Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1912-04-04
CHAPTER w.


Wannn
1 capped the receiver on the nook
and sprang to the door, unlocking 1t.
Jenkins almost tumbled into my arms.
BY Jove, for a second / hung in the
wind, he acted SO crazy still; at least,
1t seemed so just at first. The fell
low threw his arm about my neck
and laughed-laughed and cried, dash
it-and just wringing my hands and
carrying on Oh, awful! And even
when l got him into a chair, he just
sat there laughing and crying like a
folly old silly, patting my hand, you
know, and wiping his eyes, what time
they were not devouring me.
HAS he gone, sir?" he gasped hus-
kIly. did he jump from the win
dow?" But l waved all questions
aside.
after you've had some sleep" in
sisted. "Then I'll tell you the whole
folly story" And just got him to
ais room myself, despite his distress
and protests over my attention.
THANK you, sir, and good night"
he said as 1 left him. And he muir
INJURED placidly, II guess we're all
right now"
But was not 80 sure as to him.
when / viewed the broken chair and
scattered fragments OF glass-ominous
reminders OF the scene through which
I had passed. And so, though threw
the pistol on top of bookcase. 1
spent the rest Of the night upon TIE
ID - fxr0
aBut this savage-Iooking Cnlnaman
that you saw, Jenkins-how was he
dressed?" / adopted careless tone
Of inquiry.
II was high noon, and WAS toying
with an after luncheon, or rather after
AFeakfast, cigar
Jenkins head shook dubiously. II
iust remember something biackisA;
Ny, sir. ! didn't have time to notice
aothing like clothesi"
His tone conveyed asgrieved pro
East He went on:
"Just "a I'm telling you, sir. ] raw
aoms one sitting there by the window
and walked toward him. thipking 4
was you. Then. all Of sudden. 1 'sss
Ais awful face a-scowling ut me there
On the moonlight" FSs
"And he was smoking. you sayI''
Jenkins sni1ed indignantly. "Fre<
and easy as q lord, siri He held !
teng stick to his ugly mouth. and
emoks was curling out Of little bow
near the end"
"Oh, opium pipe, ehf"
Likely, sir" agreed Jenkins: "bu'
I never saw one"
BY Jove, had my own opinion
about that! l knew he must have
seen one before: but Just went OF
questioning, to gain time. you know
and wondering all the while how
should ever be able TO break the trutl
60 the poor fellow.
"Tell me again what he was like"
said. How did you know he was |
Chinamanf"
'rWhy, by his long black pigtail
air, and his onery color. Butt neve
saw no Chineman as ugly as this on
mo sir. oh, he was just too awfu
horrid to look at. sir. His forehea'
sIoped away back. or maybe the from
part OF his head being all shave
made 1t look that way. And the ski
about his eyes was painted white wit
~, streaks shooting around like ray
Of light
mo beard or mnstaohe, supposeS
suggested, feeling my own smooth
shaven face, Jenkins reply was
surprise:
Eyes, SIR; there were long blac
kind of rat tails that dropped dow
from the sides OF his mouth, An
then his neck-ugh--all thick wit
woody hair"
'fOh, 1t was, chr" said drily, thinl
hng OF the long red stripe that m
collar concealed II suppose you 10
this. eh. when you jumped at hl
Nhroat?"
Jenkins rubbed his chin with q pu
sled air.
asWhy, that's uncommon queer. ST
but now that you remind me. do r
member that his neck felt perfect
smooth--and It wasn't so big, eithe
why. / should say It felt Just aboI
AXE yours would. sir"
ayed him ruefulH-