The Washington times., 1909-07-24
THE SIGNAL. OF DEATH

think / would have cut this loilS ago
If ] COuld2 l tell you, no captive be-
hind prison bars is more closely watch
ed than ]. The least move to escape on
my part would be equivalent to signing
my own death warrant They put up
with me here, and keep NE as their
leader, simply because they need NE.
They need my reSOurceful brains and
unfiiaching viii; but they are taking
no chaEces on my escape. Let them
once get IL into their heads that l am
planning TO desert them, and my life
wouldn't be worth a minutes purC6saSe-
That" he pointed toward the man
hole and the sewer, would be my
finish, no less surely tam it has been
Of all the many I have sent the same
way"
But how did you ever get into such
devilish business irOWned Moore,
There must surely have been start
10 II all, dno then IL seems 10 me u
would have been easy TO draw back
'Oh, that is a long story, returned
the leader slOOmlly; and perhaps 1
could have drawn back at the first,
and perhaps not. I got into it. by
drifting down to Chinatown, just as
YOU have been in the habit of doing,
attracted 10y the sights and the strange
foreign flavor of the place; only In those
days II was less Overrun BY tourists
and curiosity seekers than now, and the
Chinese were more ready TO talk with
one and appear on friendly terms.
1t was ali appearance, Of course, fOf
no Chinaman really entertains friendly
feelings toward any American. But II
deceived me- and i felt immensely fiat
tered when they took especial notice
Of me and began TO intrust me with
various commissions. I didn't know it
at the time, but most Of these commits
sions were in the nature of espionage
on the members Of rival longs and
ran an excellent chance OF getting a
knife in my back for my pains.
However. ] had a discreet tongue in
nay head, and an unasSuming way Of
getting around, and ! managed to ac-
complish what was wanted without get
ting into serious trouble. Indeed, Sc
well did I do the work that they elected
me 70 membership In the tong, and /
being young fool, accepted the hon
or
1T wasn't long thea Of course be-
fore / got my eyes opened, and would
willingly have withdrawn: but l was
bound by their oaths. and / WAS afraid
to risk the penalties of 0lSohedience or
a show of faint-hearteduess.
There was in fact but one thing for
me to do in order to preserve myself
/ from annihils ton, and that WAS to put
myself at their head.
But there never was 4 truer adage
than that, uneasy is tie head that
wears a crown. - he coucladed grimly.
u can almost find il in my heart 20
envy the long release which awaits you.
Moore gave a violent start. He had
/ forgotten in listening TO the others
story his own very precariOus plight.
The leader bent toward Kim. What
would YOU do to be delivered from the
death plunge-aud the rats2" he whis-
pered. thriIingly.
Moore merely looked at him. Words
were unnecessary in such a case.
There is a way" vouchsafed the man
i'm the mask. IF YOU are stout-heaTted
enough to risk it, but only one"
And that?' questioned Tom.
els to take my place. and he the lead
or of this band of iends.'
The Continuation of This story VIII
BE Found in TOmOrrOw's
Issue of The Times.