Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1911-10-06

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shore at this point had been cleveriy
contrived by artificial means to form
strong place Of defense. A little
party Of richly dressed men were en-
tering one of the low arched entrances
that ap1leafed to 1deFee the solid rock
BY kicks aud threats their captofs
made the Americans understand that
they were to 20 ashore. and soon they
had ianded and were being ushered
through the same low entrance they
had observed.
AS each bowed his head and entered
there was little doubt ia his mind that
he would ever emerge from that noun
tain Of rock. II he did Il would not
be alive. If a Chinese pirate lives up
to his ugly reputation
A series Of winding passages led
through the rock and finally terminal.
ed In small room followed out OF
the granite Here were rich hannings
and silken carpet One Of the Chi
nese disappeared through cnrtained
doorway and presently returned to
confer with his companions
Then the three Americans were
| pushed thrtA's,a the doorway to fnd
themselves Il, = large grotto. curtained
and carpete and richly furnished
with bronEes and porcelains. embroid-
cries and rare carvings
In a large high backed chair. carved
into the rude semblance Of throne.
sat large and very fat Chinese bis
little black eyes seemed TO sink into
the flesh of bis face and becoAa mere
points Of black jet. HIS chin rolled "a
his satin covered breast. and his huge
fat hands were ciumslly clasped alluHt
his capacious waist. On his big he..d
there was perched a black velvet si.na-
cap.
The Americans were garbed as they
had been seized. and their stormcoais
covered them from neck to heel Nlw
their eoats were stripped or and up
der the direction OF the leader The
prisoners were searched thoroughly.
Yellow claws relieved them Of watch
es, money and jewels and gingerly APP
propriated their weapons. After that
they crowded about the three mud en-
deavored to make them understand
something they were trying to explain.
Ellis, who was in Shanghai bank;
ing house. knew some scraps Of the
language, aud. although this southern
dialect was strange to him. be min-
aged to convey the meaning to bis
companions that the leader Of the
band was prepared to offer them a
chance for life.sa M
''He's got a necklace there. See fhat
string Of ivory beads? Wen. ITS all
white save one. and that's a ball of
pink coralz He says the one tliat ean
get it off the chain without disturbing
the other beads may go free. The 9TH
ers get-you know
Lets see the chain. said Ahsnn,
ard Ellis made known the request
which was Immediately granted The
leader took from his neck large
chain of polished ivory beads the size
of small pea. The chain was a rich
creamy yellow save for the one head
Of an exquisite rose tinted coral. It
was strung on fine woven copper wiie.
and the joining of the wire was not
discernible.
"How about the gunsT' whispered
Lyman excitedly. Il believe can
SPLIT it off first popr'
"Then its your chance" sad tie
others generously. for you knew we
wouldn't stand aeShow anyway
'If it's my chance, said Lyman
coolly. then I'll tigure to get the lot
of US OF Ask him If can have a
try with my revolver at solving his
problem
The leader nodded with an amused
smile, and Anson and Ellis held the
necklace suspended between them. In
the excitement of the moment they
did not notice that they were in line
with the leader OF the pirates. and it
was not until Lyman's shot rang echo
ing through the rocky cayerns. fol-
lowed by the Aslaties hide sell as
he aopped from bis chair. that they
realized Lyman's bullet had taken ef-
feet in the leaders, body For llrlef
instant there was intense silence: then
Lyman flashed around on the cowardly
crew with upllfted weapon. and II only
Otlt OF tNN ttUuta Nu'AF - otftA
them scattering out Of the chamber.
"It's our. only chance; lets be of.
muttered Ellis. grabbing his own
weapon from the floor and rescuine
their fallen watches where they had
been dropped.
They painted down a long and mar
row passageway that at its greatest
width would not have admitted the
corpuIence Of the pirate leldeg An
at once rush Of cold air smote their
heated faces They rounded a shoulder
of jutting rock and came ont upon
small natural stone Jetty thai pat forth
into the yellow river. They we:e qnite
out of sight of the creek and the junk
it concealed 81
There welcome sight met their
eyes. Steaming np the stream came
the Linda. line of fresh white and
red faces agalfst the rail- a SUPP
pressed cheer went up as the three men
were sighted and boat was lower
1t was not until the Linda had rat
down the river aud was emerging fnfn-
the China sea once more that Arson
realized that he were about his urelz
the white chain with the single coral
bead. eIgs remoyed the ehain aud hung
It around Lyman's neck. The latter
looked down. at the rosy bead with
meditative eyes
I'm wondering what would have
happened II l had not chanced 10 hit
that old chap. he murmured
across his bent head with strange sig
nificance In the glance ari Ellis re-
piled to the Younger mans remark
"You wouldn't be here talking about
it." he said grimly.
DR O. i. Mrsr