Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-06-30

of the rifh Galbraiths.
But John Galbraith had evidently
forgotten that episode in his horror at
the abduction of his daughter Con-
stantly The urged Harry Ames to make
greater speed vas the sun went down
and Lefty the river a dismal yellow path
leadingA whittier?
I'm getting every inch out OF her,
sir" reiterated Harry patiently.
There. there! believe it is beyond
there, at the third fight of steps! See,
they are half carrying some one wrap
ped in a long cloakr'
He turned the Lark toward the stone
steps leading down from one of the
water gates Of the native city. Even
as he did so there came shrill warn
ing cry from nearby boatman
"Ay, YAH he shrieked shrilly. and
the men about the yellow sampan
turned, saw and melted through the
adjacent gate.
Two minutes later Harry Ames and
his companion scrambled up the slsmy
stepe steps and plunged through the
gate just before it slammed in their
faces.
The crooked street was empty, but
away to the left came the sound Of
muffed foot beats on cobblestones.
Follow me. SIR" cried Harry Ames,
his fingers clutched about a weapon
and his elbows pressed close to his
sides.
He turned to the right, entering
winding alley that sprang apart into
three branching alleys. At the end of
the middle alley a confused group of
people melted out of sight.
"Herer shouted Ames, dashing dowl
the thoroughfare.
The alleys and streets were strange
ly deserted. 1t was as if all the deni-
zens of the closely shattered houses
had withdrawn from the street to al
low free passage for the abductors to
make their escape.
John Galbraith soon fell behind in
the chase He could only glimpse
Ames' flying white clad figure as It
darted around corners and up and
down deserted streets.
Twice they had doubled on theil
tracks, and once Harry Ames had
heard n muff1ed scream for help. II
was growing dark now in the city,
and the occasional paper lantern hung
before doorway served to aceentuate
the gloom of the badly paved, filthy
streets.
All at once. painting and breathless.
Ames stopped at a- corner. He was
baffled. He had lost track of his
quarry. Where had they disappeared?
4 moment before he had been almost
upon them, and now they haf been
swallowed up by some forbidding
doorway.
He looked about for one large enough
to receive them in body and saw the
latticed gate of temple.
He waited an instant for Mr.. Gal
braith TO join him, pointed at the tenn
pie, and together they assaulted the
gate. 1t fell in at their first touch,
and they fastened up the wide stone
steps, where filthy mendicant priests
scurried away like scared rats at their
approach.
Inside the temple there was n muf-
fling darkness. with the suffocatins
smell of incense.
There was n great silence. Not a
sound broke the stiffness of the place.
"They are not here. 1t is too late"
moaned Mr.. Galbraith.
Wait" said Ames tersely. He pull
ed an electric torch from his pocket
and its needle-like light searched hith
er and thither through the smoke
shrouded atmosphere. He heard sup
pressed whispers, shrlll gatherings
nipped III their first utterance and
once the beginning of that weird Chi
nese cry of intense excitement:
"Ay, yahw But it was silenced, and
there followed an ugly gurgling sound
! and girls faint, frightened cry.
Courage. Rose: comingw called Har.
! ry Ames, and he dashed toward the
| sounds.
Careful, my boy" cautioned Mr..
| Galbraith's agonized voice from the
rear.
But Harry Ames had but one
thought The torch flashed hithcr and
thither until 1t sought and found Wang
Taos scared yellow face near the vo.
tive table. Beside him was another
IiluH. IHc Ouc VI tnc AD-
ductors lay dead across the floor. Rose
GaIbraith was nowhere TO be seen.
Il In three seconds the tbieving com
/ prador and his companion had van
ished.
Rose" called Harry Ames.
Coming" said the girls voice un.
steadily, and from behind the great
bronze idol there crept pale, pathetic
little figure that found refuge in Har
~ Ames' arms.
John Galbraith openly wiped his
eyes.
"My-my dear. you can come and
kiss me afterward, but this is a good
place to say that l guess you belong
70 Harry here. He has certainly Won
you"
Then somehow Rose found herself In
; the arms Of her father and her lover
~ can never think hardly of Wang
Tao after this" she sObbed.
r.
June 80 in American