Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1912-06-07

and. after walking about the 800
went toward the road leading tn TIA
tsin. Believing that the safes. corr-s
for him was to walk TO a station 81.
low the city and there take tr.,r
he strolled along as though out for
constitutional walk. A couple -
hours later he stopped at a raiIwa.
station. but since train was nor A..
to take him southwark for an hour &
went to an inn to await its arrival
Scouting himself in room used ~.
sojourners. he was looking out thrones
a window. idly tapping his boots with
walking stick he carried when :
Chinaman entered and saluted him 4,
the Chinese language. Unworthy was
naturally suspicious Of any one who
made an advance to him. but answer.
ed the salute with civility. as the most
polite course to pursue. The man
entered upon the subject of the reyon.
ton and. being Manchu. showed
plainly that his sympathies were nor
with the new regime. Kinworthy did
what he could to steer clear Of anv
opinion whatever on Chinese afrairs
The man insisted on keeping up tho
conversation long after Kinworthy had
ceased to make any response, Though
he gave the Manchu his full attention
Presently another native of the conn.
| try came into the room and seeing
Kinworthy, saluted him by name. as-
sorting that he had seen him ouito
often in Peking The Manchu seemed
to regard this newcomer with disfayor
which Unworthy accounted for on the
ground that the latter was Chinese
But neither Chinaman seemed inclin.
ed to give way to the other in the mat.
ter of cultivating Kinworthy's az.
quaintance. They discussed the reyo
luton in all its aspects, and since they
were on opposite sides their argu.
ments grew heated. The Chinaman
was in favor Of a republic, while thu
Manchu supported the empire.
Unworthy feared they would come
to blows. with the result of attracting
attention to himself. What he most
wished for was to travel as incon.
spicuously as possible. He therefore
conceived the idea Of proposing some
refreshment. Both men agreed with
alacrity, and Unworthy ordered d
small bottle Of wine that had been i'm.
ported from France. A waiter brought
1t in on tray with three glasses.
Now. Unworthy had spent ten years
In China and never had anything to do
with a Chinaman without watching
his slightest. movement. Kinworthy
poured out the wine, and each man
was about to take up his glass when
the Manchu, hearing noise outside.
ran to the window Kinworthy turned
his glance In that direction, but kept
an eye on the Chinaman. A quick
movement of the wrist convinced the
diplomat that the latter had firted
something into two Of the glasses. The
Manchu, not having discovered any.
thing of Importance outside, returned
to the others. All three drank their
wine, but Unworthy held his in his
throat and presently, taking out bis
handkerchief to wipe his mouth, got
rid of it in the linen.
The Manchu now produced ciga-
rette case and absentmindedly put one
in his mouth, then, apologizing, Offered
the case to the others. Kinworthy
took one but instead of lighting 1t laid
it on the table, saying that he never
smOked-a rather risky statement since
he had cigars in his pocket at the time.
The Chinaman and the Manchu both
puffed Justify.
From the moment the wine and ciga.
rettes were introduced a drowsiness
appeared to be creeping over kinwor
thy's two self constituted friends. The
Manchu defended the monarchy. and
the Chinaman declared republic was
the right form of government for China
as it was for America, picturing the
great progress in store for his country
that had been achieved by the wonder
full land lying in the far west. But tne
more the two talked the thicker grew
their tongues. Finally the Mancnu
leaned back in his chair and snorea
The Chinaman endeavored to get to
window, but failed. sinking down
the floor in heap.
by Jove," exclaimed Kinwortnt n
they've poisoned each other. each "
tending to poison me! Likely eael
unknown to the other. tracked me nes I
to prevent my getting to Tientsin; Dull
colliding. they destroyed themselss
instead of me. l saw the Chinamai
drop something In my glass and GU
glass Of the Manchu, and when lH "a
Manchu forgot to offer his Cigarette
till after he had taken one hinlseD
l knew he. too, was up to mischief
The three men had been left apns
In the room together. and Kinwonl'
raising the window. stepped outsN'
and, taking circuitous route to w
station, concealed himself in wo@
near by, where he waited for the tralp
He had but ten minutes to wait pu
ever afterward declared that i WI
the longest ten minutes of bis w.
Then the train arrived. and. leaving " Y
hiding place. he boarded 1t. As It npr
ed on he kept his eye on the inn wnea
he had left two dying men. and wu''
1t was nearly lost to view he saw y
denceS of q commotion.