, did you say? Is it Raj
ston you are in search off," L asked IN
excitement.
"Ah! You know him?" shouted
Langston. "And you! And youl
Your voice is familiar, yet you are
native of this island. The only man
knew whose voice resembled yours
was drowned in the China Sea months
ago."
I looked him full in the face. He
was laboring under so great strain
that I saw it would only increase it to
withhold my identity.
arthur" I said, "don't you know
me?"
"Crickmore! Crickmore! You! Mol
Dead, yet here, and king, while Raj.
ston now is missing. What internal
mystery rules this part of earth?'
He almost reeled. He clasped hit
hands to his head, He trembled like
leaf. He started at me as if wer,
ghost. To him was one.
eyes, Arthur, old manufacturers
alive and well. I didn't drown. By 1
miracle L was saved. I lived among
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 fnishing-stroke for us. But
my dear fellow, how thin and old yor
look! Where"
Don't talk of me, Crickmore," hi
almost walled. "Where is Ralsloni
Have you not seen him."
"No. I did not dream he was any
where save in California.
"Then, oh heavens. he is dead,
Crickmore, dead in the towerl"
"What tower? Where did you leave
him?" I asked quickly.
"In dungeon under the north
tower of the palace. 1t was there we
were kept. If you have not found him
he has starved to death since you
came, or Hen-Ko-Hi has murdered
him in his wrath at my escape. Oh
search, Crickmore, search!"
II will, indeed, Arthur. But b'
calm. You are not yourself.
''No, am not myself. The tor
lures and Imprisonment L have had
have shattered my nerves, and thu
sight of you has almost unnamed me
I have not yet told you even that 1 wal
glad you did not drown"
He said this with wan smile.
"No need of that. But come. I an
devoured by curiosity to know how
you came here, in the first place. Herr
we have been living on twenty-milt
island and did not guess it. But oul
talk must come later. We must locb
for Ralston now"
Captain Harwood had been an eager
listener to our conversation. When I!
turned to call Garu-Saak he sale
quietly:
'I would suggest, Mr.. Crickmore.
King of Talmooch, that, in order to
avoid mistakes in future, you change
that flag"
[ followed his look, and 10, the hat
of China was flying gayly from the
north tower.
"Garu-Saak" I called. My genera
had withdrawn to arespectful distance
when he saw that Langston and ]
were friends.
Sire, am here" he replied, step
ping forward.
"Do you know of any dungeon un
der the north tower"
"No, sire; have seen none. There
are no prisoners there"
ga friend Of mine-of ours-is con
fined there. We must find him, and
quickly. Get detail of soldiers and
follow me. Bring lights. And Oso'
Bark"
HSire, I am ready"
"See that the flag now floating owe,
the north tower is taken down."
On our way toward the south tower
we met Mr.. Avery and Miss Arnold
coming toward us. I motioned for
them to go back and wait for US.
"Who is that?" asked Langston.
I quickly informed him.
"But about Ralston," I said.
'Where did you leave him, and how
was lie then?"
ooh, I haven't seen him in four OF
five months. don't know just how