Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1903-05-15
CHAPTER XVII.
r.A..mI,-nun

No hurtee so long!"
eff promise not to hurt you, but
20 send you back to China, then Will
you tell?"
"Less!'' yelled the vanquished China
man.
''Now, Sid Kee, I am determined
to know where Annie Ralston is, OF
at least what became of her. You
are the only one alive that can tell
me-"
"Lannie Ralson not belong to me,
groaned Sid Kee.
"Whom did she belong to-"
"Me no dare tell. Ne getteo
killed"
"You will get killed if you don't
tell. Was it Cha Fong?"
Sid KEGS eyes opened wide With
establishment.
"You know Cha Fong?" he ex-
claimed.
81 did know him. I happened to
kill him. He wouldn't do what l
told him to do. Do you take warn
ing?"
"Cha Fong Him dead?"
''Yes he is dead. What of it?"
''Tlakee off lions. Me tell"
I had the irons taken off. Sid kee
came close to me and whispered:
"You know Gambok Snellee?"
ct did know him. killed him,
too"
''Evleybody killed." shouted Sid
Kee. "An1 me no gettee killed."
"Not if you restore Annie Ra'ston
in good health aud uninjured, OF tell
us where she can be found"
"Me tell" he said. "Nobody
know Lannee Raslon. She CLONE me.
hide Lannee Raslon i'll cave. Hen
Kohl not know. Slodlers not KIN ow.
Nobody know but Gambok Snellee,
Cha Fong aud Sid Kee. Gambob
Snellee, him say, keep safe till him
CLONE. Him gettee Cha Fong and
Linglise girl. Clone back. live in
Talmooch. Gambok Snellee dead,
Cha Foug dead, me giivee you. Me
no want Lannee Raslon."
"Well, by all that's great" sai6
Captain Harwood.
Langston sat in a chair, leaning
against table. His face was very
white. His wide-open eyes were tixed
on Sid Kee.
"The case is plain 10 me, gentle
men,"I said joyfully. "This fellow
is faithful agent of Gambok Smell,
he has brought the girl to this island
and, by some connivance, he has sue
ceeded in getting her hidden away to
be kept in safety until his masters re-
turn. His master was unfortunate
enough to meet with an experience
which effectually prevented his return
Bythat stroke of good fortune the Cir
has been kept unframed. But this
fellow deserves no credit for that. He
simply dared not harm her, for his or
ders were explicit. Gambok Smell,
wanted her himself. And the English
girl Cha Fong was to have was Miss
Arnold who will soon be safe In her
fathers house. There is the matter
in a nutshell. Gambok Smell told me
the Ketoso was lost with all on board.
But that is neither here nor there.
now. What we want is Annie Raj
ston. Is it not as I have said it," /
asked Sid Kee.
"Juss IL you say" ne answered.
"And now that your masters are
dead, and you have no fear of punish
ment from them, you are willing 10
give up Annie Ralston to save your
own worthless life. Is it 500"
"Less. Me show you"
LEAD the way" I said. "You led
me to her once before; do so again. u
He led the way out of the palace.
81 did not suppose" l said tc
Langston and Captain Harwood,
.that spot existed in Quiental thai
my soldiers had not ransacked. But
there may be one. believe this fel
low is telling the truth now"
"He would not risk his life by lie
when he is alone in our hands" re-
piled the captain.
Sid Kee led us about the same kind
of q Journey as he had led me on the
memorable occasion of our first meet
ing. He did not seem to possess the
faculty of going in straight dlrec.
ton. His whole life was so crooked
that even his walk was so. He led
us up one street and down another,
all the time muttering to himself IL
his gibberish. He took us toward the
sea, then away from it. Finally he
struck into rough street, evidently
but little used. He won't into small
wooden house. It was then occupied
by Jumars. bnt before the revolution
il had been the abode OF Sid Kee-so
he informed us.
We went inside, aud our guide tore
up corner of the floor, much the
same as terrier would tear up
ground if he knew there was a rat un-
der it. 1t had evidently not been
taken up in some time.
GLOW could anybody live in there?"
exclaimed Captain Harwood. ''How
could you feed herr"
"See!' and Sid Kee pointed to o
small, square opening, just large
enough to pass a dish through.
We waited breathlessly until he had
dug o Lole large enough for US to en-