The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1916-12-28
CHAPTER xI-continued.

Ember pushed back his chair and,
rising, strolled to the door. "Moonrise
and fine, clear night" he said, star
ing through the wire mesh of the
screen. "Wish you were well enough
to go riding with me. However, you
won't be laid up long, 1 fancy. And
I'll be back day after tomorrow. Now
/ must cut along"
And within ten minutes Whitaker
heard the motor car rumble off on the
woodland road. He wasn't altogether
sorry TO be left to his own society, but
in spite of his half-hearted perturba-
ton and dissatisfaction. the weariness
of long, full day was so heavy upon
him that he went to sleep almost be-
fore Sum Fat had finished making him
comfortable.
Distinguishing the candle, the China
man, moving with the silent assurance
of cat In the dark, closed and latched
the shutters, then sat down just out
side the living-room door, to wait and
watch, sleeplessly alert.
An hour passed in silence, and an
other, and yet another. Sum Fat sat
~'OfCANoo III NAC otlduOWs WHICH,
so perfectly with his dark blue silk
garments as to render him almost in
distinguishable-a figure as patient
and imperturbable as any bland, stout,
craven god of his religion. But in time
there fell upon his ears another sound,
to which he stirred, If imperceptibly-
drawing himself together, tensing and
licking his tired muscles while his eyes
shifted quickly from one quarter to
another OF the darkened living room
and the still more dark bedchamber.
And yet apparently all that had
reused him was the drowsy whistle OF
a whippoorwill.
Then, with no other presage, a
shadow fitted past one of the side win
dows, and In another reappeared more
substantially on the veranda. Sum
Fat grew altogether tense. his gaze
liked and exclusively focused upon
that apparitlon.
Cautiously, noiselessly, edging inch
by inch across the veranda, the man
approached the door. 1t was open. A
1ull, long minute elapsed. Even Sum
Fat held his breath throughout that
NH1cIhHuaDie reconnaissance.
At length, reassured, the man slipped
INTO the room. Another minute: no
sound detachable more untoward than
that OF steady respiration In the bed
room with a movement as swift and
sinister as the swoOp of a vulture. the
man sprang toward the bedroom door.
beaping from sitting position, with
"a nOnnn fhot
ueht through the air, the Cbinnman
caught him halfway. There followed
Z Shrek, a heavy fall that shook the
bungalow, the report OF a revolver.
sounds OF scuhiing
whitaker half dazod, found himself
Standing in the doorway, regardless Of
his injury.
re saw, as one who dreams md yet
conscious that ne does but dream,
hmber lighting candles-caImly apply
ing the flame of a taper TO one after
"uother os he made n round of the
sconees. Sum Fat was kneeling on all
OURS above something that breathed
nenyiiy and struggled without avail.
Wmtaker's sleep-numbed faculties
hmberw he cried. "What I'm the
hume Of an things strange"
TIMBER threw him a Pickering smile.
on there You areT he said cheer
,u''y' I've got something interesting
show You. Sum Fat"-he stopped
una picked up a revolver may
~, MN up now, II you think he's safe"
Haic enough" Sum Fat rose. grin
Ming "lIad plenty"
lie mounted guard beside the door.
for an instant his captive seemed
'e.uci7nt TO rise. I1mber moved TO his
.'oe aud stood over him. balancing the
'elolycr in his palm.
Tome he said impationtly. CUP
Wth youw
'"h man sat up rs II galvanized by
E got more slowly 20 his knees
,'N grasping The edge Of the table
'ssed bimsolf laboriously 70 stand
DDS POSITION
M hiiakcrs jaw dropped and his eyes
''cned with wonder and pity. BE
''"'i''t ccny the man. set he found II