The Newport miner. [volume] (Newport, Wash.) 1899-current, 1911-05-18
A Secret Service
Specter
By WILLIS BEACH
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

At the time the foreign legations
were shut up in Picking and the united
armies Of the powers vent there to
free them, with the American army
was a soldier by the name of Higgins,
He had become stagestruck when quite
young and had joined the supers i'll a
theater. He had never risen as an ac
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 prestidigitator
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
be found to undertake the work till it
was mentioned to Higgins. who said
that if 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 a light cane, he met a
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. it scattered them. They turn
ed and saw the stranger marching on
silently like 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 skunk 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 it's cane
The advancing man retreated on his
supports.
One Of the Boxers now brought gun
to his shoulder and fired at Higgins
1t was 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
MS teeth. Then. taking it in his hand.
ne threw it among them. Had he
thrown hand grenade he couldn't
nave 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
1ngs. He had a pocket glass with him
ana found it valuable. While he was
gazing party of Chinese horsemen
swept down on him. Though puzzled
az MS appearance, they kept on. Hig-