The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-03-06
When Lung Sing
WhiStled
BY CLAUDE PAMARES


cared copper whether he talked or not
he still held his place.
whats the matter?' asked Colonel
Spears wife, who was mistress of the
ranch, as the foreman finally reached
the door.
THAT heather back there Ia wills
Ting"
"Well, can't heather whistler
| There Is no law against 1t, but Lung
Sing has been here over a year, and
this is his first toot. Wonder what has
happened to chlrk him upr'
II can't say. l had him in here an
hour ago and told him that he'd have to
take the blackboard tomorrow morning
and drive over to Piue Hill to meet
Fannie Williams. She's coming on to
stay with us month or two. you know.
They think something Is the matter
with her lungs, and the doctor has rec
commended this climate The colonel
has got to go over to Wolf Creek, and,
of course, the rest Of you are busy"
"But-bur / don't like the ldea," said
the foreman as he scratched his head.
why don't you"
Because Lung Sing Is whistling.
When heather whistles look out for
him"
The woman laughed and turned away,
and minute later the foreman was
walking off. He passed the cook house
again, and the Chinman was still whis-
Ting softly to himself.
of it Oo{n Ind III hat haze ~,
to some deviltry. I'll tell the boys to
keep an eye on him."
AS soon as he had cooked the mems
breakfast Eext morning Lung Sing set
out on his ten mile drive to the rail-
road. He was given many words Of
caution by the colonels wife, and he
promised over again to drive slowly
and bring the girl and her trunk safely
to the ranch. His face was as impas-
sive as washboard until he had left
the house half a mile behind him; then
be puckered his mouth and began to
whistle. Between whistles he grinned
and smiled
An hour and half later he drove up
to the little station on the plains, and
when the train came In his passenger
stepped from one of the parlor cars.
Lung Sing welcomed her with grunt.
He grunted again as he put her bag
gage aboard the vehicle. and he put ON
blank look Us the station agent said
| to the girl:
II suppose he's the cook over at the
| Star and they sent him because all the
others were busy"
"Oh, I'll excuse him." laughed the
| girl as she settled herself And next
moment Lung Sing was driving away.
| 1t was in June, and the weather was
cool and pleasant, and the girl almost
forgot the man beside her as mile after
mile was passed. Once or twice she
was conscious that he was whistling,
but as she didn't know whether China
men usually whistled or not she did
! not give the matter a second thought
She had been informed by letter that
the drive from the station to the ranch
house would not occupy over two hours
at the farthest. That meant her ar
rival by noon. Her watch showed her
when that hour had come round, but
she could see no sign of civilization. In
| fact, she saw that the vehicle had left
the road, such as it was, and was pro-
ceeding over the unmarked plains.
"Are we almost there? she asked as
she turned to Lung Sing and spoke
for the first time since leaving the
station.
"Lille while-lille WHILE" he replied
as he stared straight ahead.
But how is it that you are OF the
roadT
LOAD allie light"
A minute later the Chinaman was
whistling. 1t wasn't the honest whis-
tie of an American, but there was
something hypocritical and deceiving
about it. The girl had nothing further
to say. The man would not have been
sent II he hadn't been all right, and II
he had left the track it was probably
to take a short cut and reach the
house all the sooner. 1t was, not until
her watch marked 1 o'clock and the
vehicle was being driven among the
scrub pines and cedars, along a stretch
Of foothills, that the girl turned and
seized Lung Sing by the arm and ex-
claimed:
II know you are not taking me to
the ranch housed What do you mean
by thisT
"Alle light-alle light" replied the
Celestial as he hurried the horse for
ward.
"But it is not all right! Let me out
at oncew
He seized her with one hand to hold
her in the seat while he guided the
horse with the other, but in the strug-
gle the animal was refined into a tree,
/ and the vehicle stuck fast. Then Lung
Sing developed the plot that had been
working in his brain ever since the
moment he was told that lie must drive
| over for the visitor.
| With a fierce scowl ON his face, In
his pigeon English he ordered the girl
to proceed In certain direction. For
y rods beyond where she had left the
| blackboard there was u rocky bluff hid.
den under the cedars and In the blun
cave of considerable dimensions
Upon entering the cave he tied the
girls hands and feet and then retraced
his steps. The vehicle was backed Oh
the brink Of gorge, the harness flung
over it, and then the man led the horse
into thicket and cut it's throat.
When he reappeared at the cave he
unbound his victim and lay down on g
nat stone at the mouth and told her his
plans. He had heard of brigands and
holdups and abductions. He had alb
Quoted her and would hold her captive
until Colonel Spear was willing to
come down with $1,000 in cash and
promise not to set the law on his trail
He had been wondering for several
years how he could make grand coup
but fate had never aided him before
He knew the Chinese cook at Crescent
ranch and through him could get pro
visions and open communication with
the colonel. She would be well treat
ed, but she would be held captive II
the cave until results could be brought
about.
Lung Sing rested Oh his right side
and elbow as he told his story. The
sun had got far In the west, and as i
shone over the hill forming the roof o.
the cave 1t cast shadows down in front
AS the story was finished, and 1t haf
been listened tc without word In 70
ply, Lung Sing began to whistle. HI
had brought his plot safely thus IA
and felt that he had right to whistle
As he whistled new shadow appeared
among the shadows. 1t fell upon tn
fat stone at the Chinaman's heels and
was SO clean cut that the girl drew u
her breath at sight OF It. She knew !
for the head Of a great cat. The heat
moved to and. fro. and the ears Werket