Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1913-03-20

Pell street wore its night gaudery
when the Cameron electric brougham
with Evelyn and myself as occupants
glided TO halt before the door Of the
Mission over which Miss Clement ably
and successfully presided. The pale,
vari-unted light OF lanterns from the
! balcony OF restaurant across the
! way, miDsl!ng with the pickering yell
/ low beam OF the oity's gas lamps,
threw into sharp relief the curious
| pendent black signs with their red
cloth borders and gilded Chinese let
iefing. hanging before shop doors. It
revealed, toe. oddly contrasting figures
| OF lounscrs and pedestrians. residents
and visitors. And IL barred. back Of ell
/ that was bizarre, TIE commonplace
brick fronts of the typically American
J buildings, with their marring gridiron-
/ ing OF fre-escapes. To Evelyn. rarely
/ obseryaEt. the combination was inter.
| esting. but disappointing.
1t does not look at all as | expect.
ed IL would" she said TO me. 1T hasn't
I the air. 1t is neither one thing nor the
other. 1t is like stage scene. cafe
iessly mounted
AS We alighted at the Mission door.
the last notes OF familiar hymn.
mangled in words and melody almost
beyond recognition. flowed out to join
the babel Of street sounds; and before
We could mount the high steps there
had begun 10 pour forth a motley.
malOdorous freshet Of fslt-shod soies.
that gave Us pause; blocking. for a
few minutes. not merely the ascent
but the sidewalk as well
When, at length. the way was clear.
and By direction CT youth at the en-
trance, We had passed through the
! close, il.-smelling ball, where the lights
had already been lowered. we came
upon Miss Clopent. alone In a little
wCli-yentilatcG aud brightly-lighted or
| fee or pGrlor, iut'.Eg OF at the rear.
/ II she was surprised at seeing Eve.
/ lyn. sEe gaze no sign. She welcomed
Us both with the smiling cordially of
a lifelong friend. But abruptly her
smile died
y tried TO get you on the telephone
an hour ago. she explained. hut
there was some trouble with the wire.
I hoped 10 save you this journey for
nothing"
Your protege couldn't conner" l
queried.
Unfortunately. no." she returned.
with q little quaver in her voice. My
/ protege will never come again. He
was sho, TO death. Poor, poor Ling
Fol-"
Shot to DEATH" cried. while Eve
/ Ign. with checks suddenly pale and
eyes wide. held her underlip fast be-
tween her teeth. and gripped hard on
the arms of the rocking chair in which
Mss Clement had placed her.
Yes" And this strong. sweet
faced. gray-haired woman in gray, her
momentariIy-lost composure quite re-
covered. laid a quieting hand softly
over Evelyn's tensed clutch. Yes.
| That sort OF thing Is not unusual down
| here. you know. There is always more
or less bad blood between the tongs.
| But Il was most unfortunate, just at
/ this time. because feel sure he could
have told you something worth learn
| ing. I'm glad he was 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
menL fancy it was out OF considera-
! ton for Evelyn that she refrained
/ from endorsing my conclusion; while
| | reproached myself for being less
! thoughtful. | was all the more con-
WINGED that had voiced the motive
! for the shooting.
AS Evelyn did not ask for particu-
lars. prohtod by the lesson thus
] taught aud curbed my curiosity. But
/ / was in no mood 20 drop the subject.
From Miss Clements note II was clear
/ that Ling To had already communi-
Gated TO her some OF the more impor-
tant facts in this connection. and Of
these / hoped TO possess myself.
And so. Miss Clement" ! ventured,
/ sharpening my wedge. Chinatown is
/ 1ysudcd. / understand"
She was seated. now. by her little
! desk, and for a moment had been turn
ing up. searchingly. one paper after
another. from an open drawer At
my observation. she paused and raised
her glance, folded sheet OF note size
in her hand; FOR a heartbeat her eyes
held mine.
Yes" she said a; length. China
! town Is all al sea. so 10 speak"
over what" | pressed.
Slowly she unfolded the scrap Of
writing she held. and before replying
she read II through. slowly and DELHI
cra;ely.
III sou doat mind" she proposed.
Il wodld prefer not TO talk about It.
am In a peculiar position here, Mr..
Clyde. as you can well understand.
and cant AFFORD TO play false to
those who trust me. At the same
une do not always know whom
among these people 10 trust Some