The Lamar register., 1905-08-16
E!92 4 ]9''a3!?3:s = .: 81 !?DD'
NG bN By r. B. SHELTON
By r. B. SHELTON

Yale had given an A. B., Heidelberg
had made him a PHI. D., The World.
the flesh and the devil had done the
rest.
In the course of many wanderings
and as many diverse experiences he
had come to the province of Fan
Chau with a legend of deserted gold
mine of wonderful richness ringing in
his ears and a parchment map very
yellow and apparently of great age in
the inside pocket of his khaki coat.
But just outside Fu-Chang he encount-
cred one of the many bands of high
waymen that infest the region. Be-
ing averse to trouble in any FORM his
two coolies had left him to face the
music alone; and while they fled howl
ing with terror he put up single
handed but unavailing resistance.
which, while it lasted, was joy to his
wild, reckless soul.
When darkness had fallen and there
were only the great. silent stars to see,
the two coolies came creeping back.
They found him lying in the mud, his
clothing torn, his face mass of
blood, and one arm broken where he
had shielded his head from the blow
of cudgel. Near him lay two limp.
silent figures, their yellow features
liyid and distorted.
The coolies held a whispered consul.
tation. Then they lifted him between
them and bore him down the slough,
which was called a road, toward the
distant lights of FuChang. But first
they rifed his clothes, and in an inner
pocket they came across map and
gold coin that the highwaymen had
overlooked. The map, having no in
trinsic value, they replaced.
They left him at the mission in Fu-
Chang. and went their way. for the po
tentialities of that golden coin were
strong upon them.
Another man would have died; but
Robert Barlow had a grip on life that
was almost uncanny. After weeks of
unconsciousness, during which it
seemed that each hour must be his
last, he opened his eyes; slowly, pain
fully collected his wandering senses:
then fell to roundly cursing the high
waymen for misbegotten vandals, and
his coolies for equally misbegotten
towards. After which he sank back
on the cool pillows utterly exhausted,
and fell into deep, refreshing sleep.
The old missionary smiled knowing
ly. He will live" he said grimly, and
he went to the kitchen to get some
Strengthening broth for his patient.
When Barlow awoke it was early
evening. He could hear sandals clat-
tering by on the uneven pavements
of the street. The odor of some
strange, sweet flower fioated in
through the open window. He stirred
uneasily and sat up. He was quite
alone in the room.
Il say, somebody" he called Justify
There was sound of light foot
falls, the soft rustic of skirts. In the
doorway was a CLEAN of white. He
looked up to see young woman
standing there-such woman as Bar.
low had not beheld for many months:
the kind of a woman he had we'll
nigh forgotten existed in this world
of disappointment and trouble. He
felt his heart jump to his throat. The
color crept into his sunburned face.
He stared at her. scarce daring to
credit his senses.
You have been very ILL., she was
saying in a low voice that set the
blood tingling in his veins. But you
are getting on famously now"
Don't co. he said again.
She turned to pull bell. A servant