Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-08-15

on his right: they stood upon the edge
Of shelving bank. he found. guessing
the beach lay at the foot Of this do
clivity. He descended ten feet or so.
and, the dog at heel. skulked along IN
the rear of the buildings until he
came to one which he judged to b
, about opposite the group of shadows.
Then climbing again he entered the
structure BY its rear doorway-which
owned no door.
Opening ON the roadway were two
windows. with broken and empty
sashes, and doorway with vacant
hinges. Coast approached one Of the
windows. The dog. laundering help
lessly about for 4 time. At length
found the door and stopped astride
the SIN. SHINING the air. ears prtcks1
forwarl. body vibrant with the ~
hemence Of It's srowls.
From . position near tho window.
Coast could see with passable distinct
ness the prone body and round 1t .
gathering Of four figures.
Blackstock stood some feet from the
body, his feet we'll apart, his heavy
shoulders inclined slightly forward.
his hands clasped behind him. He
was clothed in shining, shapeless
black oilskins: the dropping brim OF q
sou'wester hid all his face save . red
patch OF cheek.
Near the dead man, two Cinnamon
toiled with spades. waist-deep in
trench. Their bodies. clothed In thin.
saturated blue jackets. bent and re-
covered with nearly automatic pre-
cision as they delved and cast up the
loam Behind them little mound OF
fresh-turned earth grew rapidly.
To one side a third Chinaman stood
In attitude of inperturbable attention.
apparently overseeing the job. He was
a large man, largely builded: taller
tr:n Blackstock by at least three
inches, with disproportionately long
arms, large hands and feet. In that
drearily Elusive light he seemed
giant. His face, to Occidental eyes.
was yellow mask, brutally modelled
but quite devoid Of expression.
Presently he uttered single word
In Chinese. and the labor came to an
end. He turned to Blackstock
"All ready" he said brusquely, IN
clear English
Blackstock inclined his head. az Z
doubtful. How deep?" he asked.
-Four feet"
Blackstock appeared to reflect brief
". 'Six would be better" he said
However kick him in and
get him covered as quick as you can.
"All right" returned the Chinaman
stolidly.
He issued instructions to his coun-
tyymen In q swift tumble OF sharp syf
tables
The pitiless brutality of the pro-
ceeding, together with the s,ckening
thump of the body falling into the
trench. affected Coast momentarfly
with sort oe vertigo. with something
closely resembling nausea. ana wruns
from him an involuntary cry OF horror.
Good Cod" he said aloud-how loud.
ly he soon realised.
Barely had tho words been spoken
when Blackstock. ms II galvanized.
whir1ed IN Coastxs direction. Who's
that" he demanded sharply. his fea.
lures darkly distorted with appre-
tension who spoke?"
His fingers tore nervously at the
fastening Of his oilskin coat: he 1erked
It open and plunged one hand into
aide pocket. as u seeking a weapon.
In surprise the tall Chfnaman turned
toward him. Who spoke?" be tier
ated. al II he had failed to catch that
cry which had Enthusiastically reached
ears that seemed attuned to almost
preternatural acutsness. Il heard
nothing.
Quickly his gaze quested past Black
stock. raking their surroundings, and
rested on his face, indefinite blur
though ii must have seemed viewed
through the window at that remove.
He fancied that the mans small black
eyes narrowed, and he held his
breath. fearing he was discovered and
wondering whether or not to make q
break for 1t by way of the back door.
Then, to his unspeakable relief, the
Chinaman's glance travelled on and
08oIu RduSCu.
1T must have been the dog" he
said, hts precise English oddly assert
ing with his foreign information.
For the first time Coast became
aware that the animal had left the
doorway A slight shift of position
enabled him to discover It standing at
pause halfway between the building
and the group round the grave
The dog? Mo-" Blackstock e1ac-
ulatsd nervously. Dogs don't
speak"
Tt must have been the dog" the
Chinaman repeated. 1T 10 there"
"where?" Blackstock moved un-
easily. seeming to sense q menace in
the very proximity Of the animal
Keep 1t away from me. d'you hear?
Don't let 1t come near me. Kick It on
kill the damn brute II II comes this
way!" His tones hatted strangely. al
II he were In truth MORALLY afraid Of
the animal 'Tt hates mo-" he said in
q mumble-"hates mel"
Let me have your pistol" the
Chinaman put In. II think it means
to attack 10. Give me the pistol and
I win dive It on"
Az II 10 CONFIRM the wisdom Of this
suggestion % we'll as Blackstock's
Hn.ea IN Aoa at that instant intAY>