The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-10-04


had fed. Evidently he had retraced
his steps up the rude ladder to the
street, closing the doors after him to
check my further pursuit.
The place into which had followed
him was evidently a Chinese candy
mandatory and cake bakery. To the
right OF the entrance were rows Of
shelves containing jars. Of what |
recognized as sweetmeats peculiar to
the celestial. In large bowl on a
rough table or counter was the granu-
lated -four with which these confec-
lions are invariably powdered; and
here, too, were boxes Of round. tumble
like cakes. | saw now that the space
upon which had fallen was so re-
stricted that wondered how 1t was
possible for my quarry to have reach
ed the steps and reascended without
touching me or at least acQuainting
me with his movement. And mar
veled, too, that twisting my ankle as I
did, I had not plunged at slant and
struck my head upon one or another
OF the crowding tables and boxes with
which the cramped basement was fur
nlshed.
My third match disclosed narrow
door in the broad partition at the rear,
and fancying that perhaps the elusive
Peter Johnson had escaped by that
means while | was getting to my feet.
lost no time in seeking to investigate
what was beyond. was somewhat sur
prised to find the door unfastened.
Once open, 1t revealed a smaller and
more crowded room, warm and fetid,
into which were packed no less than
half dozen barrels Of raw and cook
ed peanuts, arranged about low
stove OF which peanut-filled caul-
dron was slowly steaming
Curiously interesting as all this
would have been under ordinary cir
cumstances, experienced only sur
prised relief, for with my injured an
kle l was In no fettle to cope with
even the weakest adversary. Indeed,
now that this easement was afforded
me, my sprain suddenly asserted itself
with renewed exacerbatlon, sharp
twlnges of pain shooting to my knee
and demanding instant relief.
In front of the low stove | had mo-
ticed stool, and for this CROPPED
with the eagerness Of the drowning
man after a straw. To my joy [ laid
hands upon 1t, and drawing it nearer
sank down with sigh of qualification
comparable only to that with which o
Marathon victor drops to earth after
a hotly-contested race.
Gradually, now that my weight was
removed, the pain lessened, and a
sense Of comfort ensued. Content
ment embodied me- which, if | thought
Of it at all, attributed, I suppose, to
the reaction from the agony which
had Just been suffering. I remember
thinking that would rest few min
utes and then take my departure as ]
had entered, for l realized that cellar
doors are fastened only from within,
and that there could, therefore, be no
impeachment to my going when | chose.
distinctly recall that | was con-
scious of a certain strange incongruiry
Of situation, but could hardly compre-
bend in Just what the incongruity con-
sisted. I knew only that | felt pleas
antly warm and drowsy; and my
sprained ankle had ceased altogether
to pain or annoy.
And then, was sailing in an open
boat in mldocean, and Peter Johnson,
in Oilskins, sat at the helm, with a
saturnine leer on his face, and tugged
at brief intervals, always longe' and
stronger, upon what seemed to be the
sheet. which had become wrapped
around my throat and chest and which,
by degrees, was crushing my windpipe
and lungs, so that my breath came
only in sharp, shuddering, aching
gasps.