Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-04-05
CHAP ER ~.
Jenkins Declares for the Water
Macon

Wagon.
But this strengthening Chinaman
that you saw, Jenkins-how was he
dressed?" | adopted a careless tone
Of inquiry.
1t was high noon, and | was toying
with an after luncheon, or rather after
breakfast, cigar.
jenkins head shook obviously. Il
lust remember something hiackish.
My, sir, l didn't nave time to notice
nothing like clothes!"
His tone conveyed aggrieVed pro-
test He went on:
Just as I'm telling you, sir, I saw
some one sitting there by the window
and walked toward him, thinking it
was you. Then, all Of sudden, see
his awful face a-scowling at me there
in the moonlight"
And he was smoking, you say?'
jenkins shifted Indignantly. Free
and easy as a lord, sir! He held
long stick to his ugly mouth, and
smoke was curling out of little bowl
near the end
'Oh, opium pipe, eh?"
Likely, sir" agreed Jenkins; but
never saw one"
BY Jove, | had my own opinion
about that! | knew he must nave
seen one before; but / just went on
questioning. to gain time, you know,
and wondering all the while how !
~ ,l>I Is ha
to the poor fellow.
Tell me again what he was like |
said How did you know he was a
Chinaman?"
why. by his long black pigtail,
sir, and his emery color. But never
saw no Chinaman as ugly as this one
no sir. Oh, he was just too awful
horrid to look at, sir. His forehead
,sloped away back, or maybe the front
part of his head being all shaved
made it look that way. And the skin
about his eyes was painted white with
red streaks shooting around like rays
of light
mo beard or mustache, suppose?'
/ suggested. feeling my own smooth
shaven face. Jenkins reply was
surprise:
Eyes, sir; there were long black
kind of rat tails that dropped down
from the sides Of his mouth, And
then his neck-ugh-all thick with
woolly hair"
"Oh, it was, eh?" I said driIy, think
ing of the long red stripe tnat my
collar concealed. Il suppose you fe't
this, Ell. when you jumped at his
throat?"
Jenkins rubbed his chin with a puz-
zled air.
why, that's uncommon queer sir:
but now that you remind me, do re-
member that his neck felt perfectly
smooth-and it wasn't so big, either.
Why. l should say it felt just about
like yours would, sir"
I eyed him ruefully.
BY Jove. l don't doubt it min
ute!" | commented with some dis
gust.
We'll, go on with your yarn. You
were telling. when interrupted, about
rushing into my bedroom"
Yes, sir" he resumed with ANNA
ton. And when | didn't find you, |
was just frantic, for I didn't know you
had gone out, sir-never thought of
that; l went for the ugly monster
with the big pistol there in the cab
inet-which, by the way, sir, the low
down villain stole when he locked me
up and lit out"
had an inspiration.
Il see," l broke in carelessly; land
then you demanded to know where l
was-that it? Then you backed him
to that window, and he told you he
had chucked me into the street
whereupon you tried to blow off his
head and knocked the jolly daylights
out of the lady with the fencing foil
Jenkins, his mouth agape, viewed
me with distended eyes.
Il didn't tell you that, sir" he fall
tered. How"
And when you dropped the weap-
en-" went on, this chap collared 1t,
iabbed the beastly thing into you, and
told you to look at him. And by Jove
you wouldn't"
Jenkins groaned slightly. The
apologize cough with which he stroVe
10 mantle the sound was dry and
spirltless.
No. sir; it seemed easier to die,
sir" he muttered-"what with him
L