Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1905-08-14
CHAPTER XXVIu.-tContiuued.)

on the first floor that the young Rou-
manian lived. and where. having learned
her trade as milliner In Paris, she was
engaged in it at Pekin. read the name
OF Nine. Znca Klork on a door. knock.
The door is opened
l am in the presence OF a young lady
who is perfectly charming. as Kinko
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, a pleasant, smiling face. In
fact. has she not been informed that the
Grand Transa static train has been in the
station ever since last evening, in spite
or the circumstances Of the journey, and
Is she not awaiting her betrothed from
one moment to another?
MademOiselle Klork is evidently much
surprised at seeing stranger in her
doorway. As she has lived several years
In France, she does not hesitate to rec
OKnlze me as Frenchman, and asks to
what she is indebted for my visit.
"Mademoiselle Zinca," l say, II arriv-
ed yesterday by the Grand Transasiatic."
The girl turned pale; her eyes became
troubled 1t was evident that she feared
something. Had Kinko been found in
his box? Had the fraud been discov-
cred? Was he arrested? Was he in
prison?
"MademOiselle Zinca-certain circum-
stances have brought to my knowledge
the journey of a young Roumanian-'
"kinko-my poor Kinko-they have
found him." she asks in a trembling
voice.
'No-no," say I, hesitating. "No one
knows, except myself. l often visited
him in the luggage van at night. We
We're companions, friends. l took him
few provisions"
"Oh, thank you. sir" says the lady,
taking me by the hand. with French
man Kinko was sure Of not being be-
trayed. and even of receiving help.
Thank you! Thank you. He loves me
so much, and love him. We met each
other in Paris. He was so kind to me.
Then when he went back to Titls l ask
ed him to come to me in that box. Is
the poor fellow ill?''
"No, Mademoiselle Zinca-no."
He asked you to come and tell me
he had arrived?'
"Ies-but-yOu understandable is
very tired after so long a journey"
as he ill?"
es-rather--rather ILL.,"
1.-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.
eve have had accidents on the road.
The train was nearly annihilated-a
frightful catastrophe@"
''He is dead. Kinko Ia dead"
The unhappy Zinca falls on to chair
and to employ the ina ginative phrase
oogy of the Chinese, her tears roll down
like rain on an autumn night. Never
have | seen anything so lamentable. But
1t will not do to leave her in this state,
poor girl. She is becoming unconscious.
l do not know where l am. l take her
hands. | repeat
"Mademoisele Zinca. Mademoiselle
Zinca,'
Suddenly there Is great noise in front
of the house. Shouts are heard. There
IL a tremendous to do, and amid the
tumult l hear voice.
cannot be mistaken. That is Kinko's
voice. | recognize it. Am l in my right
senses? Znca jumps up springs to the
window, opens it. 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-half
smashed. There has been a collision. The
cart has been run into by n carriage,
as the case was being got down. The
case has slipped Oh to the ground. 1t
has been knocked in. And Kinko has
jumped out like jack-inthe box-but
alive, very much alive!
| can hardly believe my eyes. What,
my young Koumanian did not perish in
the explosion? No. AS shall soon hear
from his own mouth, he was thrown on
to the line when the boiler went up, re-
NAMED there inert for time. found him
self nnjured-miraculous y-kept away
till he could slip into the van unperceiv-
ed. had just left the van after looking
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 journey of six thousand
kilometers on the Grand Transasatic
shut up in a box among the baggage
after escaping 80 many dangers. attacked
by bandits. explosion Of engine. he was
here, by the mere colliding Of cart
and carriage in a Pekin street, depriv-
ed of all the good of his journey.
The carter gave a yell at the sight of
a human being who had just appeared
In an instant a crowd had gathered, the
fraud was discovered. the police had run
up. And what could this young Rou-
manian do. who did not know word of
Chinese. but explain matters in the sign
languagep Zinca and l ran down to
him.
my Zinca-my dear Zinca" he ex.
claims, pressing the girl to his heart.
my Kinko-my dear Kinko." she re-
plies. while her tears mingle with his.
Monsieur Bombarnac" says the poor
fellow, appealing to my intervention.
"Kinko," reply, take 1t coolly, and
depend on me. You are alive, and We
thought you were dead"
But l am not much better off," he
nurmurs.
Mistake! Anything Is better than be-
ing dead-even when one is menaced by
prison, be 1t Chinese prison. Kinko is
dragged off by the police. amid the laugh
ter and bowls of the crowd.
CHAPTER xxx.
If ever the expression sinking In
sight of port" could be used In its pre-
else meaning. 1t evidently can In this