Evening star., 1912-11-03
THERE AND BACK
WITH LUCILLE
Continued from page g

| Continued from page g
l believe, was as official assassin for his Late
| Lamented Majesty
"Assassin!" gasps Mrs. Smiley.
"The Koreans, before their country was
Russianized, had some queer customs" ex-
plains the Doc, watchin' Lucille close. "The
post of royal assassin was more or less hon
orable; but the incumbent was apt to be
kept very busy. Yamenoki tells me that at
times he was sadly overworked. That was
not his reason for resignlng, however. One
day he made a trihing mistake, and instead
of despatching an enemy of the throne he
bisected the skull of 1sfoyal nephew He
was running for his life when he stumbled
aboard my cruising junk, which was tied up
to the wharf at Lao-tse-sung, and to avoid
further difficulty put to sea at once. I've
no doubt | could still collect a reward of
several thousand yen if | were to take him
back there"
"But-but an assassin" says Mrs. Smiley,
whisperin' it out hoarse "Newton, how can
you sleep with him in the same house?"
ooh, Yamenoki's all right" says the Doc
careless like; "that is, if he doesn't take
| violent dislike to anyone. If he should
well, | might be able to control him. May
| help you to some of the wild rice1 All,
here is Yamenoki with the curry'"
Lucille didn't seen to enjoy that dinner so
much, especially after she'd caught the big
Chink tastin' some of the rice before he
passed the plate to her.
"Why does he do that" she demands.
"Another Korean CUSTOM" says the Doc.
"He merely wishes to show you that he has
not put poison in it."
"Poison!" echoes Mrs. Smiley And after
that every minute the big Chink was in the
room she follows him with her eyes When
| he disappears into the kitchen she s1ghs re-
| Eeved. And, while Sadie and | samples
most of the dishes, and joshes with the Doc
about 'em, Lucille says never word: but
sits there shudderin' and thinkin' hard
| When the dinner is over she's the first one
to make break through the door, and the
next thing we know she's pinnin On that
fancy lid.
"Newton," says she, "I've changed my
plans. | am going now, and when you have
got rid of that bloodthirsty villain you may
send me word" And out she sails
NEXT mornin' as goes past the Smiley
place | drops in for a minute and
finds the Doc and Yamenoki busy pack1n
bags and gettin out the wooden window
shutters.
"You amt startin' off on another trip so
soon are you, Doc?" says l.
"Why, yes" says he. "We sail day after
tomorrow. You see, the Imperial Museum
in Berlin has lost its most valuable reptile =
the bushmaster, deadliest of all venomous
snakes, and very difficult to capture alive
| am going to run down to British Guiana
and box up couple"
"Gee!" says l. "Ain't you runnln some
risks?"
"4-e-e-e-es,s says he, glancin' nervous
over his shoulder, a suppose l am. but
we're catching the first steamer"
"Oh, | see!' says |. "Lucile. chr If she
should show up later, got any message to
leaveo"
"You might say says he. "that | have
engaged Yamenoki for life"
| Course, Sadie and me has to have our
chuckle over that across the dinner table
that night; but hers ends in a sigh 81 do
hope says she, "that shall never be fat
old woman"
"Worse could happen you," says l. "Don't
we know lots of heavy old girls that's as
nice as they are weighty? 1t amt the
pounds that count: it's the disposition.
an that case" says Sadie. al believe /
! shall try a little Of that steamed pudding"