Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-07-05
CHAPTER Iv-(contfnued).


questioning, to gain time, you know,
and wondering all the while how l
should ever be able to break the truth
to the poor fellow.
Tell me again what he was like" !
said. How die you know he vas a
Chinaman?"
Why, by his long black pigtail,
sir, and his onery color. But | never
saw no Chinaman as ugly as this one
nc sir. Oh, he was just too aWful
horrid to look at, sir. His forehead
sIoped away back. or maybe the front
part OF his head being all shaved
made it iook that way. And the skin
about his eyes was painted white with
red streaks shooting around like rays
of light
mo beard or mustache, i s%uppose?'
I suggested, feeling my own smooth
shaven face. Jenkins reply was a
surprise:
Yes, sir; there were long lack
kind Of rat tails that dropped down
from the sides Of his mouth. And
then his neck-ugh-all thick with
woolly hair"
"Oh, 1t was, eh?" l said drily, think
ing of the long red stripe that my
| collar concealed. II suppose you felt
this. Ell, when o jumped at his
throat?"
Jenkins rubbed his chin with a puz-
z1ed air.
Why, that's IN queer, sir;
but now that you remind me, | do re-
member that his neck felt perfectly
smooth-and 1t wasn't SO big. either.
Why, 4 should say it felt just about
like yours would. sir"
l eyed him ruefully.
by Jove, I don't doubt 1t a min
ute!" l commented with som dis
gust.
well. 60 on with your yarn. You
were telling, when l interrupted. about
rushing into my bedroom"
Yes, sir he resumed with ANNA
| ton. And when l didn't find you, |
was just frantic, for l didn't know you
had zone out, sir-never thought OF
that; / 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 :.
I had an inspiration.
II see," i broke in carelessly; -and
then you demanded to know where 1
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
out of the lady with the fencing foil"
Jenkins, his mouth agape. viewed
me with distended eyes.
II didn't tell you that. sir" he fal-
tered. How"
And when you dropped the weap-
on" I went on, this chap collared 1t,
jabbed the beastly thing into you. and
told you to look at him. And by Jove
you wouldn't"
jenkins groaned slightly. The
apologize cough with which he strove
TO mantle the sound was dry and
spiritless.
mo, sir: 1t seemed easier to die,
sir" he muttered-"what with him
grinning like a fiend 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"
looked at him ~gravely.
Jenkins" I said gently. Il know,
because It SO happens was here all
the time"
His eyes bulged incredulously.
"You, sir? You near In this room Pr
I nodded slowly. Il mean right in
this room-I was q witness of the
whole thing"
jenkins Just gulped. l motioned to
1 chair
you may sit down. Jenkins. my
poor fellow" said compassionately.
I poured out some whisky and gave
It to him.
you must brace yourself for q
great shock, my poor Jenkins" l said
soothingly. And then l thought l 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
fn time to head on 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 hud-
died up. you know, n his face as
white as the what-you-call-it snow.
Didn't seem able to say q word. BY
Jove, 1t was too much for me: my
heart Just went out to him.
ITS all right, Jenkins" I said kind
-. and I patted his knee. Doesn't
make 4 jolly bit or difference to me,
Nv Inst told Won because 1