Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-09-27
A Story ot Chm

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2 Copyright BY American Press Asso- :
x citation. 1911. &
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Garland and Harpeth met on the Pa
ciic liner Tropico. and from the first
attraction Of congenial natures there
developed a warm personal liking.
Garland was from the state Of Maine,
and Harpeth was a son Of California.
Out Of 100000 human souls fate
had drawn these two. one from the
east and the other from the west, to
play the principal parts In q strange
Incident
They had left the fairy islands OF
Japan far behind and were DRAWING
near to tho fat outline OF The China
coast
Are you going 10 stop over IN
ehanghatr asked Garland with .
touch Of Yankee inquisiuvensss.
Haven't heard you say"
There was q little pause while Har.
peth's eyes sought ths rising coast line
Possibly" Hs clipped the word
rather sharply.
Garland glanced ct him curiously.
You know I really didn't mean to Dry
into your affairs." be said apologetical.
". tits rather . natural question foe
one tourist to ask another"
Surely; no harm DONE" returned
Harpeth quickly. ~How shout youc
self-you going to stop overr'
It was Garland's turn to show embar-
Tassment The quick look Of interro-
cation he flashed at his companiop
was met by Harpeth's expression Of
languid Indifference It was quite
plain that Harpeth had asked the Ques.
ton merely to make conversation. not
that he cared a rap about the matter.
Maybe I'll stop over to see the city y
said Garland
Clumsy junks came lettering over
the sea toward the mouth Of the
Yangste, but the Tropico left them
far behind as she steamed up to her
anchorage of Wusung and landed heI
eager passengers on to the little trans
fer tugs that would convey them up
the tributary tidal river. the Huangpu,
to hospitable Shanghai.
In the crowd Garland and Harpeth
missed each other, accidentally or by
design. Garland could scarcely wait
for the tug to make her landing at the
jetty before he was OF and swinging
away up the bund toward the hotel
Of his choice
The electric lighted hotel, with its
air Of western luxury mingled with
it, quiet eastern service. impressed the
Yankee wanderer most favorably. and
he retired to his room and bath. whis-
ting cheerfully at the prospect Of the
excellent dinner that he was sure
awaited him below.
But when the meal was concluded
and he had enjoyed the gasronomic
delights which his fancy had conjured
up he retired to the smoking room to
pore over a queer little map drown
with brush strokes Of india ink on
mottled tissue paper.
It was an hour after midnight when
he left the hotel and made bis way
along the bund to where flight Of
stone steps led down to the river.
Here were several sampans moored to
the landing. and the coolies immedi-
ately fell to fighting for his patronage.
He settled the matter by stepping into
one of the little boats. and. being
bounced upon by its delighted owner.
he was soon padded out into the
stream. which glistened In the moon
light like moleen silver.
"Kaoyang! SabeT' he cried sharply.
The coolie nodded his head and
whirled the sampan about until 1t
headed up stream. For a mile he pad
died steadily with his long sweep-ike
oar and then suddenly ran the boat In
between high banks on the north shore
and grounded In the mud
As II guided by some invisible hand.
he who could not recollect ever having
touched foot on this soil before sought
for and found a narrow path winding
upward to where ruined temple
crouched among a group Of distorted
wind blown cedars The moon sent
long rays down and here and there
pierced the secret places with an tllu.
minating touch It showed Garland
the outline Of DARK arched opening.
and he made for 1t feariessly.
Just before he reached It he drew
from his pocket the little map he had
studied earlier In the evening and turn
ed the flash from his pocket light upon
It
Pocketing the map and swapping OF
the light to hold It in his left hand
while his right hand closed around
a small repeating revolver. Garland
plunged into the opening to find him
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