Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1911-06-01
A Secret Service
Specter
By WILLIS BEACH
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.


was a soldier by the name Of Higgins
He had become stagestruck when quite
young and had joined the supers in a
theater. He had never risen as an &C
tor, but had been put in charge OF the
properties. From the theater he had
gone forth as an assistant to presti'
digitator and become sufficiently ex'
pert to take his principals place In
case Of necessity. The prestidigttator
died, and Higgins was stranded. Then
he enlisted in the army.
When the allied forces were working
their way up to the walls OF Picking an
American general wished for a secret
service man to go forward and recon
hotter 1t was desirable to know what
distractions were In the way, where
were the entrances. etc. No one could
was mentioned to Higgins, who said
that II he could get certain articles
from the ordnance department and GER
tain materials from other sources he
would undertake to bring the informa'
ton. He succeeded In gaining what
he wanted and. dressing himself in a
fantastic costume, started forth on foot
for the city.
Walking along a road with no other
weapon than q light cane, he met
party Of Chinese Boxers. Since Hig-
gins was coming from the direction OF
their enemies the Cinnamon were dis
posed to chop him up at once, but
they couldn't understand his queer
costume There is not a more super
stitious race in the world than the
Chinese unless it is certain low grade
Mohammedans. AS the Boxers ap-
preached Higgins. seeing him come
right along without fear, their courage
began to ooze out at their finger ends.
They stopped and waited for him to
come up. Higgins tossed little
sphere as big as marble among them.
which exploded. and. though it did no
harm, 1t scattered them. They turn
ed and saw the stranger marching on
silently like O specter. He raised his
hat, and every hair on his head stood
straight up. That took what courage
there was in them, and he saw them
no more.
The next lot of Boxers he met were
holder They blocked the road and
cried out something in Chinese which
Higgins didn't understand. Higgins
stopped. One of the Cinnamon advanc-
ed, while the others SUNK back. When
he got within a few yards of the
strange apparition it drew an imagi-
nary circle of fire about it with the
end Of its cane.
+ The advancing man retreated on his
supports.
One of the Boxers now brought a gun
to his shoulder and fired at Higgins.
It was q close call for the soldier. for
the bullet whistled within an inch Of
his ear. Had not the Boxer who fired
been affected by superstition he would
probably have killed his man. Higgins
didn't lose his presence of mind, but
turned the incident to his advantage.
He stood with his lips parted and
drawn so that his enemies could see
the ball they had fired held between
his teeth. Then. taking it in his hand.
he threw it among them. Had he
thrown hand grenade he couldn't
have scattered them more effectually.
Higgins was now getting near the
walls of the city and began to use his
eyes He also made notes and draw
tngs. He had a pocket glass with him
and found it valuable. While he was
gazing a party of Chinese horsemen
swept down on him. Though puzzled
at his appearance. they kept on. Hig-
gins faced them and. opening his
mouth. began to pull linked sausages
from his mouth by the yard. This
stopped them. but when the apparition
drew back a few yards and the China
mems hunger had conquered their
fears so far as TO enable them to go
forward to devour the precious meat
the sausages exploded in their faces.
Turning toward Higgins. they saw
him Economically splitting fire at them.
Ills W dS lpO iIluN III Lpl buGll SqutlIlll-
ity, and they ran.
Higgins now advanced as near as he
dared to the walls of the city. made
some valua BILE observations and then
turned his face toward camp. On his
way back the road was lined here and
there at a distance by Cinnamon who
had witnessed the horrible magic and
though curious. did not dare come very
near. BY the time he was nearing the
end of his journey quite a crowd was
following him. When they came too
near he would draw a circle Of flame
with his cane or spit fire at them.
Then the Specter. or whatever II
was, appeared 70 grOw-at least its
legs did-until at every step it gained
a couple Of yards 1t continued &c
breathe out fire. and as the darkness
came on its hat seemed to be contin
ually burning without being consumed
And so marched the Illuminated giant
the country round about filed witt
jabbering. wondering. trembling China
men. until finally all its lights wen
out and 1t was seen no more.