The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1913-03-06
your prstsss couldn't comet"

was shot to death. Poor. poor Ling
Fol"
"shot to DEATH" I cried, while Eve
Ign. with cheeks suddenly pale and
eyes wide. held her undsrlip fast be-
tween her teeth. and gripped hard on
the arms Of the rocking chair in which
Miss Clement had placed her.
Eyes," And this strong, sweet
faced. gray.haired woman in gray. her
momentarily.lost composurs quite re.
covered. laid . quieting hand softly
over Evelyn's tensed clutch. Eyes.
That sort Of thing II not unusual down
here, you know. There is always more
or less bad blood between the tongs.
But 1t was most unfortunate. just at
this time. because I 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
mont. I fancy It was out Of considera-
ton for Evelyn that she refrained
from endorsing my conclusion; while
I reproached myself for being less
thoughtful. I was all the more con.
WINGED that l had voiced the motive
TOR the shooting.
As Evelyn did not ask for particu-
lars. l profted by the lesson thus
taught and curbed. my curiosity. But
I was in no mood to drop the subject.
From Miss Clements note It was clear
that Ling Fo had already commune
Gated to her some Of the more impor-
tant facts in this connection, and of
these l hoped to possess myself.
And so. Miss Clement" I~entured.
sharpening my wedge, chinatown 10
mystified. I understand"
She was seated. now. by her little
desk. and for Q moment had been turn.
Ing up. searchingly. one paper after
another. from an open drawer. At
my observation. she, paused and raised
her glance. a folded sheet Of note size
In her hand: for . heartbeat her eyes
held mine.
eyes," she said At length. China.
town IL all at sea. 90 to speak"
"Over what!" I pressed.
Slowly abe unfolded the scrap of
writing she held. and before replying
she read it through, slowly and DELHI
erately.
III you don't mind" she proposed.
II would prefer not to talk about It.
am in q peculiar position here. Mr..
Clyde. az you car we'll understand,
and ! can't afford to play false to
those who trust me. At the same
time I do not always know whom
among these people to trust. Some
one who knew them very we'll wrote.
once upon a time. something like this:
You can take . Chink away from his
Away from his lotteries. laddles and
You can give his queue to the barber.
But y9 ssr; can't get down to the root. that
From h. Il; y.''o" base of his y'1o"
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 Fo, II they
suspected I knew anything and gave
information"
II don't want you to think I'm q
coward, Miss Grayson," she went on,
turning to. Evelyn. II think I've proved
to you that I want to help you and
mean to, but I'm rather upset tonight!
and I'm so afraid. we shall have to let
matters rest q little longer. There ia
one thing, though. that you can do
for me, If you WILL"
The last sentence was addressed to
me. and I 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 1t. destroy 1t. I
shouldn't want 1t found in my pos,
session." F!
II understand. Miss Clement" I 70.
turned and the folded square went
into my waistcoat pocket. +:
1T may mean nor to you," she
added. in a whisper. than anything
I could say"
When n more In the brougham,
speeding northward. Evelyn. who had
been unusually taciturn throughout
the interview, asked mo q question.
Did you mean what you said,
Philip?"- =:
What did I sayf" I Querisd.
"That you understood"
Il understood that 1t might not bs
we'll for her to have this letter Of
Ling Eos about" /:
But the rest3 Her refusal to talk
Her uneasinsssf He1 fear Of possible
t~raitorsf" she persisted.
Once more she had gone straight to
the heart Of the situation. I had been
as puzzled ~ she by tho m1ssionary'd
attitude Of constraint, which I could
not attribute wholly to the tragedy she
had told US of; and I admitted a.
much.to Evelyn.
IF she suspected savesdroppers,"
the girl argued. "shs said too much,
II she didn't fear being overheard. why
couldn't: she tell Us all abe knewf"