Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-09-02
CHAPTER XIV.

have taken care to lay in a few provis-
ions at Sou-Tcheou.
We started at 3 o'clock We have got
more powerful engine on. Across this
undulating country the gradients are oc-
casionally rather steep. Seven hundred
kilometers separate US from the impor-
tant city of Ian Tcheou, where we ought
to arrive Tomorrow morning, running
thirty miles an hour.
At dinner Mr.. and Mrs Ephrinell, sit
ting side by side, hardly exchanged a
word. Their intimacy seems to have de-
creased since they were married. Per-
haps they are absorbed in the calcula-
ton of their reciprocal interests.
| We have had a bad night. The sky, of
purple, sulphury tint, became stormy to-
ward evening. the atmosphere became
sitting, the electrical tension excessive.
1t meant highly successful" storm, to
quote Caterna. In truth, the train ran
through zone, so to speak, of vivid
lightning and rolling thunder. which the
echoes of the mountains prolonged in
definitely. / think there must have been
several lightning strokes, but the rails
acted as conductors, and preserved the
cars from injury. 1t was a fine specta-
Gle, little alarming, these fires in the
sky that the heavy rain could not put
out-these continuous discharges from
the clouds, in which were mingled the
strident whstlings of our locomotive as
we passed through the stations of Yanlu,
from Tcheng, Houlan-Sien and Da-
fishing.
BY favor Of this troubled night, l was
able TO communicate with Kinko, to take
him some provisions and to have few
minutes conversation with him.
rs 1t the day after tomorrow" he
asked, that we arrive at PekinT
Yes, the day after tomorrow, if the
train is not delayed"
"Oh, | am not afraid of delaysl But
when my box is In the railway station
at Pekin, have still to get to the Ave
nue. Cha-Coua."
What does 1t matter, will not the fair
Zinca Klork come and call for it2"
mo. | advised her not to do So"
"And why?'
Women are so impresslonable. She
would want to see the van In which
had come, she would claim the box with
such excitement that suspicious would
be aroused. In short, she would run
the risk of betraying me-"
you are right, Kinko"
Besides, we shall reach the station
In the afternoon, very late In the after
noon, perhaps, and the unloading of the
packages will not take place until next
morning"
Probably"
"Well, Monsieur Bombarnac, If l an
not taking too great liberty, may l ask
favor of your
what is it?"
THAT you will be present at the de
parture of the case, so as to avoid any
mistake"
Il will be there, Kinko, will be
there. Glass, fragile, l will see that they
don't handle it too roughly. And if you
like l will accompany the case to Ave
nue. Cha-Coua."
II hardly like TO ask you to do that"
you are wrong, Kinko. You should
not stand on ceremony with friend
and am yours, Kinko. Besides, 1t viii
be a pleasure to me to make the &C
quaintance of Mademoiselle Znco Klork
will be there when they deliver tn
box, the precious box. | will help hei
to get the nails out Of it,"
"The nails out of 1t, Monsieur Bonn
barnac? My panel? All, l will jumI
through my panel"
A terrible clap of thunder interrupt
ed our conversation. thought the trail
had been thrown off the line by the com
motion of the air. l left the young
Roumanian and regained my place with
in the car.
In the morning-26th of May, a. m
we arrived at Ian Tcheou. Three
hours to stop. three hours only.
Come, Major Nolttz; come, Pan
Chao come. Caterna; we have not n
minute to spare"
But as we are leaving the station we
are stopped by the appearance of a tall.
fat, gray, solemn parsonage. 1t is the
governor of the town in a double robe
of white and yellow silk. fan in hand.
buckled belt, and a mantilla-a black
mantilla, which would have looked much
better on the shoulders of manola. He
Is accompanied by a certain number of
globular mandarins, and the Celestials
salute him by holding out their two fists
which they move up and down as they
nod their heads.
"Ahl What Is this gentleman going
to do? Is il some Chinese formality
A visit to the passengers and their bag
gage? And Kinko. what about himY"
Nothing alarming, after ALL 1t is only
about the treasure of the Son of Heav-
en-. The governor and his suite have
stopped before the precious van, bolted
and sealed. and are looking at It with
that respectful admiration which is ex-
perienced even in China, before a box
containing many millions.
] ask Popof what Is meant by the gov.
ernor's presence. has 1t anything to dc
with us?
Not at all" says Popof; 1.-The order
has come from Pekin to telegraph the
arrival Of the treasure The governor
has done so, and he is awaiting a reply
as to whether he is to send it on Il
Pekin, or keep it Professionally at Ian
lTcheou."
If the imperial treasure was matter
OF indifference to us il did not seem Il
be so to Faruskiar. But whether thi,
van started or did not. whether it was
attached to our train or left behind. what
could it matter to him? Nevertheless
he and Changer seemed TO be much put
about regarding 1t, although they tried
to hide their anxiety. while the Mongols
talking together in a low tone, gave the
governor anything but friendly glances
Meanwhile, the governor had just
heard of the attack on the train, and of
the part that our hero had taken in de
Tense Of the treasure, with what cour.
age he had fought. and how he had de-
livered the country from the terrible Ki.
Tsang. And then In laudatory terms
which Pan Chao translated to us, he
thanked Faruskiar, complimented him.
and gave him TO understand that the Son
Of Heaven would reward him for his ser
/ virao