The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-20
A JAPANESE SPY.
BY LEO wEsTMEATH CRANE.

(Author of The Firebrands,' etc., (Copyright, 1906. by Joseph B. Bowies) It was a low-eaved place where cat tle had once been stabled. Ho Toi and the man >and twenty-odd others now coupled 1t. They lay stretched upon thick covering of straw. each in the wearied posture he had assumed at the close of the days meal and the blank on-coming of monotonous night Plucking out from his bed a strand of straw having a tasseied end. the cunning Ho Toi began dragging 1t deli cately over the face of the man be- side him, cautiously, ready at the slightest alarm, to drop down in feign- ed sleep. With sigh and convul- sive movement the man turned to seek relief, twisting into new pose. But ever followed the straw. Ho Toi trem- bled the man might do a thousand things other than that desired. Ho Toi caught his br breath--as with q little pufing of the lips the man murmured: "Please--do not, O Hana"
 The words were Japanese! Japan ese! Yet the man was dressed as a coolie, and was within the Russian lines beyond Harbin.
 A little chill of terrorized realization crept up along the spine of Ho Toi and the potent straw grew heavy in his fin- gers until 1t felt as a murderous club.
 Better for him had he been born dumb" muttered Hoi Toi, laughing a moment later in cunning triumph. 50 in five days at most will I be on the road back to my country" At thin gray dawn Ho Toi and his bedfellows were aroused. The coarse oaths or a soldier startled them from sleep.
 They were marched. gaping. stum- bling company, to place near the river bank, where each was served -t. h tu AA had been devoUred ravenously, the days work upon the bridge began.
 The bridge was a part of that slen der thread which the Russian spider had swung from continent to oonti- ncnt Over 1t crept the vast web of invincible steel that was to enmesh the drowsy Orient But the spider had times breaking of its own weight, sometimes sagging beneath the burden of that which it was meant to carry. And when this happened. the spider grew feverishly busy at repairs, for it was in a barren country
 Ho Toi and his twenty-odd bedfel- lows. though but so many atoms in the millions to be ensuared, were for the moment invaluable to those who wished communication quickly estab- lished.
 When they were set to work Ho Toi sought out the man whose cry he had heard in the night. They bent to lift the same piece of timber, and they carried it, stepping from trestle to tres tie over the river.
 When at a safe distance from the watching soldier, TIo Toi began:
 where is your home, brother?"
 'In the country around Pei-Thsng."
 "Ahaa-I knew you for stranger. The people there are so-so different
 aF
 "T had not noticed" replied the other man slowly.
 ''Thev are SO like the Japanese"
 when Ho Toi said this he watched the man keenly.
 II have not known those people" he said. simply
 "Is it so' eagerly went on Ho Toi, assuming great enthusiasm.
 when were you in that country, my friend?" blandly asked the other.
 That is-I have heard as much" corrected Ho Toi. In some haste. q have never been so far south as this hefore. I am from the upper hills, Several traders once came through my country and they told me many things. The Japanese are indeed a mighty peo- nIc Think of their blowing up that bridge when the sentries were at hoth ends nf it. You should be proud There is something about your eyes"
 The Growl of a soldier close by