Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-11-14

through which the bearer had disap-
peared.
The spirits win b displeassd,"
warned Len 40.
"Rubbishi Let mo hear no more Of
this talk" said Thornton.
The two Chinese moved to and fro
preparing some cooked rice and pre-
served nsh for their own supper.
Thornton lighted an alcohol stove.
made coffee and ate some timed meat
and dry biscuits. Then. lighting his
pipe. be nung himself on a blanket
spread over q slab Of stone and smok-
ed dreamily.
Presently Len Ho brought him
pillow and q can Of cold water. and
then. the Chinese having withdrawn
to the darkened cloisters Of the temple.
Thornton composed himself for slum-
Der.
From his stony couch he could COM
mand a view Of the archway through
which they had entered the temple
courtyard. as well as the cloisters. In
the gloom Of which the trusty Len 10
and his countrymen were resting more
or less timidly. for in the face Of the
supernatural the native Chinaman IL
an arrant coward. He will stOlidly
meet acute physical suffering. but the
mental anguish Of eHcountering
spirit from another world Is more than
his courage can endure.
Thornton slept heavily while the
shadows changed on the dagstones Of
the courtyard. Once or twice the face
Of Len Ho or the terror stricken coun-
tenance Of the bearer peered fearfully
from the cloisters. where they were
passing a sleepless night
Suddenly Thornton awoke with a
start Something wet and cold had
dragged itself across his hand.
It was only snail travelling slowly
over his body. but the contact thor
oughly awakened Thornton.
He watched the moon floating across
the dark sky spaces. and then bis
glance fell to the black mouth Of the
arch.
While he looked something pale came
INTO the OlacK opening.
What was It? Was It the face Of one
Of his men or the sneaking form Of an
intruder? He stared intently.
The thing grew larger and took form.
Was 1t a man walking on all fours or
was 1t benst walking on two legs?
Thornton asked himself these ques-
lions. for the creature. whatever It
was. walked sometimes on two legs
and sometimes on four.
When 1t reached the middle Of the
courtyard It uttered short barking
yelp and turned its head toward the
moon
Then the American saw what the
thing was. The upper part of the body
was that Of gray wolf, sharp furry
head and body. From the knees down
It was man with stout bare legs and
feet that pattered on the stone as It
went.
Again It lifted its head and howled.
and muffled scream Of terror came
from the cloisters, where Len Ho and
bis companion were sheltered.
Thornton kept very quiet It was
evident that the creature had not spied
him.
There was no doubt In his mind that
this was the werewolf. the spirit which
Len Ho had warned him haunted the
spot: the werewolf. part man and part
wolf.
What an adventure to relate to the
Travellers clubi
Thornton half lifted himself, and a.
he did SO the thing turned and launch.
ed itself at him. with another yelpine
howl.
Thornton's revolver was always
handy in these China prowlings, and he
had whipped 1t out and fred It at the
werewolf without recollect1ng that
spirits care nothing for material bull
lets.
But the werewolf stopped short in his
tracks. screamed Justify with human
note Of pain in his voice ana fell to
the paving stones.
From the black arch there poured
number of dark clad forms. yelling
with the shrill hysteria Of a Chinese
mob.
BY this time Thornton had reached
the cloisters where Len Ho. though
shivering with dread, grasped him by
the hand and was fleeing with him
through the darkness. BY some rare
intuition len 40 guided his master