The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1910-07-15


to sink into a twilight obscurity, from
which shadowy forms melted as if by
magic and left the narrow pavements
untenanted. The sun had drawn be.
hind heavy black cloud, and low
mutter of thunder vibrated the build
ings.
Where have they gone?' he ques-
toned. wondering
Scott shrugged his broad shoulders.
tsPm afraid we'll find out in a min
ute,' he growled. Il was a fool to
humor you, Granville. We're in dew
IFS mess
Il don't understand now what it's all
about, Neal. What harm have we
done merely asking few questions?"
Granville's voice took on an injured
tone.
81 told you it was foolhardy to med
die in things that do not concern us.
Well have to run the gantlet of some
| thing. as we must do nowv' Scott
spoke in Il low tone, but his voice was
acute with restrained feeling.
run the gantletv' echoed Granville
family.
The other pointed up the gray tun-
mel of the street, where a patch Of
lighter gray shone like window in a
high wall.
"See that?" he asked.
eyes,
'That's the end of the street, the top
of the wall. The gray spot is our goal
now. Give me your gun, Dick. I'll
understand when to give it back to
you, never fear! There. Follow me.
Run for your life toward that gray
square of light at the top of the wall.
Remember, there are a thousand vel
low faces behind doors and windows
and lurking in alleyways. Our safety
depends upon our speed! Ready-gow
Like arrows from the bow the two
men shot forward, Scott leading by a
bare twelve inches. Granville's face
was quite pale, and he tried not to see
| the peering faces even as Scott had
described them. He heard long hiss
ing breaths, and strange shrill cries
broke behind him as he ran. They
passed through an empty street, yet as
they passed it was peopled behind
them with padding trit-trot of feet and
low cries and shrill cackles.
SCOTS long, white clad form covered
the distance with amazing agility. To
| ly a white streak which he must fol-
low or be struck in the back.
Time and again. he felt that some
assassin hand lowered over him. yet
he dared not turn his head lest the
hand make the downward stroke.
He painted up the incline in SCOTS
wake, with starting eyes glaring at the
gray patch of light growing larger
every moment. Behind him sharp
cries mingled with the pushing crowd.
| Afterward he never heard that shrill
cry of the Chinese, "Hai yah!" with
out the same feeling of blind terror
that pursued him up the incline of the
Jade Stone street to the very parapet
of the wall, where he fell GREATNESS
beside his friend. se
It was several moments before he
realized that they were safe at the
end Of the street. Several white clad
forms trooped along the wall from the
river gate and. sitting on the parapet,
stared inquisitively at Granville.
Feel better, old chapT' they asked
in chorus.
Haven't got all my wind back" ad-
mitted Granville dazedly. He wonder
ed vaguely why these chaps from the
club should have appeared ut the very
moment when. the danger over. he
and Scott had reached zone Of safety
at the top of the hill Their smiling
faces under white sun hats and the
general air of hilarity that prevailed
during the lighting Of cigarettes SEEM
ed strangely out Of place after his race
with death He shuddered slightly
and turned to Scott
That gentleman had Joined the 9TH
ers on the wall and seemed more in
tent on the fight of carrion crow
drifting black against the gray clouds
than on the recent exciting events.
"Why is it called the Jade Stone
street. Granville?" snickered Beals
from the end of the row.
Granville stared, at first uncompre-
hending and at last with growing
light. He got upon his feet and
scraped the mud from his white shoes.
"Was it plant?' he demanded.
Their roars of laughter answered his
question.
lie turned ana looked down Cne
street and into the jostling. shifting
crowd. A shrill Thai YAH pierced the
air, and he felt the hair crinkle along
his forehead and turned back swiftly
to hide his agitation.
Limitation, l suppose" he grunted,
half angry, wholly relieved for the
moment
SCOTS mirthful face sobered. and he
reached out a hand and pulled Gran
Vile down beside him. We've all
been through the mill. Dick" he ex-
planned. Its the only way to teach
a newcomer to keep away from the
native city If he has any idea of pry-
ing around. We run the new chaps