Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1910-10-01

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glance caught the maIcv"lrnt gaze OF
| the mandarin.
| Ling To Fey uttered few sharp
orders and the secretary moti"ncd the
| foreigners away from their staEd be
hind the table. Reluctantly they
stepped aside, careful that their backs
should be against shuttcred uncur-
tained window.
The secretary opened wide panel
In the bulkhead. disclosing Canopied
dais on which was a gilded and inlaid
chair On either side of the chair
stood one Of the mandarin's rctainers.
splendid in purple and silver and bear
Ing tall staff tipped with red feathers.
A low lacquered table was placed be.
fore the dais and spread with cloth
Of golden tissue. Then the mandarin
slowly arose and mounted into the
chair Of state.
"Sons of dogs" began the mandarin
politely, because l am a merclful ruler
l shall give you an opportunity to die
respectfully that your wretched souls
may be afforded some solace when you
taste the bitter torturcs of the neither
world l will graciously permit you
to drink cup Of poison instead Of
having your heads cut off as you de-
serve!"
Ponsonby lounged forward and re-
moved his half consumed cigarette
from between his smiling lips.
"Then the deal Is OFF," he Queried.
The mandarin frowned thoughtfully.
II do not understand your meaning"
he said Mt last.
The millionaire explained. Burnett,
his broad back pressed against the
window, felt the shutter give beneath
his weight. A little rush of cool air
came in the opening. and with it came
distant sound that awokc every
sense
Ling To Fey was speaking: The
only deal that will be conSummated be-
tween us tonight Is that you will place
the documents that have been drawn
up, together with Mr.. Ponsonby's
check on the Shanghai bank. on the ta-
BILE before me-"
"And after that?" queried Ponsonby.
AFTER that you may quaff the poi
soned cup" answered the mandarin
amiably.
Burnett over at the window had man
aged to slip his handkerchief through
the crack at his back and wedge one
corner so that 1t tiuttercd out into the
night. Then he came forward and
stood beside his companion.
Ling To Fey's face was inf1cxible in
its cruelty. place the check on the
table, he commanded.
In unison the two Americans flung
the remnants Of their cigarettes on the
low table. There's what's left Of It,"
said Burnett grimly.
Before the mandarin could COM
mand the servants to kill Burnett's
hand shot up in the air with n ges-
ture.
"Excellency, listen The cry of the
specter Bird" he shouted
The mandarin seemed to shrivel in
size as he bent forward, one fat hand
raised to his ear. his face pallid with
fear. The servants had paused as IL
frozen in their tracks. with their jet
eyes fixed in terror, arms unified,
menacing destruction to the two men
at the window.
Then out of the night there came
strange, unearthly cry.
When Its last echo had died away
Burnett spoke In a solemn voice,
though his keen eyes sparked hope
fully.
Let all beware who hear the voice
Of the specter bird! Let them cease
what they are doing, make peace with
enemies, lest they die dreadful
death! Listen. excellency! 1t may
come again."
Then all at once 1t did come again
In the very cabin Of the junk, and at
the sound Ling To Fcy's huge bulk
lifted up in the air with an unearthly
cry Of terror and fell lifeless and
twitching on the floor before his dals.
dead from very fright.
Through the doorway there stream
ed file of American marines headed
by an officer, who leaped forward at
the outstretched hands of his fellow
cOuntrymen at the window.
Just In time, eh?" he beamed as
they voiced their thanks. Good thing
you pressed us into service as body
guard, eh, Burnett? The Grayling has
sneaked along in your wake for hours,
When the junk was wedged into this
creek we became suspicious that some
dirty work was up and secuted. One
by one we caught the fellows on deck
and put them into the dispatch boat.
Then one of the boys saw your. hand
kcrchief at the window, and we work
ed the specter bird cry on them. Does
the business every time"
"Wherc are we now?"
THE GraylinG is towing you down
the river. Another half hour and
you'll be In the city"
In the early morning hours in Pom
sOnbys rooms at the hotel the million
aire drew from his pocket the mag
nificent ruby that had formed the but
ton on Ling To Fey's official cap and
handed it to the lieutenant Of the
Grayling.
THE cry of the specter bird saved
our lives, Decker" he said, with emo
ton.
Not on your life," vociferated the
other; makes me crawl when think
Of soaring the old beggar to death.
Wouldn't have cared rap If 1t had