Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-11-02

of cat in the dark closed and latched
the shutters, then sat down just out
side the llving-room door, to wait and
watch, sleeplessly alert.
An hour passed in silence, and an
other, and yet another. Sum Fat sat
moveless in the shadow, which blended
50 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 imperceptbIy-
drawing himself together, tensing and
flexing his tired muscles while his eyes
shifted quickly from one quarter to
another of the darkened living ROOFS
and the still more dark bedchamber.
And yet apparently all that had
reused him was the drowsy whistle of
a WhippOOrWil.
At length, treasured, the man slipped
into the room. Another minute: no
sound detachable more untoward than
that of steady respiration in the bed
sinister as the sWoOp OF q vuIture, the
man sprang toward the bedroom door.
Leaping from q sitting position, with
a bound that was little less than
flight through the air, the Chinaman
caught him halfway. There followed
& shrek, a heavy fall that shock the
bungalow, the report Of a revolver,
sounds Of scufIling
Whitaker, half dazed found himself
standing in the doorway, regardless Of
his injury.
He saw, as one who dreams ana yet
is conscious that he does but dream,
Ember lighting candles-calmIy apply
ing the flame of a taper to one after
another as he made a round of the
scOnces. Sum Fat was kneeling on all
tours, above something that breathed
heavily and struggled without avail.
Whitaker's sleep-numbed faculties
cleared.
'Ember!' he cried. 'What in the
name of all things strange"
Ember threw him a Pickering smile.
"Oh, there you are?" he said cheer
fully. I've got something interesting
to show you. Sum Fat'-he stopped
and picked up a revOlver-"yOu may
let him up now, if you think he's safe. y
"Safe enough" Sum Fat rose, grin
ming. Had plenty"
He mounted guard beside the door.
For an instant his captive seemed
reluctant to rise. Ember moved to his
side and stood over him, balancing the
revolver in his palm.
Come" he said impatientIy. up
with your
The man sat up as if galvanized by
fear, got more slowly to his knees
then, grasptng the edge of the table,
dragged himself laboriously to stand
ing position.
Whitaker's jaw dropped and his eyes
widened with wonder and pity. He
couldn't deny the man, yet he found it
hard to believe that this Quivering,
shaken creature, with his lean and
pasty face and desperate, glaring eyes,
this man in rough, stained, sOiIed and
shapeless garments, could be identical
with the well-set-up, prosperous and
confident man of affairs he remem-
bered as Drummond. And yet they
were one. Appalling to contemplate
the swift, devastating course of moral
degeneration, that had spread like gan
creme through all the mans physical
and mental fiber
Take a good look" Ember advised
Tr.frf w ~H J,
thing now? What price the astute
sleuth-eh? Perhaps you'd like to
take a few more funny cracks at my
simple faith in Authorizations.
Il had notion he'd be hanging
around, Ember went on; 81 thought l
saw somebody hiding in the woods this
afternoon; and then / was sure saw
him skullling round the edges Of the
clearing after dinner. So l set Sum
Fat to watch, drove back to the village
to mislead him, left my car there and
walked back. And sure enough"
Without comment, Whitaker, unable
to stand any longer without discOm-
fort. hobbled to a chair and sat down.
''Wen?'' Drummond demanded harsh
ly in Guayering snarl. Nov that
you've got me, what're you going to
do with me?'
There was a high, hystericaI accent
In his voice that struck unpleasantly
on Ember's ear. He cooked his head
to one side, studying the man intently.
Drummond flung himself a step
away from the table, paused, and again
faced his captors with bravadO.
''Well?" he cried again. 'Weu?"
Emher nodded toward Whitaker.
"Ask him." he said briefly.
Whitaker shook his head. 1t was
difficult TO think how to deal with this
trapped animal, so wildly different
from the cultivated gentleman he al
ways had in mind when he thought Of
Drummond. The futility of attempting
TO deal with him according to any code
recognized by men of honor was
wretchedly apparent.
''Drummond,' he said slowly. 81 wish
to God you hadn't done this thing"
Drummond laughed discordantly.
Keep your mealy-mouthed compassion
for yourself" he retorted, sneering.
,hitaker gave a gesture of despair.
IF you'd only been content to Keep out
of the way If only you'd let
me alone"
"Then you let Sara Law alone, d'you