Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-05-02

The Edge Of Hazard
BY GEORGE HORTON
Copyrighted, 1906 BY The Bob1s-Merrm Company
! CHAPTER XVIII (continued)
BY GEORGE HORTON

CHAPTER XVIII (continued)
Up to this moment he had not been
able to realize that human beings,
many OF whom could read and write,
could be capable Of such fanaticism,
or that oredence in the medieval sup.
erstttion OF child-sacrifice could still
ex1st. The thought that he WAS alone
here In the midst Of this irresponsible
population gave him uneasiness as to
1iH own safety. He wondered how
generally the report was circulated
That ne himself WAS Jew, and the
suspicion crept through his mind that
perhaps Vasili was responsible for 1t.
Could It be possible that the Russian
cherished ambitions of being made
manager? Hardy looked at his pistol
I and determined, If it became neces-
! sAry, to defend himself, But as FOR
B&ruch, would 1t be possible to 10
ANYTHING for him? There were, he
remembered, about a dozen Jewish
families in town, whose residences
were clustered together in one quart-
81, while the house in which Baruch
dweit with his aged mother was at
some distance from these. Perhaps
1t would be possible to reach Mordecai
before the Christians got there and
warn him. II necessary, he would
Dffer the Jew shelter Of the store He
seized his hat and went out into the
dimly-lighted street. He had gone on
~ short distance when boy stop
ped him with a OBTAINING hand. Hardy
looked down aud his eyes fell on a
Korean youth. He knew instantly that
It was q Korean from the costume
bagg ytrousers, loose blouse and hat
Of bamboo frame covered with hair
cloth.
Ten thousands pardons, Excellen-
ey,s sAid the boy In imperfect Russian
came to see If you could give me
employment. l have been in town
only two days, and must have work.
can run errands or carry packages.
shall be very useful to you,- you
don't know how useful and indus
frious ] shall be! And am intelligent,
too very, very intelligent"
The plea was SO ingenious, the
young voice so eager, that Hardy was
touched. &
II am in a great hurry now, my
boy" he said. BE here when
come back, and l will talk with you.
We could use an errand boy. was
thinking of that very thing today"
'tBut, Excellency," persisted the
boy, perhaps can be of use to you
now. You will see how intelligent |
ami" He spoke rapidly, and his Rus
sian though bristling with errors, was
easily understood. Hoping to get
employment OF you and to become
useful. have made inquiries, The
people here hate you. and they are
thirsiing for the. blood Of the, Jews.
They will kill and maim,- PERTAINS
they will begin tonight and your life
will be in danger Whatever your ar
rand Is, let me go on 1t. Do you be-
lieve In God? Perhaps God sent me to
you'll"
Hardy stood for moment in deep
You are very bright boy" he
said at last. II really believe you
could do this thing better than /. Run
then to the Jewish quarter and see
what is going on. Then hasten to
the house of Mordecai Baruch,- do
you know where 1t is?"
Yes, Excellency. You passed there
this morning with him, and he went
tn.
We'll! You have been shadowing
me. Tell Mordecai to bring his mother
to my store. If they are in real dan
ger, and will try to protect them.
The Russians will hardly dare to at
tack American property. Then run
back to me as fast as you can"
Yes, Excellency."
The boy had gone. and Hardy, after
Watching his slender form as it flew
down the street until it disappeared
( q go 10 nr thy cd nd
tered the store. Removing his coat
and hat, he sat down at his table,
and waited the boys return. The
more he thought Of this occurrence,
the stranger It seemed to him. Sell
dom had he acted so purely on I'M
pulse as In the present instance But
the boy had come up to him SO sud-
denly, he was SO quick-witted and his
proposition SO sensible, that there was
no resisting him. Hardy had heard
that the Koreans were. a bright race,
nOturally, but never before had he
received personal evidence of the
fact. He now concluded that they
compared favorably in this respect
with the precocious Japanese.
In less, than half an hour the boy
was back. The housekeeper brought
nlm To tue QOOF OF Aaruy living
room and admitted him. He had the
girlish cast of features that had made
It so difficult for Hardy to distinguish
between the Korean boys and girls IN
Vladivoetok His hair was drawn up
into a tight knot on top of his head.
and his, face, save for a livid scar
across his right cheek and temple, was
positively beautiful.
s''Well?' said Hardy.
1.-The worst is happening" said the
boy quietly. "The wolves are bowling
and have already smelled blood They
are nhaddened by the reent of It, They
are demolishing the Jewish houses,
are stealing their valuables and burn
ing their furniture. A number OF the
Jews are barricaded In the Jewish
store, and a great crowd is collected
ii. front, bowling for blood. Mordecai
and bis mother have disappeared"
.es.My. Cod" exclaimed Hardy. II
must go Immediately to the police"
sasrt will do no good" said the boy,
~the chief of the police has left town
and the police themselves are assist
ing in the work Of destruction. Your