Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-06-08


which shadowy forms melted as Ii by
magic and left the narrow pavements
untenanted. The sun had drawn be-
hind q heavy black cloud. and low
mutter OF thunder vibrated the build
ings.
Where have they gomez" he ques-
toned. wondering.
Scott shrugged his broad shoulders.
I'm afraid wen ind out In a min
ute" he growled. II was a fool to
humor you. Granville. We're 10 dew
IFS mess"
II don't understand now what it's all
about, Neal. What harm have we
done merely asking a few questionsT
Granvilles voice took on an injured
tone.
II told you it was foolhardy to med
die in things that do not concern rs.
Wen have TO run the gantlet of some
thing. as we must do now" Scott
spoke in low tone. but his voice was
acute with restrained feeling.
Run the gantlet" echoed Granville
family.
The other pointed up the gray tun-
mel of the street. where q patch of
lighter gray shone like a window In a
high wall.
"See that?' be asked 3Hir
YES"
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 1t 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 q thousand gel
low faces behind doors and windows
and lurking in alleyways. Our safety
depends upon our speed: Ready-go"
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
Granville's tired eyes he seemed mere
~ 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 Scotts
wake. with starting eyes glazing 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 breathless
| beside his friend.
| 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 chapY' they asked
in chorus.
Haven't got all my wind back" ad-
/
ed vaguely why these chaps from the
club should have appeared at the very
moment when, the danger over. he
and Scott had reached q 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 flight OF a carrion crow
drifting black against the gray clouds
than on the recent exciting events.
why is it called the Jade Stone
| street, GranviIle?" snickered Beals
from the end Of the row.
! Granville stared. at first uncompre-
bending and at last with growing
light. He got upon his feet and
scraped the mud from his white shoes.
"was it a plant?" he demanded.
Their roars Of laughter answered his
question.
He turned and looked down the
street and into the jostling. shifting
crowd. A shrill Thai yah" pierced the
air. and be felt the hair crinkle along
his forehead and turned back swiftly
to hide his agitation.
Limitation, i suppose" he grunted.
half angry. wholly relieved for the
moment.
Scott's mirthful face sobered. and he
reached out 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 II he has any idea Of pry-
ing around. We run the new chaps
through this street. So many Of us
have run the gantlet that the natives
catch on in a minute when they see
! couple of Us drawing near and one a
stranger. They lend themselves un-
consciously to the little farce and dis
appear. But it might become trag-
edy at any moment If bad men from
| auu nfhar efraof Sh0uid he on hand