Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-04-24
cHAPrER lv-fcontInuedl.


questioning, to gain time, you know,
and wondering all the while how 1
should ever be able to break the truth
to the poor fellow
Tell me again what he was Ike l
said How did you know he was
Chinaman?"
Why, by his long black pigtail,
sir, and his emery 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 skin
about his eyes was painted white with
red streaks shooting around like rays
of light
mo beard or mustache, I 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 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. 81 suppose you felt
this. Ell, when you jumped at his
throat?"
Jenkins rubbed his chin with puz-
zled air.
why, that's uncommon 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. I should say 1t felt just about
like yours would sir.
eyed him ruefully.
by Jove, l don't doubt 1t min
ute!" | commented with some dis
gust
We'll, go on with your yarn. You
were telling, when I 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 gone out, sir-never thought Of
that; I 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"
had an inspiration.
Il see" I broke in careIessly; land
then you demanded to know where
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
head and knocked the jolly daylights
out Of the lady with the fencing foil"
Jenkins. his mouth agape, viewed
me with distended eyes.
I didn't tell you that. sir" he fall
tered. How"
And when you dropped the weap-
on" l went on, this chap collared it.
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
spiritIess.
No. sir; it seemed easier to die,
sir" he muttered-"what with him
grinning like a fiend and his long
teeth a-sticking out over his lip
ughi" Then he added wonderingly:
But what gets me is how you should
know, sir"
I looked at him grayely.
Jenkins" l said gently, Il know,
because it so happens l was here all
the time
His eyes bulged incredulously.
You. sir? You mean in this room ?'
I nodded slowly. Il mean right In
this rcom-I was a witness of the
whole thing"
Jenkins just gulped. 1 motioned to
a chair
You may sit down. Jenkins, my
poor fellow" I said compassionately
I poured out some whisky and gave
1t 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 off another attack
And then told him ALL
And here" l 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. and his face as
white as the what-you-eail-it snow.
Didn't seem able to say a word BY
We, it was too much for me; my
2 lrt just went ont to him.
It's all right, Jenkins l said kind