Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1916-12-28
CHAPTER Xl--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. "Wlsh you were well enough
to go riding with me. However, you
won't be laid up long, / 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 WEAKNESS
of "A 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 Iiying-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
so perfectly with his dark blue silk
garments as TO render him almost IT,
distinguishable--n figure as patlest
ana lmperturbable as any bland, stouS,
craven god of hts religion. But in tim'
there fell upon his ears another SOUND,
to which he stirred If imperceptibly--
drawing himself together tcnsing and
tlexing his tired muscles while his eyes
shifted quickly from one quarter 20
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
whippoorwill.
Then, with no other presage, n
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
fixed and exclusively focused upon
that nppariton.
Cautiously, nolselessly, edging inch
by inch across the yeranda, the man
approached the door. IL was open A
fun, long minute elapsed. Even Sum
Fat held his breath throughout that
intermluable reconnaissance.
At length, reasSured, the man slipped
into the room. Another minute: no
sound detachable more uutoward than
that of steady respiration in the bed.
room; with "A movement rs swift and
sinister as the swoop OF a vulturc the
man sprang toward the bedroom door
Leupiug from a sitting position, with
a bound that was little less than a
flight through the air the Chin0man
caught him halfway. There followed
a shrek, n heavy fall that shook the
bungalow, the report of a revolver
sounds of scuillng
Whitaker, half dazed. found himself
standing Ia the doorway, regardless OF
his injury
lie saw. as one who dreams and yet
is conscious that he does but dream
Ember lighting caudles--calmly apply
ing the flame of a taper TO one after
another as he made round of the
scunccs. Sum Fat was l,necllnE on all
fOurs, above something chat hreathet
heavily aud struggled without avail
Whitaker's slecpuumbed faculde.
cleared.
'Emberr he cried. what In IN,
name Of an things strange"
Ember threw him a illckeriug smile
"Oh there you are7' no said cheer
fully i've got something interesting
90 show you. Sum Fat"--he stoope,
and picked up a revolyer--"you ma.
let him up now, II you think he's safe.
safe enough" sum Fat rose, grin
ming. "IIad plenty"
He mounted guard beside the door
For an instant his captive SCENE
reluctant 20 rise. Ember moved 70 hi
side and stood over him, balancing ia
revolver in his palm,
Come" he said impatlently. u
with you !"
Thy mau sat up as II galvanized b
fear SCOT more slowly 10 his kuee
then. grdSpag the edge Of the tahl
dragged himself iaboriously to Il staQ,
Inc position
WhfukerS Jaw dropped and his ey,
widened with wonder and pity. Il
couldn't deny the .uan, yet ne found