Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1913-03-20

one who knew them very well wrote.
once upon a time. something like this:
You can take = Cnink away from his
fan.
Away from his lotteries. hddles and
You can give his queue to the barber.
Bet you can't get down to the roots that
start
From the yellow base OF his yellow
heart
And it's very true. There are those
here who pretend to adore me. who
| would think nothing of treating me
as they treated poor Ling 70. IL they
suspected knew anything and gave
Information"
Il don't want you to think I'm a
! coward. Miss Grayson," she went on.
turning to Evelyn. Il think I've proved
to you that | want 10 help you and
mean 10. but I'm rather upset tonight.
and I'm so afraid We shall have to let
matters rest a little longer. There is
one thing. though. that you can do
for me, If you will"
The last sentence was addressed to
me, and | made haste to assure her
that she had only to command me.
As she had spoken she had been
folding and refolding the paper in her
hand. until it was now a tiny. one
inch square.
Take this" she said, handing It
TO me, her voice a low murmur, and
after you have read II, destroy 1t. /
shouldn't want It found in my pos
session"
Il understand Miss Clement" re-
turned and the folded square went
into my waistcoat pocket
1T may mean more 10 you." she
added. in a whisper, than anything
1 could say"
| When once more in the brougham.
speeding northward, Evelyn. who had
been unusually taclturn throughout
| the interview, asked me a question.
Did you mean what you said,
Philip"
What did l say?" | queried.
That you understood"
Il understood that it might not be
well for her TO have this letter OF
Ling Eos about"
But the rest' Her refusal to talk?
Her ureasiness? Her fear Of possible
traitors?' she persisted
Once more she had gone straight to
the heart of the situation. / had been
as puzzled as she by the missionary's
attitude Of constraint. which / could
not attribute wholly 10 the tragedy she
had told US of; and | admitted Us
rauch TO Evelyn.
If she suspected cavesdroppers."
the girl argued. she said too much.
II she didn't fear being overheard. why
couldn't she tell us all she knew"
For want OF better answer'I said:
Perhaps the letter will solve the
enigma" and plucking II from my
pocket with thumb and forehnger /
began carefully to unfold 1t.
The interior of the vehicle was bril-
liantly alight. and though we we're
already far beyond the Chinatown
zone and the chance observation OF
any lurking spies. nevertheless chose
discreetly TO draw the shades prior
TO outspreadlng the written page.
Before the sheet with it's network OF
creases was quite fattened. Evelyn.
who was bending attentively near. ex-
claimed In surprise, 1T Is her own
handw 1tingl See. It is written by
Miss Clement herself"
Already absorbed. made 10 re-
Spouse. Avidly my eyes wore racing
I -. c-ga.odflu hrnfp x1-1a
digest'ng them.
"Tidings OF the cruel murder CT
Ling 70 have Just reached me. When
you come, as l know you will, ! shall
not dare to speak what have written,
and which is all that the poor boy
ever told me. Already there are spies
about me. and your visit is a risk to
US both. would have prevented It. IL
u could.
Three weeks ago, according 10 Ling
Flo, white man was abducted by or
der Of the Six Companies, and shipped
to China for punishment, aboard a
tramp steamer. Ling 70 would not
give me the white mans name o: any
Of the particulars, save that sixteen
Il
known TO every Chinaman In America
as The Crime Of the Sable Lorcha,'
or black funeral ship by which near
" one hundred Chinese coolies lost
their lives.
1T seems now that this man. who
they thought was on the ocean, sud
denly reappeared in New York, few
nights ago. He was recognized and
set upon by two Cinnamon. but he
escaped, and the Six Companies and
all the tongs are in ferment over the
mystery"
Eyelyn's hand was on my arm as
read, her face close to mine. reading
with me. Having finished. held the
sheet for e moment, waiting for her
to signify that she. too. had reached
the end. And in that moment the
brougham came 10 a sudden halt.
Before either OF Us could voice a