Farmers' champion. (Elgin, Okla.) 1912-1922, 1913-01-23


I traction In Chipese characters. with
the added notice. Seats reserved for
Americans To the left OF this was
q quick lunch restaurant. with white
painted bulk window. beneath which
q pair Of cellar doors spread invitingly.
one o. them resting against a conven-
;ionAl American milk can. On the
thea:er's right was a laundry. dim and
evil-lookins. two pipesmoking celef-
tials decorating It's low step. And be-
yond this WAS the wide OF saipg to a
7 basement. above which, In white
/ Roman lettering on a black ground.
read the legend Hip Sing Tong"
Again and azAin my gaze persisted
IN returning 20 jhis sign and the dim
ly lighted cavern beneath IL. The
place held for ne the inexpressihle,
unfs;homable charm Of the mysteri.
Gus. beside which the heathenish
racket o. the thester across the way.
the sinister aspect o. the dismal laun-
Z dry and its pair Of pipesmoking guar
dians. even TIE constantly changing
I procession Of varied types In roadway
and on sidewalks exerted but meager
allure.
From time 10 time dark. silent fg.
ures glided vaguely into view only to
I disappear within this nav OF mystery.
Once. while ] watched, ] had seen a
I figure issue forth 20 be lost again In
/ sisntly in the distant gloom Of the
I curving street; Now. reverting once
more 10 this magnet. after a moments
I trusncy my eyes were rewarded by
sight OF another slowly emerging
form. silhouetted Debulously against
the dusk
AZ the head of The steps It paused.
uncertainty, and then. instead Of Gid
] ing swiftly away in the direction OF
Pell street as die he other. Il turned
In my direction. passing almost at
once into the comparatively glowing
radius o. the street lamp opposite
saw then ths, II was a man, thin
10 ernacistion. round-shouldered. and
crooked limbed Whether some one
!ostled him. or voice from the road
way startled him. don't know. But
Tor some reason be turned his head
suddenly. and the light from the lamp
fell full upon 8 face. stubble-bearded.
deep-lined, and repellent, the face not
OF ChinamAn but Of a white man;
face into which ! bad looked but
twice. and then but for a brief mo-
ment; yet 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
castawsy
] think ! must have had II in mind
10 pick him Up bodily and carry him
away with me thct might BY inquisi.
torial torture wiring from him a con-
fession. Otherwise should have
adopted less eager and more subtle
method OF bringing the miscreant to
book than that which rashly al.
tempted. Before considered the sit.
uaion ! was across the street and at
his heels. Ny finger tips. indeed,
were at his shoulder. In the fraction
OF q second | should have had him
srtpped and have been hustling him
through the crowd as my prisoner.
But a. the instant OF seeming success,
he eluded ne. In some strange way
he caught alarm and. shrinking be-
meath my han5. Jarted sinuously of.
between this pedestrian and that, with
the flashing speed Of lizard
But, though he escaped nv clutch.
my eyes were more ninble. With /
them ! followed him until saw him
drop between the cellar doors which I
gaped beneath the white bulk window |
OF the quick lunch room. And where |
my eyes went, ] went after. Another
brief moment and. without thought o.
heed. ! was plunging In pursuit down
that short, steep flight o. steps-pluns.
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 Il.
must needs catch my heel on the edge
OF one Of the treads. and 60 sprawlipg
on my hands and knees: while a
poignant pain shooting cruelty
through my ankle told me that a
sprain was added 10 my mishap.
For minute ! lay as had fallen
prone and motionless; and in that
SPACE ! realized the foolhardin.ss OF
my whole course OF action Ny very
intrepidity had contributed 10 disaster
Instead Of accomplishing q capture
had cast myself. disabled. into the
mesh Of the enemy
The inky darkness and profound ,,.
lence OF the place augmented q,
course. my apprehension. In vain
strained my eyes to distinguish an oh.
tect. my ears to detect a sound. ye,
knew that the uncanny creature had
must be close 10 me: ,nrk,n.