Mexico Missouri message., 1913-02-20

pair OF cellar doors spread invitingly,
one Of them resting against conven-
tional American milk can. On the
theater's right was laundry, dim and
overlooking. two pipe-smoking celes-
tials decorating It's low step. And be-
yond this was the wide opening to a
basement, above which, in white
Roman lettering on a black ground.
read the legend: Hip Sing Tong"
Again and again my gaze persisted
In returning to this sign and the dim
ly lighted cavern beneath It. The
place held for me the inexpfessible,
unfathomable charm of the mysteri-
GUS, beside which the heathenish
racket of the theater across the way,
the sinister aspect of the dismal laun-
dry and its pair OF pipesmoking guar
dams, even the constantly changing
procession OF varied types in roadway
and on sidewalks, exerted but meager
allure.
From time to time dark, silent fig
ures glided vaguely into view only to
disappear within this NAV Of mystery.
Once, while l watched, had seen
figure issue forth to be lost again in
stantly in the distant gloom OF the
curving street. Now, reverting once
more to this magnet, after moments
truancy. my eyes were rewarded by
sight OF another slowly emerging
form. silhouetted nebulously against
the dusk.
At the head OF the steps It paused,
uncertainty, and then, instead OF GID
ing swiftly away in the direction OF
Pell street as did the other, It turned
in my direction, passing almost at
once into the comparatively glowing
radius OF the street lamp opposite.
saw then that 1t was man, thin
to emaciation, round-shouldered, and
crooked llmbed. Whether some one
jostled him, or a voice from the road
, way startled him, don't know. But
for come reason he turned his head
suddenly, and the light from the lamp
fell full upon face, stubble-bearded,
deep-lined, and repellent, the face not
of a Chlnaman but Of white man;
face into which I had looked but
| twice, and then but for brief mo-
| ment; yet q face as indelibly fixed In
my memory as were the grim fronts
of the buildings now behind 1.-THE
face OF Peter Johnson. the pretended
castaway.
think | must have had 1t in mind
| to pick him up bodily and carry him
away with me that might by inquisi-
torial torture wiring from him con-
fesslon. Otherwise | should have
adopted less eager and more subtle
method of bringing the miscreant to
book than that which l rashly at
tempted. Before | considered the sit.
uation was across the street and at
his heels. My finger tips, indeed,
were at his shoulder. In the fraction
OF a second l should have had him
gripped and have been hustling him
through the crowd as my prisoner
But at the instant OF seeming success,
he eluded me. In some strange way
he caught alarm and, shrinking be-
meath my hanS, Jarted sinuously off.
between this pedestrian and that, with
the flashing speed of a lizard.
But, though he escaped my clutch,
my eyes were more nimble. With
them | followed him until l saw him
drop between the cellar doors which
CAPPED beneath the white bulk window
OF the quick lunch room. And where
my eyes went, / went after. Another
brief moment and, without thought or
heed, was plunglng in pursuit down
that short, steep flight OF steps-plung
ing from a lighted, peopled, noisy pub
lie street into the collied gloom and
grim silence OF low underground
| basement.
And, as misfortune would have II, |
must needs catch my heel on the edge
of one of the treads, and 60 sprawlng
on my hands and knees; while a
poignant pain shooting cruelty
through my ankle told me that a
sprain was added to my mishap.
For a minute l lay as / had fallen,
prone and motionless; and in that
space | realized the foolhardiness OF
my whole course of action. My very
intrepidity had contributed to disaster
Instead Of accomplishing a capture l
had cast myself disabled, into the
mesh Of the enemy.
The inky darkness and profound ST.
lence OF the place augmented Of
course, my apprehension. In vain
strained my eyes TO distinguish an OBJ
ject, my ears to detect a sound, yet
knew that the uncanny creature l had
| followed must be close 10 me; lurking,
possibly, with raised or pointed
weapon to mete out my fate once he
made sure OF my position.
Tho minute-it could hardly have
! been more, though, as | think OF II, It
seemed infinitely prolonged-ended In
q sound above and behind me. Very
softly, carefully. some one was closing
I the cellar doors. Stealthily mufiied
! though It was, the faint oreaking OF
1 the hinges shattered the spell which
held me, and in spite Of my tortured
ankle, ! managed to gain my feet. But