The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-01
TIE EVENING STORY
yvhen Lung-slng Whistled.
by Claude Pamares.l

he passed the cook house where Lung
Sing was securing his pots and pans,
he heard a sound that caused him to
stop in his tracks and exclain:
''Weu, I'll be hanged"
Lung was whistlng. He had
been cook at Star rancho for over a year
and had never been heard to whistle
before. Indeed, he never hummed-|
never smiled-neVer talked unless d.
rectly spoken to. He was put down as
surly and crOss-grained, but as he was
a good cook, and as none Of the men
cared a copper whether he talked or
not he still held his place.
What's the natter" asked Colonel
Spears wife, who was mistress Of the
rancho as the foreman finally reached
the door.
That heather back there is whist
ling"
wei. can't a heather whistler"
There is no law against it, but Lung
Sing has been here over q year, ana
this is his first toot Wonder what has
happened to cIlirk him up?'
T can't say. I had him in here an
hour ago and told him that he'd have
to take the blackboard tomorrow morn
inc and drive over to Pine Hill to meet
Fannie Williams. She's coming on 10
stay with us a month or TWO, you
know. They think something is the
matter with her lungs, and the doctor
has recommended this climate. The col
Onel has got to 90 over to Wolf creek,
and of course the rest of you are
busy
"But-but I don't like the idea" said
the foreman, as he scratched his head
why don't your"
Because Lung-Sing is whistling-
When a heather whistles, look out FOR
him.
The woman laughed and turned away,
and a minute later the foreman was
walking off. He passed the cook house
again. and the Chinaman was stll
Whistling softly to himself.
Hes at it again, and III bet he's up
to some deviItry. III Tell the boys 70
keep an eye on him"
As soon as he had cooked the mems
breakfast next morning, Lung-Sing set
out on his ten-nile drive to the railroad.
IIe was given MANY words of caution
by the colonel's wife, and he promised
over again to drive slowly and bring
the girl and her trunk safely to the
Rancho. His face was as impressive as
a waShbOard until he had left the mouse
half a mile behind him. Then he puck
cred his mouth and began to whistle.
Between whistles he grinned and smiled.
An hour and a half later ne drove up
to the little station on the plains, ana
when the train came in his passenger
stepped from one of the parlor cars
Lung-Sing welcomed her with a grunt.
He grunted again as he put her baggage
aboard the vehicle, and he put on a
blank look as the station agent SAID 10
the girl.
7 suppose he's the cook over at the
Star. and they sent him because all the
others were busy"
"Oh. I'll excuse him. laughed the girl
as she settled herself, and next moment
Lung-Sing was driving away.
It was in June. and the weather was
cool and pleasant, and the girl almost
forgot the man beside her as mile after
mile was passed. Once or twice she was
conscious that he wgs whistlng, put as
she didn't know whether Cinnamon
e7,n, n = mn
the matter a second thought she nau
been informed by letter that the Drive
from the station to the Rancho house
would not occupy over Two hours ~
the farthest. That meant her arrival py
noon. Her watch showed her when tflat
hour had come round, but she could see
no sign of civilization. In fact she saw
that the vehicle had left the road, such
as it was, and was proceeding over me
unmarked plains $50
care we almost thereE she asked,
as she turned to Lung-Sing and SPOKE
fo, the first time since leaving the
s'S lille while-lille while" he re-
plied. as he stared straight ahead.
.'But how is it that you are oil the
Load allie light
a minute later the Chinaman was
vhistting. It wasn't the hohesl
whistle of an American, but there Neds
something hypocriticaI and decelEilis
about it. The girl had nothing FUR
fber to saw. The man would not have
been sent if he hadn't been an rlSil'
and if he had left the track II was
probably to take short cut ana az
reach the house all the sooner y
was not until her watch marked one
O'Clock, and the vehicle was Delhg
driven among the scrub pines ana
cedars. along a stretch of foothlIls,
that the girl turned and seized Lung
Sing by the arm and exclaimed.
al know you are not taking me 70
the rancho housed What DO you mean
oS Ale Ale light-alle light replied the
Celestial. as he buried the horse Tor
ward.
u ne seized her with one hand to
hold her in the seat while he GUIDED
the horse with the other, put IN the
tree and the vehicle stuck fast Ihen
T,11ne-Sine developed the plot that hso
been working in his brain ever since
the moment he was told that ne must
drive over for the visitor
with a fierce scowl on his face, ana
in his pigeon English, he ordered the
girl to proceed in a certain direction
Forty rods beyond where she hdu 4S1t
the blackboard there was rocky
hluff hidden under the cedars, and IN
fbe bl1Iff a cave of considerable di-
mansions. Upon entering the cave ne
ia +I7e oir1's hands and feet, and
then tigg ret retraced his steps The vehicle
was backed off the brink of a gorge
the harness flung over it, and then the
man led the horse into thicket anu
cut its throat
When he reappeared at the cave he I'M
bound his victim and lay down on a nat
stone at the mouth and told her MS plans
He had heard of brigands and hold-uDs
and abductions. He had abducted aeI
and would hold her captive until Cosollei
Spear was willing to come down Win 90
mn in "a sh and promise not to set the law
on his trail He had been wondering Tor
several years how he could make grand
conn bnt Fate had never aided him be
fore. He knew the Chinese cook at Cres-
cent Rancle and through him could pro-