Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1913-04-24

came the most openly bitter of all the
avenging horde that for over a decade
and half secured the four corners of
the globe; for 1t seems THAI McNish
had not only made off with his share
OF the receipts of their joint enter
prise. but had left him With a running
lot OF debts TO settle as well. There
was something. too, believe, about a
Chinese woman whose loyalty to Mo-
ran. McNish undermined, but | con-
fess that part OF the story was not
the half-breed, and Moran, the Irish.
man, who appears to have been a row.
ing blade, sort of soldier Of fortune
with some talent for painting. became
the prime movers In this relentless
quest, in which they were backed by
what Is known as the Six Companies.
All the tOngs, no matter how much at
variance on other points. were unit
in this instance. and unlimited money
wa9 always available to prosecute the
search"
A footman, appearing at this juno
ture with the inevitable tea parapher-
MALTA, interrupted temporarily the cur
rent of Miss Clements narrative. But
our interest was such that we limited
the cessation to the briefest possible
period. DR.. Addison, whose profess
sional engagements we're being top
pied over one after another, politely
urged her TO continue. directly her cup
was in her hand.
Think. Miss Clement" he said,
with an ingrati1ting smile, "of the rapt
audience you have! | trust it is at
once an inspiration and a compensa-
ton"
1T surely u.s." was the good lady's
prompt acknowledgment And, by the
way. must not forget to-tell you how
this man, McNish. actually had the
temerlty 10 return to China a few
years ago. He appeared to think
either that his crime had been forgot
ten or that knowledge of it was lin.
tied to the Southern provinces, for in
the early fall of 1908, under one of his
many aliases, he arrived at Picking,
by way of the Trans-Siberian Rail
way"
The doctor and Exchanged glances
1t was odd how confirmation of the
error he had already ayowed should
thus come about from the lips of one
who knew nothing of his story OF a
shattered friendship.
oddly enough. Moran happened to
be in the city at the time and every
arrangement was made to capture the
| long-sought prey and convey him TO
/ Canton for some exquisite torture de
vised especially to fit his crime. In
some way, however. the intended vic
tim got wind of what was proposed
and came within an ace of escaping
unscathed from under their very fin
| gers. Indeed, he did escape in the end
/ but not before Moran had very nearly
put a finish to him by a knife thrust
! in his back"
| Once more exchanged glances with
the physician. for scarcely half ar
hour before, I had told him OF the seal
under McNish's left shoulder blade, re
ceiyed as ! had been told, in Buffalo
Moran fed from Picking after this
| encounter, not knowing whether his
enemy were dead or alive, and fol
awhile, | believe, laid very low as
they say. In spite OF all the effort!
of the combined Chinese organiza
lions, McNish, warned now OF his con
slant danger, eluded their search, bu
at length Soy himself succeeded II
tracing him TO Canada and thence L
Buffalo. There Moran came, post
haste, and once more there was
street encounter. Moran was arrest
ed, and McNish charged him with as
sault with intent to kill. The resul
sent TO prison for a term Of years
and once again the earth seemed Il
, close over McNish."
The discrepancies between Mis-
Clements narrative and that of YuI
} Sing | did not regard as sufficient.
vital to raise a question over, yet
must admit that | could hardly fore
see a conclusion without a mucl
grayer antagosism Of facts as ] knew
them
, The missionary having paused u
: sip her tea. DR.. Addison asked permis
sion to smoke a cigarette, which sh
readily granted.
"On Moran's release from prison,
! Miss Clement continued, fortified b
J the fragrant Oolong. he appears 70
; the first time TO have considered III
] ACCESSIBILITY Of adopting some sort O
: an incOgnito. Prior TO this time h
| had, Soy told me, been carefully clea
l shaver and close-cropped. Now h
, grew beard and wore his hair Ions
I and, IN addition, he doctored Il wit
! henna until It became fiery red. II
a also changed his name from Moran I
D Murphy, and instead OF irequentin
r the busy marts Of men. he retired I
an isolated country place on the Co
= Cob river and posed as an artist. II
employed always a Chinese seryan
+ and al least once a week, without IA
4 he visited Chinatown, keeping Away
r in touch with the powers there, whic
: were still unrelenting in their effort
] AZ 81.