The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-04-05
CHAPTER ~.
Jenkins Declares for the Water


dressed?" 1 adopted careless tone
Of inquiry.
It was high noon, and was toying
with an after luncheon, or rather after
breakfast, cigar.
jenkins head shook obviously. II
lust remember something blackish,
NV, sir, 1 didn't have time to notice
nothing like clothes!"
His tone conveyed aggrieved pro-
test He went on:
Just as I'm telling you, sir, saw
some one sitting there by the window
and walked toward him, thinking it
was you. Then, all of sudden, see
his awful face a-scowling at me there
in the moonlight"
"And he was smoking, you say?"
jenkins shifted Indignantly. Free
and easy as a lord, sir! He held a
long stick to his ugly mouth, and
smoke was curling out Of little bowl
near the end"
"Oh, opium pipe, eh?"
Likely, SIR" agreed jenkins; ''but
l never saw one.'
By Jove, I had my own opinion
about that! 1 knew he must have
seen one before; but just went on
questioning, to gain time, you know,
and wondering all the while how
should ever be able to break the truth
to the poor fellow.
Tell me again what he was like
said. How did you know he was a
Chinaman?"
'Why, by his long black pigtail,
sir, and his onery color. But never
saw no Chinaman as ugly as this one
no sir. Oh, he was just too awful
horrid to look at, sir. His forehead
sloped away back, or maybe the front
part of his head being ali shaved
made it look that way. And the skin
about his eyes was painted white with
red streaks shooting around like rays
of light
''No beard or mustache, suppose"
suggested, feeling my own smooth
shaven face. Jenkins reply was a
surprise:
"Yes, sir; there were long black
kind of rat tails that dropped down
from the sides of his MOUTH And
then his neck-ugh-alI thick with
woolly hair"
"oh, it was, eh?'' said drily, think
ing of the long red stripe that my
collar concealed. 'I suppose you felt
this, eh, when you jumped at his
throat?"
jenkins rubbed his chin with puz-
zled air.
why, that's uncommon queer, sir;
but now that you remind me, do re-
member that his neck felt perfectly
smooth-and it wasn't so big, either.
Why, should say it felt just about
like yours would, sirP
I eyed him ruefully.
"By Jove, I don't doubt it a min
ute!" I commented with some dis
gust.
''Well, go on with your yarn. You
were telling, when interrupted, about
rushing into my bedroom"
Eyes, SIR he resumed with ANNA
ton. "And when I didn't find you, l
was Just frantic, for didn't know you
had gone out, sir-never thought Of
that; 1 went for the ugly monster
with the big pistol there in the cab
inet-which, by the way, sir, the low
down villain stole when he locked me
up and lit OUT
had an inspiration.
~ see," l broke in carelessly; "and
then you demanded to know where l
was-that it? Then you backed him
to that window, and he told you he
had chucked me into the street
whereupon you tried to blow off his
head and knocked the jolly daylights
out of the lady with the fencing foil"
Jenkins, his mouth agape, viewed
me with distended eyes.
81 didn't tell you that, sir he fall
tered. How"
And when you dropped the weap-
on" I went on, this chap collared 1t,
jabbed the beastly thing into you, and
lOlQ you W IOOh al A1AA Anu ~ OO'S
you wouldn't"
Jenkins groaned slightly. The
apologetic cough with which he strove
to mantle the sound was dry and
spiritless.
mo, sir; it seemed easier to die,
SIR he muttered-"what with him
grinning like a fend and his long
teeth a-sticking out over his lip
ugh!" Then he added wonderingly:
But what gets me is how you should
know, sir"
l looked at him gravely.
Jenkins" I said gently, 81 know,
because it so happens 1 was here all
the time
His eyes bulged incredulously.
Cvo,, cir2 Won moan in this room 2''