The Nevada County picayune., 1912-04-26
CHAPTER lV-lcontInuedl

questioning to gain tue, you hIoHt and wondering all the while how l should ever be able to break the truth to the poor fellow.
 Tell me again what ne was like" l 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 all shaved made it look that way And the skih about his eyes was painted white with red streaks shooting around like rays of light
 No beard or mustache. l suppose?' I suggested, feeling my own smooth shaven face Jenkins reply was surprise:
 Yes. sir: there were long black kind of rat tails that dropped down from the sides of his month, And then his neek-ugh-all thick with woolly hair"
 sOh. 1t was. eh?" I said drily, think ing of the long red stripe that my collar concealed. Il suppose you felt this, eh, when you jumped at his throat?"
 Jenkins rubbed his chin with pug zled air.
 Why. that's uncommon queer sir; brt now that you remind me. do re- member that his neck felt perfectly smooth fand 1t wasn't so big, either WhY<F should say 1t felt just about --1lGe yours would sir
 eyed him ruefully
 By love. l don't doubt it min ute," I commented with some dis gust.
 Well. go on with your yarn. You were telling, when l interrupted. about rushing into my bedroom.
 Yes, sir" he resumed with anima- ton. And when l didn't find you. 1 was just frantic, for l didn't know you had gone out, sir-never thought of that; l went for the ugly monster with the big pistol there in the cab fnet-which. by the way, sir. the low down villain stole when he locked me up and lit out
 had an inspiration
 'I see," broke in carelessly; and then you demanded to know where l was-that 1t? 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.
 T didn't tell you that, sir" he ial tered How"
 And when you dropped the weap on. went on. this chap cellared F. jabbed the beastly thing into you, and told you to look at him. And by love you wouldnt!n
 Jenkins groaned slightly The apologetie cough with which he strove to mantle the sound was dry and spiritless.
 No. sir; 1t seemed easier to die. sir" he muttcred what with him grlnniug like 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" said gently. T know. because 1t so happens was here all the time
 His eyes bulgeG ineredulously.
 You. sir2 You mean in this room?"
 nodded slowly "I mean right in this room-l was witness of the whole thing"
 Jenkins just gulped I motioued to a chair.
 You may sit down, Jenkins. my poor fellow" l said compassionately I poured out some whisky and gave it to him.
 You must brace yourself for a great shock. my poor Jenkins" said soothingly. And then l thought had best hurry on, for l could tell by the way his eyes rolled and the blue color of his lips that probably l was just in time to head of another attack And then told him all.
 And here" concluded, are the marks of your fingers under my col lar. and the pistol is on top of the bookcase"
 Jenkins just sat there. kind Of bud dled up, you know. and his face Nas white as the what-you-caliit snoA Didnt seem able to say word. ByN sovs, it was too much for me; my near just went out to him.
 Ws all right. Jenkins." said kind.