Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-27

murky dark, was a light, which seemed
nearer than 1t was; half mile along the
east stretch Of fine sand lay Rosendael. but
invisible deserted. The noise of Dunkirk
could not be heard, but g. blurred hint or
luminosity marked its situation. A stone &
throw away, on the left, stood a row OF five
bathing machines. The upward tending re-
gion of sand hill and dune behind the villa
was lost in gloom.
Yet the near was not invisible Hardy
having passed the broad band of level Gard,
was able to make his way with rolerable
precision among the knobs and light, I'M
even ground. Once he colllded with a low
backless bench. half sunken askew in q
scraggy growth Of grass; once and again
he stumbled into hole of sand.
The house was very far. 1t stood on a
slightly raised plateau of frmer ground
facing the sea; and the light seen from the
sea was in an open window near the
ground. The villa was white and small; ii
doors and windows Gothic.
He stole STOPPING to the window and
looked In. The room. lighted by a lamp,
was a species or salon. On a chair in a
corner burned a Chinese lantern.
From window on the right side also he
saw ooze n radiance from within, and with
cautious tread he approached 1t also The
easement was latticed and overgrown with
cheVrefeullle. But he was able TO observe
that the room gaudiiy decorated, tap
estried with green and crimson silk In the
center a spread table, laden with fruit and
pidlc VI SOIu- a fDulifIuQG OF cOlOEGQ IAN
terms made 1T a nest of variegateI CLAM
ours. And here. busy about the table he
saw two richly dressed Chinese.
He made the tour of the house and saw
no other living thing. All was dead silence
and stagnation. He came back to the
front window dropped in the letter directed
to Yen How, and turned away
His way now was down hill, and he walk
ed faster, with less precaution, swinging
freely along. He had gone on in this way
for perhaps five minutes, when he STONED
suddenly short, all eyes and ears. lie had
heard the distinct sound of footsteps near
In two or three seconds the muzzle of a
pistol was at his forehead, and the rnuzzle
of his pistol was at the forehead of a man.
They peered closely into each others face
Wen, you do not fire. and 1 will not"
said the man, cooiIy.
He was not an something in
mis- lntonaton showed that; Vet he smoke
English.
He had in fact, recognized Hardy: but
Hardy did nor recognize him.
IT is agreed?, the man said
We'll"
Drop your pistol
You drop yours"
And you promiseY'
There was thud on the ground. ana a
moment after another.
ron! You have lost your chance" sam
the man. ecu
Then Hardy knew Yen.
Even though IL was a totally different
I,
the great apostle, who had been awaiting
with restless wanderings over the dimes
his tarrying bride. 1t was Yen In sirnnle
English clothes. with a hard felt hat owe,
his bald forehead. and without onene
behind.
The consciousness of failure OF folly
thrilled through Hardy like pain
He had, in truth. lost the best possible
chance
Well he said after minute. land Won
have lost yours, too, Yen How
u will get you another time, boy"
If do not get you"
We'll well. said YEN
They had moved on a few steps-toeetber
There was silence in the darkness. Alreadv
IN the two men was working the strange
long hours that night: the law which made
IL next to impossible to them to tear them
selves one from the other
Yen low hit upon the same half-sunten
bench upon which Hardy had Stunned
Hardy put his foot upon it and Ieant his
elbow on his knee at one end At the other
Yen How sat down. Below them was the
unduiant spread of weed-patehed sand and
the vague noising Of the sea.
Yen How, who was smoking, took the
cigar from his lips and said:
so you got away, after aliT'
Hardy did not answer.
How did you get away?''
God, / suppose, let me free, that might
strangle you yet. YEN said Hardy.
"PohT said Yen How.
Minute after minute rolled by In silence.
punctuated by the faint putting sounds Of