Evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1907-1913, 1912-09-06

Instrument / had employed to bring
1T about A lie is to me a most con-
itemptible agent, and TO make use of
one has been always abhorrent In
this instance l had salved my con-
science In measure with the old ex
but 1t was only in a measure, and /
was far from being as happy as
pretended.
Moreover. could not rid myself of
an uneasiness-a misery indeed, in
which l was now without company
concerning the day and it's menace.
say without company" for Gamer
on. Of course. had quite dismissed the
subject, and Evelyn. who previously
was greatly perturbed, had seemed to
put away all apprehension directly
she saw us safe aboard the yacht.
There had been some talk of her &C
companying us, but witlAut signify
to dissuade her.
For my disquietude there was Ger.
tainly no logical ground l had TAX
en- the precaution of having the
Sibylla searched from masthead to
keelson before sailing The coal was
examined as carefully as that OF bat.
tleship in time of war; every locker
and cupboard was inspected; even the
ventilators were metaphorically turn.
ed inside out and the record of ev.
cry man Of the crew was looked into
with vigorous scrutiny. SO could sec
no loophole uaguarded. But the past
was an arcl1r. ont which set logic al
naught II such things could be al
that which had happened a month ago
In Cameron's dressing room, how
much further might the inexplicable
carry? OF what use were precau.
tons against an enemy who with ap-
parent ease calmly defed all natural
laws?
All the morning my thoughts had
been running In this line. Foolish
thoughts they must seem to one who
reads of them, worthy only to be
classed with the idle. superstitious
fears Of young girls and old women,
and impossible to well-balaneed.
clear-headed man OF Twenty-Five. 1t
may be that | was not well-balanced
quel would tend rather to a contrary
conclusion.
Cameron was still reading the Her
aid. and l sat with a pair OF binocu-
lars at my eyes sweeping the waters
for the trailing smoke of a liner OF
some object of lesser interest.
Presently the silence was broker
by my companion.
Il see." he began. dropping the pa
per to his knees, that China is really
in earnest In her ani-opium cam
paign. Two Picking officials have died
from the effects OF too-hasty break
ing Of the habit. Men do not die In
the attempt to obey mere paper re
forms The Chinese are wonderful
old people, Clyde"
lowered my glasses, all at once In
iterested.
You've been in China?" I asked.
No. haven't" was his answer.
i VIC INV " SO, pul
| was nearest. Ill news drew me home:
and SO | never got closer than Yoke
hama on one side, and Srinagar. In
kashmir, on the other"
you've seen something of them in
this country, | SUPPOSE"
NO, very little. | attended din
ner once at which Ii Hung Chang was
the guest Of honor; and I've eaten
chop suey in enc of those Chinese
eating palaces they have In Chicago.
That's about the extent of my person
al Chinese experience. But | have
always been interested in the country
and its people. l have read about
everything that has been published
on the subject. By the way. did they
ever find out who killed that boy of
Murphys?"
Not yet" I answered They've
had some of his own kind under sur
VIGILANCE, but no moro arrests have
been made"
Murphy was released"
Yes"
He took up his paper again and
once more l applied myself to sea
gazing
Far away to the northeast made
out what appeared to me to be sea
going tug or pilot boat, steaming,
thought, with rather unusual speed for
q vessel of her class. 1t was not
much Of a discovery. but the waters
had been very barren that morning,
especially for the last two hours, and
insignificant as this object was l felt
in a manner rewarded for my vigil.
Half an hour later she had slipped
out of sight and | was busy In an eff
fort to pick her up again, when cry
from the lookout forward directed my
attention to a floating speck possibly
two miles or more dead ahead, and
not moro than point off our course.
Come" l said to Cameron, Tets
go up on the bridge and have look!"
"And have our trouble for our
pains?" he returned. incredulously
Its probably some bit of wreckage,
a box or a cask."
syyor,, r,,oII o0road cfarftpp Off