The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-09-23
CHAPTER NXvIu.-tContinued.l

A little before II arrived at my des-
tination. My vehicle had stopped before
q house Of modest appearance. II was
on the first door that the young Rou-
manian lived. and where, having learned
her trade as a milliner In Paris. she was
engaged in il at Pekin. / read the name
or Mime. Zinca klOrk on a door. knock.
The door is opened
| am In the presence Of young lady
who Is perfectly charming, as Kiuko
said. She Is blonde, Of from twenty-five
TO twenty-three years old, with the black
eyes Of the Roumanian type. an agree
able figure, pleasant. smiling face In
fact, has she not been informed that the
Grand Transasiatic train has been in the
station ever since last evening. In spite
OF the circumstances Of the journey, and
IS she not awaiting her betrothed from
enc moment to another?
MademOiselle Klork is evidently much
surprised at seeing a stranger In her
doorway. As she has lived several years
In France, she does not hesitate to rec
ognize me as a Frenchman, and asks 70
what she is indebted for my visit.
Mademoiselle Zinca,'' | say, Il arriv-
cd yesterday by the Grand Transasiatic."
The girl turned pale; her eyes became
troubled II was evident that she feared
something. Had Kinko been found in
his box1 Had the fraud been discov-
eredf Was he arrested7 Was he In
prisonl
Mademoiselle Zinca-certaIn circum-
stances have brought to my knowledge
the journey Of young Itoumanian-"
kinko-my poor Kinko-they have
found himT' abe asks in a trembling
voice.
"No-no," say I. hesitating. mo one
knows, except myself. | often visited
him in the luggage van at night. We
were companions, friends l took him
q few provisions"
"oh, thank you. SIR says the lady.
taking me By the hand. with q French
man kinkO was sure Of not being be-
trayed, and even Of receiving help.
Thank you! Thank you! He loves me
30 much. and l love him. We met each
other In Parts. He was so kind to me.
Then when he went back to Tihis ask
ed him TO come to me in that box. Is
the poor fellow MP
''No, Mademoiselle Zinca-no."
He asked you 10 come and tell me
he had arrivedT'
"Yes-but-you understandable is
yery tired after 50 long a journey"
rs be mr."
Yes-ruther-rather ill.,"
The truth, monsieur. the truth! Hide
nothing from me-kiuko-"
"Yes-I have sad news-to give you"
She Is fainting. Her lips tremble. She
can hardly speak.
We have had accidents on the road
The train was nearly Rnnihilated-a
frightful catastrophe"
He Is dead! Kinko Is deadr'
The unhappy Zinca falls on to a chair
and to employ the ina ginative phrase
olOgy Of the Chinese, her tears roll down
like rain on an autumn night. Never
have l seen anything 50 lamentable. But
II viii not do TO leave her in this state,
poor girl. She Is becoming unconscious.
do not know where l am | take her
hands. repeat:
'Mademoiselle Zineal Madsmoiselle
Zlpear'
: Suddenly there Il a great noise In front
Of the house. Shouts are heard. There
Is 4 tremendous 10 do, and amid the
tumult l hear a voice.
I cannot be mistaken. That Is Klnko's
voice! | recognize II. Am In my right
senses1 Zinca jumps up. springs to the
window. opens II, and we look out.
There Is a cart at the door There Is
the case, with all its inscriptions: This
side up. this side down. fragile, glass.
beware Of damp, etc 1t Is there-haf
smashed. There has been a collision. The
cart has been run into by a carriage.
as the case was being got down. The
case has slipped on to the ground. II
has been knocked In. And Kinko has
jumped out like a ENTHUSIASTICALLY
alive, very much alive,
| can hardly believe my eyes, What
my young Roumanlau did not perish In
the explosion? No, As shall soon hear
from his own mouth. he was thrown on
10 the line when the boiler went up, re-
mained there inert for a time, found him
self ninjured-miraculou awny
till he could slip into the van unpercelv-
ed had just left the van after boxing
for him in vain. and supposing that he
had been the first victim Of the catastro-
phe.
Then-oh. the irony Of fate,-after ac-
complishing a journey Of six thousand
kilometers on the Grand Transa tic.
shut up In box among the baggage
after escaping 80 many dangers, attacked
by bandits, explosion Of engine, he was
here, By the mere colliding Of a cart
and carriage In Pekin street, depriY-
Ell Of ali the good Of his journey.
The carter gave yell at the sight Of
a human being who had Just appea red
Ia an instant a crowd had gathered. the
fraud was discovered, the police had run
up. And what could this young Rou-
Tnnnian do, who did not know word of
Chinese, but explain matters in the sign
languagel Zinca and / ran down 10
him.
my ZIncn-my dear Zinca" he ex-
claims. pressing the girl 10 his heart
MY Kinko-my dear Kinko." she re
plies. while her tears minglc with his.
Monsieur Bombaruac" says the poor
fellow, appealing 10 my Intervention.
"Kinko," | reply, "tnke IL coolly. and
depend on me. lou are alive. aud ~
thought you were dead"
But 1 am not much better or" b,
murmurs
- MfsFat.f Avwthtr,, L. tetso- 49,. -