The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1912-12-27


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 see
no loophole unguarded But the past
was an argument which set logic at
naught. If such things could be as
that which had happened a month ago
in Cameron's dressing room, how
much further might the inexplicable
carry? OF what use were precau-
lions against an enemy who with APP
parent ease calmly defied 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 a well-balanced,
clear-headed man Of twenty-nine. It
may be that l was not wellbalanced
and clear-headed. And yet the Sc
quel would tend rather to a contrary
conclusion.
Cameron was still reading 'Ne Her
aid, and l sat with a pair of binocu-
lars at my eyes sweeping the waters
for the trailing smoke of liner or
some object of lesser interest.
Presently the silence was broken
by my companion.
Il see," he began. dropping the pa
per to his knees, that China is really
in earnest in her anti-opium cam
paign. Two Picking officials have died
from the effects of a too-hasty break
ing of the habit. Men do not die in
the attempt to obey mere paper re-
forms. The Chinese are a wonderful
old people, Clyde"
lowered my glasses, all at once in
Lterested.
you've been in Gilman" asked
mo, l haven't" was his answer.
I've always meant to go; but when
was nearest, i'll news drew me home;
and so l never got closer than Yoko-
hama on one side, and Srinagar. in
Kashmir, on the other"
You've seen something Of them in
this country, suppose~
mo, very little. ! attended a din
ner once at which Ii Hung Chang was
the guest Of honor; and I've eaten
chop suey in one of those Chinese
eating palaces they have in Chicago.
That's about the extent of my person
al Chinese experience. But l have
always been interested in the country
and its people. have read about
everything that has been published
on the subject. BY the way, did they
ever find out who killed that boy of
Murphy's?"
mot yet" answered They've
had some of his own kind under sur
veillance, but no more 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 l made
out what appeared to me to be a sea-
going tug or pilot boat, steaming,
thought, with rather unusual speed for
a vessel of her class. 1t was not
much Of 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 ar cry
from the lookout forward directed my
attention to a floating speck possibly
two miles or more dead ahead, and
not more than point off our course.
Come" I said to Cameron, Tets
go up on the bridge and have a look!"
"And have our trouble for our
pains?" he returned. incredulously
Its probably some bit of wreckage,
box or a cask."
very WELL" l agreed, starting off
alone. Even box or a cask is worth
while as a variation"
When on nearer approach the drift
ing object proved to be a fishermans
dory, with q man. either dead or UNI
conscious, plainly discernible in the
bottom, should hardly have been hui
man had / not experienced a degree
of satisfaction over Camerons failure
as prophet. That. however, was the
least abiding of my sensations. In an
instant it had given way to anxiety
concerning the boats occupant and
interest in the business-liloe manner
in which Macleod. the stocky young
executive officer Of the Sibylla, was
preparing to pick up our find.
The engine room had been signaled
half-speed ahead, and already a sailor