Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-08-27

other level space and down thirty
steps into the very bowels of the city
Strange to say, TeScott met no one.
nor did he hear a sound that Indicated
any human life was near Yet he
knew that that golden tortoise was
moved by some human agency, was
drawn down by some Invisible means
"a wire. a Silken cord
He was hesitaung before narrow,
gaudily painted door set in the ce-
ment wall
Slowly 1t opened into a rooms mar
row, sitting hole in the ground. 1t
was furnished in Chinese fashion with
many silken draperies and handsome
lakewood furniture.
As Ralph entered the door snapped
behind him. and a long sigh arose
/ from the divan on the further side of
the room. Under the glow Of yellow
| lantern a Chinaman came into view.
Ralph saw the long cue dangling over
dark silken robe. noted the heavily
padded slippers, the loose sleeves dan
Cling over long yellow skinned hands.
looked up at the mans sad face and
gasped.
| 1t was O lean. gaunt face.
| But it was not the face OF an orien-
tai.
! II ever the face OF an Irishman peer
! ed from beneath the guise of China
| man it was in the person Of this mys-
/ FERROUS owner Of the golden tortoise.
who are your" he asked hosrsely In
English.
I~h 81 ~
bit OF red paper and gave it into the
eager outstretched hand.
All" sighed the man after he had
read 1t, God is good, after all!''
who are your demanded Ralph in
his turn. You have sent for a re-
porter and
And the cub reporter came" inter
rupted the man, with a strange smile.
at was a nasty Job, and nobody else
wanted 1t, and so you took it, and you
came and dared a dozen possible
deaths to get here"
What do you know about lit" ques-
toned Ralph.
81 was once a cub myself. I came
down here once on an assignment that
nobody else would take and got into
mixup with a gang and have been
prisoner ever since. ! have this train
ed tortoise. and in the nightly walks
have been permitted to take above
ground | have trained him to go up
and down-oh, yes; | have string TO
him.
Then yesterday I got chance to
mail a note-no matter how. 1t would
mean death to somebody II 1t was
found out, so l did not dare sign my
name. but l knew there would be some
young daredevil from the Scope who
would tackle the job on the mere
chance of a good story.
Young man. If you get me out OF
here alive you will Ne a made man
you will have furnished the biggest
scoop the Scope ever had. See|'
Ralph nodded. Then you're Learyi'
you've heard them speak OF me. |
suppose? Yes. I'm Dan Lenry. How
YOU ever got down here without being
knitted or garroted | don't know. I've
got a Chinese dress for you. Want to
get into iti'
"Of COURSE" agreed Ralph. and in
five minutes the two OF them were
You are under guard, are you notT'
asked the young reporter.
Usually" answered Leary, leaning
heavily against the table Il haven't
stirred a step without feeling an arm
pressed against me. but tonight have
been left alone for several reasons.
There's a big political meeting In the
next street for one thing"
"Yes?"
, "And I've had to finish up three
guards in the passages for another
thing declared Lcary.
"Will they recover" asked Ralph.
, 81 hope scatter I'm gone. II they
, don't it was my life against theirs.
ought to have had lighting chance
for my life. you know
, "Of course" sympathized Ralph.
shall we go on nowY
Eyes; | will lead the way"
Leaving the golden tortoise behind.
, the two men slipped into the narrow
: passageway. glided noiselessly up the
several flights of stairs into the silent
: street
| Leary knew q short cut ont OF China
TOWN.. anu IueN LOOK II, u'tIlUH SeNcIdl
3 Chinese, who stared at them. besitated
t and lost sight OF them as they looked.
There were many warning factions In
2 the locality at that time. and strangers
J came and went-or came and stayed
: behind
II was two hours after midnight
) when two GREATNESS Cinnamon burst
=. into the reporters room OF the Morn
ing Scope. Ralph TescOtt tore Off mis-
Disgusting wig as he entered. and Lea
: ~ followed suit. exposing head OF
: fiery red hair that was instantly rec.
( OCniZed
= Here is my story. sir" said Ralph
) trying 10 be cool about It. and In the
5 general uproar of welcome 10 Leary
[ and his rcscuer the words were lost
: Leary's prophecy was fulfilled. for
with that nights work Ralph Tescott
( ceased to he the cub reporter and en-
4. tered full grown upon his career