News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1916-04-12


"All ready, Van; lead the way. Help
Mr.. Potter Gith his bags. l can man
nge alone"
Without an unnecessary word Van
Ping picked up a couple of bags and
led the way IL the back of the house.
Here the kitchen offices extended in a
series of small buildings to the rear
wall Of the compound.
Beyond the wall were the sluggish
waters Of q creek, and choking the
creek for mile above the river where
it emptied was long struggling line
of sampans or house boats, occupied by
the poorest class of Chinese. The sam
pans were connected with the bank on
either side by narrow planks that serv-
ed as gangways, and 50 closely We're
the sampans packed that one could
travel from one end Of the line to the
other under the cover of their matted
roofs.
Van Ping led the Americans through
a narrow gate in the wall and out into
creek.
ut is the only way" he remarked
after he had explained his plan to Da-
vfes.
"And after we reach the river"
asked Davies.
"There are foreign ships of war there.
Sabe?"
"Sabe," replied the American
There would be risk in escaping
through the long tunnel of sampans.
Some of the boat dwellers might OBJ
ject, although Davies was well sup
piled with coin to buy their safe pas
sage if necessary.
Leonard Potter, innocent cause of all
the trouble, meekly followed after Van
Ping, leaving Davies to bring up the
rear.
1t was an exciting experience. Dan
ger lurked in the hidden gloom of each
i'll smelling sampan that they entered
Hostility was in their rear. Even Da-
vieS' money almost failed to gain their
way in some places.
Slant eyed men threatened them
from dark corners, angry women
shrilled at them, and impudent chill
dren spat defiance at the hated foreign
ers Many of the men We're paid assas-
sins, and Davies was ready at every
turn to defend himself.
Once there was little scuff1e when
two men darted out with naked knives,
but Van Pings angry voice sent them
covering back into the dim obscurity
of their hiding place
When they had nearly completed the
journey through the line of sampans a
remarkable incident occurred.
Bob Davies, who was bringing up the
rear, felt a touch On his sleeve, and he
looked down into the wizened face Of
an aged Chinaman. The man looked
up at him from dimmed eyes.
Foreign devil" he whispered, "take
this in exchange for money. l would
throw it into the mud only my wicked
daughter-in-law would find it. l shall
soon die, and this must not reach her
hands,
He pressed little box into Davies
palm.
Money, how much or how little, as
yOu WlSH, "ulleu Inc HAL.
From ahead Van Ping was calling
Davies looked down into |
the age smitten face, and, pulling out |
a handful Of money, he poured it into
the trembling palms Of the old man.
Stuffing the unopened box into his
pocket, Davies ran at top speed
through the noisome deck houses until
he reached his companions. From
that moment he forgot all about the
mysterious little box.
He felt the freSher air of the river
blowing in his face, and he was re-
lieved when at last they emerged upon
the bow of the last sampan, whose
Prov projected into the mouth Of the
creek.
Here a small sampan was in wait
ing, and Van Ping hustled his pas
sengers into the craft and took up the
pole in his strong arms.
The river stretched a turbulent yell
ow stream east and west. The town
Of Penfoo struggles along its north
ern bank. Twenty miles below Pen
w 10 u iuA sc tiCdty pun, DdflcS
Knew that they would find protection
IN any one of the foreign warships ~
ng In the roadstead.
Van Ping vigorously poled the sam
IAN down the river, the swift current
speeding them on the way to safety.
Two days later the tea merchant and
he missionary, whose business in Pen
90 had ended so abruptly, were on
BOARD a river steamer bound for Shang-
lai
Bob Davies sulked alone most of the
ime, while Leonard Potter associated
With the native crew and made two
onverts among them. Joyfully tri-
lmphant, he sought Davies in his re-
reat.
I'm sorry I didn't stick to my post
n Penfoo," said the missionary re-
retfully when he had described his
ecent experiences among the Chinese
rev. Il am sure that my persuasions
you'd have touched their simple
carts at last"
You are 200 miles from Penfoo and
Chinese mob" remarked Bob.
MIR. Potter closed his pale eyes and
Olded his hands over his black waist
oat. He wished he had not met Da-
0war1 u