The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-04-30
CHAPTER VI.-Continued.

CHAPTER Vi.-Continued.
In constant terror until his nerves
became ShredS 10 torment him, alert
by night and day. he trayerSed the
continent, and at last entered he
gateway OF the northwest, where SO
many Of his countrymen had resided
prior to the outbreak of hostilities, but
where now he might claim neither
friends nor sympathizers. Here indeed
was No Mans Land where none ex.
tended welcome. From then on he
must depend entirely on his own re.
sources, and he understood perfectly
we'll that he was nearing hard finish
OF long race. He lost no time in
making a start.
Under the pretext of going to Il
camp where he was to cook he in
duced launch that was starting out
toward the mouth of Puget sound 10
take him aboard as a passenger and
land him at its journeys end short
distance from Port Townsend. He
was dropped of late in the evening
at a tiny landing, and later saw the lit.
tie boat speed back toward Seattle.
He was without food save such as had
been given him. and frightened the
belt beneath his Chinese garb in an
ticipation OF hard trip. Unused to
the reugher life. he made painful
progress, and nothing save his DIES
peration enabled him to traverse the
primitive strip between him and the
city. Footsore and dependent, he
forged doggedly ahead, until at last
by sheer will power alone he gained
the outskirts of the port. It's wooden
wharf was deserted, and many of the
houses were closed and vacant, the
fear OF Japanese shells and govern
ment weakness having driven the
more prosperous inhabitants away.
Thoroughly worn out, he waited un-
til night fell, then crawled into coal
shed and slept as only the worn and
weary can sleep. He rose refreshed
and jubilant because he had gained
thus far without accident, hunger be-
ing his only immediate discomfort.
From his depleted store cloth he ex-
tracted the smallest coin, bent on
seeking food before the city was
awake. He made his way down the
hillside to the business section with
out attracting attention, and entered
the doorway of a grocery store, where
a sleepy-looking youth was sweeping
away the previous days waste In |
broken English he made known his
wants, and then, finding the salesman
apparently friendly and stupid, lost
some of his native caution and began
TO ask questions regarding the watch
kept along the frontier. At his first
query the boy looked at him slyly; but
after moments hesitation fell in
and answered everything readily, as
surfing him, however, that it would be
dlfncult for any living thing to get
past the soldiers who kept watch and
ward over the boundary line.
Elated by the apparent ease with
winch ne had secured provisions, he
again fetreated toward the edge of the
city, mentally formulating plans for
stealing boat when night came. and
ny thls means to make his way to Van.
couVer, where he would be ON British
SOIL Had he looked back he would
nave seen that the boy, broom in
nand, watched him with an asspnn.
lion OF mere idle interest for mo.
nent only, then hurriedly threw off
us apron. banged the door shut and
an as fast as his legs would carry
Inn TO big building farther down
ne street. 1t was where the officials
u the port held forth. The alarm
lad been given!
seigo rested in a thicket at thel
age OF forest and partook of al
breakfast, laughing mean
'hlie at the dullness of the Ameri.
ans and the boy in particular He
egretted the loss of his handkerchief ,
men he feared must have been
ropped In the grocery store. but {
miled at the thought of being within
few miles of refuge where others ,
llght be bought and where he could :
nd ease and comfort. J
From back OF him deep believing