The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-01-29

arrange 1t al
Let me go with you," she urged.
laying a beseeching hand on nv arm
DO let me go with you. Philip. am
20 anxious 1t will seem years If 7
have to walt here for you to bring me
the news; and there are sure to he
some things you will forget to ask
about, II I'm not there to prompt You "
In spite OF the unflattery OF her
speech smiled, indulgent. Her great
blue eyes, pathetically pleading as her
words, were able advocates. II was
hard TO deny her under any circum.
stances, and now. as thought It over.
1 saw no reason why in this instance
she should not have her desire.
Yes" ] agreed, you shall 90 Rut
remember, you must be very careful.
Tor the present at least, not to let slim
the slightest inkling that we SUSPECT
our Cameron Is not the real Cameron
we are seeking information, you know.
Evelyn, not squandering it."
Pell street wore its night gaudery
when the Cameron electric brougham
with Evelyn and myself as occupants
glided to a halt before the door of the
Mission over which Miss Clement ably
and successfully presided. The pale,
var1-tinted light Of lanterns from the
balcony OF restaurant across the
way, mingling with the Pickering vel
low beam Of the city's gas lamps.
tnrew into sharp relief the curious
pendent black signs with their red
cloth borders and gilded Chinese let.
terlng, hanging before shop doors. It
revealed, too, oddly contrasting figures
or loungers and pedestrians, residents
and visitors. And it barred, back of all
tfar was bizarre, the commonplace
brick fronts Of the typically American
buildings, with their marring gridiron-
Ing or fire-escapes. To Evelyn, rarely
oDservant, the combination was inter
esting, but disappointing.
ut does not look at all as I expect.
ed it would" she said to me. "It hasn't
the air. 1t Is neither one thing nor the
other. 1t is like g. stage scene, care
lessly mounted"
the last notes Of familiar hymn,
mangled in words and melody almost
beyond recognition. flowed out to Join
the babel Of street sound. and before
We could mount the high steps there
mad begun to pour forth a motley.
malodorous freshet of felt-shod soles,
that gave us pause; blocking, for
Few minutes, not merely the ascent
but the sidewalk as we'll.
When, at length, the way was clear.
and by direction of q youth at the en-
trance, We had passed through the
close, ill-smelling hall, where the lights
had already been lowered, We came
upon Miss Clement, alone in a little
well-ventilated and brightly-l,ghted Of
hce or parlor, jutting off at the rear.
IL she was surprised at seeing Eve
lyn, she gave no sign. She welcomed
us both with the smiling cordiality Of
a lifelong friend. But abruptly her
smile died.
i tried to get you on the telephone
an hour ago." she explained, "but
there was some trouble with the wire.
hoped to save you this journey for
Your protege couldn't Gomez? I
queried.
Unfortunately, no." she returned,
with little quaver in her voice. "My
protege will never come again. He
was shot to death. Poor, poor Ling
Fol-"
Shot to DEATH" I cried, while Eve
lyn, with cheeks suddenly pale and
eyes wide, held her underlip fast be-
tween her teeth, and gripped hard on
the arms OF the rocking chair in which
Miss Clement had placed her.
Yes" And this strong, sweet
faced. gray-haired woman in gray, her
momentarily-lost composure quite re-
covered, laid quieting hand softly
over Eyelyn's tensed clutch. "Yes.
That sort Of thing is not unusual down
here, you know. There Is always more
or less bad blood between the tongs.
But it was most unfortunate, just at
this time, because l feel sure he could
have told you something worth learn.
ing. I'm glad he was a good boy. He
was one Of the few converts that are
really sincere"
Perhaps he knew too much" /
suggested.
But Miss Clement made no COM
ment. l fancy it was out Of considera-
tion for Evelyn that she refrained
from endorsing my conclusion; while
reproached myself for being less
thoughtful, ! was all the more con-
vinced that I had voiced the motive
for the shooting.
AS Evelyn did not ask for particu-
lars. / profted by the lesson thus
taught and curbed my curiosity. But
: was In no mood to drop the subject.
From Miss Clements note it was clear
that Ling Fo had already communi-