Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1913-07-05
A FIGHT IN
THE DARK
ID Resulted In a Narrow
Escape
By cLARIssA r1AcKIE

The continuous thieying Of merchan
disc from the Shanghai waNnouse OF
Gordon \ Co. had finally resulted IL
an active investigation Of the matter
by the efficient Young manager. PHILLIP
Newton
He had worked ON the matter foi
several weeks before be decided that
Lennon his foreman an the wharf
was in conspiracy with the captain OF
handsome Chinese iunk that had
min nj anchor near the wharf ut Inter
vais that corresponded with the date
OF the robbcrles
So ii was that one rainy night Philip
Newton made his way down TO Pun
llcrson's ietty. where he found Peter
Cook. his trusted young assistant
waiting for him 10 the trim little
launch which belonged 70 the com
pany,
Pundcrson's jetty overlooked Cor
don's wharf. ana Philip had scarcely
seated himself IN the launch when Pc
ter leaned cautiously toward him
"Thc Junk went up about half hour
ago. sir" he said
"Good Wen 20 right along too
The Meteor sputtorcd out into tie
river and pointed her nose NJ stream
After her engine wns fairly started
and the specially patented muller had
been applied the noise died down IN
Ill NJ last she elided IN utter silence
through the wafer
The driz2ling rain had ceased and
the harbor was jeweled with the radi
ance ~ hundreds If lights from the
gathered shipping Each tiny sampan
and fishing boat bore It's softly CLEAN.
Ing paper lantern and as the launch
threaded her way out of the anchorage
she seemed to glide over waves OF
molten gold where the current broke
the reflection into thousand shin
mering tights
The boat was going very slowly. feel
ing her way. now and then avoidine
n rapidly moving sampan. and hut for
the occasional meeting Of one Of these
small craft their tourney was without
Incident until suddenly without warn
ing. Peter brought the launch 70 q
standsun and Philip realized that the
fender chafed the side Of some huge
craft which was moored IN the middle
Of the river
There was a slight jar Of impact. an
almost imrcrccptihle listing Of the lar
ger craft 70 starboard. and rs she
righicd herself the launch was tossed
gently away and again brought Ut
with slight rub against the black
bulk.
There was dead silence in the launch.
but an about them In the fog were the
staccato murmur Of Chinese voices
and the swish Of water as though
myriads Of tiny boats might be darling
between the junk and the shore. for
sometimes the sounds were near. rs
II approaching them and then dimin
ishing
Occasionally there was muiiled
thud MS though some heavy object had
been transferred from one vessel 70
another Int the accomplishing fog con.
cealed the mysterious happenings from
the eyes Of the Americans in the
launch
1T is the junk" said Philip in n
whisper
Il guess you're right, sir"
Put her under shore now. Peter
There should be landing and some
stone steps along here Perhaps We
can ind what they are taking ashore
Gently now"
The swift flow ~ the river drowned
the pnnt Of the engine. and IN few
minutes they had drawn up under the
high. muddy bank Just beneath the
black wall u masonry
From his seat in the bow philir
thrust one leg over the rail, CROPPED
with his foot and discovered what be-
was locking fora flight of broken
Shiny stone steps leading from the riv
or 10 the bank above
Quite by accident Peter had brought
the launch 70 n standstill at the foot
OF this flight OF steps.
Philip was undetermined rs TO what
he would de- next. His object had
been 20 gain the next landing beyond
them, whore be- suspected the cargo
boats were unloading the stolen mer
chandise from The junk.
Although he did not doubt that tho
mandarin. SIN Yucn. chief magistrate
Of the province Of Szechuan. was the
instigator 81 the plot and likewise tn,
chief benefactor IN the returns. h,
knew IL would he difficult mntter q
bring the man TO justice owing 10 ID,
corrupt practices In vogue at the
courts. especially where a high official
was concerned
And san Yucn was not mn ordinary
mandarin-ruler ~ q small province
He was rich ana powerful. n man
DARN 81 the coral button Of high rank
and much In favor near the throne
He could command the richest office
within the gift u the rulers. yet h,
preferred his position as potentate Of q
prosperous province. which he ruled
with q cruel hand that could wiring III,