Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-01-12
daylight and fresh air of the upper
.Nn.L


they were to go ashore, and soon they
had landed and were being ushered
through the same low entrance they
had observed.
AS each bowed his head and entered
there was little doubt I'm his mind that
he would ever emerge from that noun
tain Of rock. If he did 1t would not
be alive, II Chinese pirate lives up
to his ugly reputation.
A series of winding passages led
through the rock and finally terminal
ed In a small room followed out of
the granite. Here were rich hangings
and silken carpet. One of the Chi
nese disappeared through curtained
doorway and presently returned to
confer with his companions.
Then the three Americans were
pushed through the doorway to find
themselves In u large grotto, curtained
and carpeted and richly furnished
with bronzes and porcelains. embroid-
cries and rare carvings.
In large high backed chair, carved
into the rude semblance OF u throne,
sat II large and very fat Chinese. His
little black eyes seemed to sink into
the flesh OF his face and become mere
points of black jet. His chin rolled on
his satin covered breast, and his huge
fat hands were clumslly clasped about
his capacious waist. On his big head
there was perched black velvet skull.
cap.
The Americans were CARRIED as they
had been seized, and their stormcOats
covered them from neck to heel. Now
their coats were stripped Off and un'
der the direction OF the leader the
prisoners were searched thoroughly,
Yellow claws relieved them OF watch
es, money and jewels and glngerly APP
proprlated their weapons. After that
they crowded about the three and en-
deavored to make them understand
something they were trying to explain.
Ellis, who was In a Shanghai bank
ing house, knew some scraps Of the
language, and, although this southern
dialect was strange to him, he man
aged to convey the meaning TO his
companions that the leader of the
band was prepared TO offer them a
chance for life.
Hes got necklace there. See that
string of ivory beads? Well. it's all
white save one, and that's ball Of
pink coral. Tie says the one that can
get 1t Off the chain without disturbing
the other beads may go free. The 9TH
ers get-you know!"
Lets SEQ the chain" said Arson,
and Ellis made known the request,
which was Immediately granted. The
leader took from his neck large
chain Of polished ivory beads the size
OF small pea. The chain was rich
creamy yellow save for the one bead
OF an exquisite rose tinted coral. II
was strung on fine woven copper wire,
and the Joining of the wire was not
discernible
How about the guns| whispered
Lyman excitedly. 81 believe can
split 1t or first popP'
"Then It's your chance" said the
others generously "for you know we
wouldn't stand show anyway"
"If it's my chance" said Lyman
coolly, "then I'll figure to get the lot
of us or Ask him II ! can have q
try with my revolver at solving his
problem"
The leader nodded with an amused
smile, and Arson and Ellis held the
necklace suspended between them. In
the excitement OF the moment they
did not notice that they were In line
with the leader Of the pirates, and It
was not until Lyman's shot rang echo |
ing through the rocky caverns. fol.
lowed by the Asiatlc's hideons yell ~
he Topped from his chair, that they
realized Lyman's bullet had taken cf
feet In the leaders body. For brief
instant there was intense silence: then
Lyman flashed around on the cOwardly
crew with upllfted weapon. and 1t only
needed one or two deadly shots 10 send
them scattering out OF the chamber.
ats our only chance; let's be or"
muttered Ellis, grabbing his own
weapon from the floor and rescuing
their fallen watches where they had
been dropped.
They painted down u long and mar.
row p0ssageway that at Its greatest
width would not have admitted the
corpulence of the pirate leader. All
at once rush Of cold air smote their
heated faces. They rounded a shoulder
Of Jutting rock and came out upon a
small natural stone Jetty that put forth
into the Yellow river. They were quite
out Of sight Of the creek and the junk
1t concealed.
There II welcome sight met their
eyes. Steaming up the stream came
the Linda. line Of fresh white and
red faces against the rail. a sup
pressed cheer went up as the three men
were sighted and boat was lowered.
II was not until the Linda had put
down the river and was emerging into
the China sea once more that Arson
realized that he wore about his neck
the white chain with the single coral
bead. He removed the chain and flung
It around Lymon's neck. The latter
looked down at the rosy bend with
,nedtatiyc eyes.
I'm wondering what would have
happened II ] had not CHANGED to hit
that old chap" he muTmurec.
The eyes OF Arson and Ellis met
across his bent head with strange sig.
nlHcnncc IN the glnnce. and Ellis re-
piled TO the younger mans remark.
"You wouldn't be- here talking about