The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1916-12-02

Making his way with difficulty
through the crowd OF residents, many
of whom wanted to wiring his hant
In thankfulness, while others were
anxious to discuss the days extraordi
nary events. he entered the pleasant
shady room which few short minutes
earlier he imagined he would never
see again. Its familiar contents look
ed strange in his eyes. 1t was as
though he had come back home. safe
and sound. after a long journey
through savage lands.
There ON the table lay the unfinished
letter to Enrol Manning!
Enrol Manning, confidential diplo-
matte agent in the service OF the Unit.
ed States government, seemed to be
much intrigued by n cablegram from
| China, which had been forwarded by
Washington to his fat I'm New York.
It was fine morning. Air like cham
payne and spnlit sky invited him to
the links. but Manning was seated at
a spacious desk I'm his comfortable H.
~
luck which had just compelled him to
remove bag of clubs from the walt
Ing car and tell the chauffeur that his
services would not be needed at pres
ent.
Manning. however, was devoted to
his work. After the first spasm Of an
noyance had passed he searched let
ter file for certain papers and gave his
mind wholly to the puzzling task so
Unexpectedly imposed. The cable
gram itself looked innocuous enough.
1t read:
No 81. Washington. d. C. oranges
ripened in Chisan province Extraordinary
crop. 14S.
Simple as the words seemed. they
were evidently connected In some mys-
terious way with the letter which Con-
sui Clark was writing when san
culinary riot broke out I'm the treaty
port of Han Koi. That letter was
lying on Manning's table. With 1t
were copies of the voluminous report
sent by the consul to the American
ambassador in Picking and thence trans
mitted to the state department at
Washington.
But the dry as dust official state
ment dealt only with ascertained facts,
whereas the more personal document
delved into speculative theory. Yet
the worried consul had not added ma
terially to the missive left uncomplet-
ed when the first shot Of the riot sum-
moned him to action. He simply re-
ferred Manning to the official version
Of the incident forwarded by the EN-
bassy and added an explanatory note
to the effect that n man named Tong
Flu, young Chinese of good standing
who had secretly become a Christian
and was employed in Ali Singh's pal
ace, had disappeared suddenly.
81 fear the worst" wroteSMr. Clark. ut
was he who kept me informed as to mys-
FERROUS goings on in that quarter. / had
much faith in his shrewdness and good
judgment. My own analysis OF Ali Singh's
character and attributes was based solely
on Tong Fu's estimates. l am now con-
WINGED that he has forfeited his life to
the cause OF progress, because he was one
OF the younger and enlightened reformers
who look for the regeneration of the in
ternizing with than by keeping aloof from
or being actively hostile to the thought
and spirit OF the west, At this date can
only add that Ali Singh seems to be assist
ed by sort of informal council made up OF
delegates from the various eastern races.
He affects to consult these advisers. In
reality they are the merest puppets Of his
will. / believe the man, In addition to his
other powers, can exercise mesmeric In
fluence to an extent that would surprise
even Professor Charcot of Paris. Nothing
could be more illuminative than the eX-
traordinary effect he produced on natives
and white men alike In the very crux of a
deadly struggle. His amazing dominance
at that moment has impressed me more
deeply than any other phase Of most
alarming and significant chapter in cur
rent history. l tell you again, Manning,
dstrust and fear Ali Singh"
The youthful diplomats thoughtful
face showed that he at least did not
regard the consul's warnings as the
vaporings of an overweight imagina-
ton. He had underlined certain pas
sages when first tho letter came to
hand, and seemed now to ponder these
again with painstaking delberation.
He was absorbed In the task when a
servant entered and announced visi-
tors.
Manning rose, with smile. and
shook hands with Captain Kemp of the
New York police, with nod Of cheer
full recognition for the smart looking
men in uniform who accompanied him.
Kemp had been specially detailed by
the commissioner to obey Manning's
bchests in every particular. His sur
prise may be well imagined, therefore,
when Manning handed him that limo
Gently worded cablegram from Picking.
"Is China going to compete In the
fruit trade against Florida as well as
Californian demanded Kemp.
But that was only Mannings little
joke. The decided text read very diff
ferently:
Enrol Manning, Washington, d. c. All
Singh sailed on steamship Moyitia for
New York with numerous retinue. Have
placed detective on steamer to keep track
Of him. Thomas ii. Clark, United States
consul, Hankoi.
Kemp whistled.
"Oh!" he cried. 80 we have to try
our teeth on something tougher than
oranges?'
soThinps look that way" said Man.