Democratic messenger., 1911-11-04
The Coral
Bead
A Story Of the q
China Sea
By CLARISSA MACKIE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
By CLARISSA MACKIE
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.


When one is yachting in the China
sea he admittedly runs risk Of ad-
venture with the pirates that infcst Its
more solitary tracks. John Anson's
pleasure craft. the Linda. had been
overtaken by n typhoon shortly after
she rode out of the Formosa strait.
II had happened suddenly. OF course.
after n sitting hot day. when the sea
lay calm and unwrinkled, yet full Of
lridescent color as polished abalone
pearl. There was low murmur aloft
Of sound by the time things were made
snug aboard the yacht. Then the
whirlwind of inky clouds whistled
down upon them driving them relent-
lessly coastward. battling for hours
against the monster element.
There were no women aboard. mere
~ the host and his two guests. Ellis
and Lyman. the captain and crew OF
eight men and the chance for saving
their lives was perhaps one In u thou
sand.
The sturdy Linda had fought 10 keep
her course south. but the force OF the
storm veered her head ever toward the
coast. They had suffered the worst of
the typhoon and We're still battling
with the tail of II when out of the
twilight mists OF spray there rocked
beside them a large Chinese junk, her
rail lined with double row of ugly
yellow faces and murder in every
weaponed hand
Instantly the men on the Linda were
alert. II did not need Captain Lees
shout Of Pirates TO arm them with
pistols. They even succeeded In rip
ping the canvas from the brass cannon
and swung 1t about. trained on the
junk. The storm drove the junk
crashlngly against the yacht While a
score OF pirates grappled with hooks
there was n rush aboard the Linda.
retreat under the onslaught OF the
crew. Anson remembered being grasp
ed about the waist and hurled into
space.
When he recovered Consciousness he
was In some foul smelling place.
knocking about with every onward
plunge Of some vessel.
4 groan aroused him to action
With every muscle quivering in agony
he moved slightly and touched a foot
the foot of white man. be- judged.
for II was clad In canvas shoe with
a rubber sole
who Is III" he asked sharply This
Is Anson."
The voice of Ellis came punctuated
by groan.
Here am. Anson For Gods sake
what has happened:"
''Blcst n know" gruntcd Anson.
feeling in his pockets for matchbox
His search was rewar led and present.
~ there fnrcd n light that revealed
small and filthy room with strongly
barred door II was destitute Of fur
niture. and there rcrc but three oh.
jects within Ii. AnsDn. Ellis aud their
friend Lyman. who even now was
struggling to sitting posture. Il be
lieve my ankle is spraineI," he said.
I'm pretty well bumped up. but my
bones seem TO be whole" remarked
Anson from his dark corner.
Same here. put In Ellis. Il move
we massage I.yman's ankle into some
shape again-pcrhapS II isn't n sprain
we all need TO he In the hes; OF con
dition II we have to put mp n fight"
o.. - a A..
and then he and Ellis CROPPED thei-
way across the floor 10 I.yman's cor.
ner and soon were vigorously kneading
and rubbint his injured ankle
wonder at happened to the Lin
ia" remarked Ellis after awhile vote
Ing the thoughts Of his silent compan
Ions. Doesn't seem as II she could
have ridden ont that gale. does il.
Tack:"
"l've given her up" said Anson
quietly Il hate TO think what has
happened to Lee and his men-they
were n fine lot Of chaps
Perhaps they are aboard the junk
as well as ourselves" suggested I.y.
man. Lets give yell-a good
American howl shat Will raise any
white man aboard"
But their concerted shouts could not
ride above the Gin OF waves pounding
against the round sides Of the junk
The clumsy craft bobbcd and rolled
like n barrel In the sea. and II was
only by braclng themselv'- against the
bulkheads that they could maintain n
stationary position.
What keeps the blame thing from
filling and going DOWN." asked Ellis
after awhile. Seems ms II any one ~
those waves could hll her m and we
be caught like rats IN a trap
The three sat up and endeavored To
pierce the gray gloom OF the place.
"Got any weapons;" asked Anson
suddenly.
"My revolver, as usual" said Ellis
Same here" from Lyman.
"Tve got knife. All. herA they
Gomez
AS by one accord the three Ameri.