The Tupelo journal., 1912-08-23

". six would be better" he said.
However kick him In and
get him covered as quick as you can"
"All right" returned the Chinaman
stolidly.
He issued instructions to his coun-
trymen In a swift tumble OF sharp sy'-
tables.
The pitiless brutality OF the pr
ceeding, together with the sickenin
thump of the body falling into the
trench, affected Coast momentarily
with a sort OF vertigo. with something
closely resembling nausea. and wruns
from him IN involuntary cry Of horror.
Good God!" he said Aloud-how loud
~ he soon realised.
barely had the words been spoken
when Blaokstook. % II galvanized.
whtrled In Coasts direction. Who's
thAt!" he demanded sharply, his fear
lures darkiy distorted with appre-
hension. Who spoke!"
His fingers tore nervously At the
fastening Of his oilskin coat; he jerked
It open and plunged one hand into Q
side pocket, as II seeking q weapon.
In surprise the tall Chinaman turned
toward him. who spobe!" he tier
ated, as II he had failed to catch that
cry which had Enthusiastically reached
ear that seemed attuned to almost
preternatural acuteness. Il heard
nothing. :"
Quickly his gaze Quested past Black
stock, rak1ng their surroundings, and
for an instant Coast could have sworn
rested on his face, indefinite blur
though 1t must have seemed Viewed
through the window at that remove.
He fancied that the mans small black
eyes narrowed, and he held his
breath, fearing he va discovered and
wondering whether or not to make a
break for It by way of the back door.
Then, to his unspeakahle relief, the
Chinaman's glance travelled on and
again paused.
TT must have been the dog" he
said, his precise English oddly assert
ing with his foreign information.
For the first time Coast became
aware that the animal had left the
doorway. A slight shift of position
enabled him to discover 1t standing at
pause halfway between the building
and the group round the grave.
"The dog? MOI" Blackstock ejac-
ulated nervously. Dogs don't
speak"
TT must have been the dog" the
Chinaman repeated. 1T is there"
"Where?" Blackstock moved un-
easily, seeming to a menace in
the very proximity of the animal.
Keep it away from me, d'you hear?
Don't let It come near me. Kick it of
kill the damn brute If 1t comes this
way," His tones fiatted strangely, as
If he we're in truth morta.iy afraid of
the animal. 1T hates me-" he said in
q mumbler'hates mel"
Let me have your pistol" the
Chinaman put in. Il think 1t means
to attack us. Give me the pistol and
I will drive 1t on"
AS If to confirm the wisdom of this
suggestion - we'll as Blaokstock's
fears, the dog 1t that instant inter
jected a sonorUus and savage growE
which changed l. a sharp yelp as a
bit Of rock, nuug with surprising &C
curacy by one of the Nave-diggers,
landed on its ddes. Confused and in
pain-for the blow must have been a
shrewd one-the blind animal
swerved. scuttled OF, disappeared.
At the same time Coast vas aware
that Some object passed from Black
stocks hand to the Chinaman's. A
second later q little tongue of reddish
fame licked out from the mouth OF a
revolver he'd by the latter, and Coast
heard its vicious bark coincident with
q smart thud as the bullet lodged in q
beam Immediately behind him.
It might have been poor markham
ship or fair; the Chinaman might have
aimed at the dog: ON the other
hand
Coast decided to make himself a
present of whatever benefit might De
held to inhere in the doubt. He
gained the rear entrance in a bound,
with another found himself charging
down the embankment, In whose
treacherous composition of loose sand
and gravel he struggled momentar1ly
and vainly for a footing. Then he fell
and rolled ingloTiousiy, accompanied
by a cloud of dirt, rubbish and small
stones. At the bottom of a descent OF
some thirty feet he picked himself
up, unhurt but shaken, just as a Q c
ond bullet ploughed up the sand two
PAGES to one side.
There was M longer any question
as to the identity of the target. o
permitted himself a single, feet1ng,
upward glance, caught a cinemato-
graphic glimpse of the Chfnamanr
like sone huge, ~ungainly bird in his
loose, Tapping garments, descending
the banh-and turned and ran head
long.
Presently, some distance ahead, the
shadowy proportions of the beached
cafh0af took shane through the mist.