Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1917-02-10
CHAPTER xi-Continued.

CHAPTER Xi-Continued.
ID
Ember pushed back his chair and,
rising. stroIed to the door. "Moonrise
and fine. clear night" he said, star
ing through the wire mesh of the
screen. Wish you were well enough
10 go riding with me. However, you
won't be laid up long, l fancy. And
III be back day after tomorrow. Now
] must cut along"
And within ten minutes Whitaker
Aeard the motor car rumble off on the
woodland road. He wasn't altogether
sorry to be left to his own society, but
sn spite of his half-hearted perturba-
zion and dissatisfaction, the WEAKNESS
OF long, full day was so heavy upon
him that he went to sleep almost be
fore Sum Fat had finished making him
comfortable.
ExtingGshing 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 walt 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 in
dlstlnguishable-a figure as patient
and imperurbable as any bland, stout,
craven god Of his religion. But in time
ghere fell upon his ears another sound,
70 which he stirred. if imperceptbly-
drawing himself together, tensing and
ticking his tired muscles while his eyes
shifted quickly from one quarter to
another Of the darkened living room
aad the still more dark bedchamber
And yet apparently all that had
eoused him was the drowsy whistle of
d whippoorwl.
Then, with no other presage,
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
dxed and exclusively focused upon
that apparition.
Cautiously, noiseleSsly. edging inch
By inch across the veranda, the man
approached the door. 1t was open.
'lii' long minute elapsed. Even Sum
fat held his breath throughout that
tuterminable 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 movement as swift and
sinister as the swOop of vulture, the
u'oh Sprang toward the bedroom door.
Leaping from a sitting position. with
bound that was little less than a
1'-At through the air, the Chinaman
caught him halfway. There followed
. shrek. heavy fall that shook the
bungalow, the report of a revolver.
sounds Of scufIling
whitaker, half dazed. found himself
Standing in the doorway, regardless of
bis Injury.
ne saw as one who dreams and yet
IS conscious that he does but dream,
11oeF Lighting candles-calmly apply
--s the flame of a taper to one after
aAo'her as he made a round of the
SloNces' Sum Fat was kneeling on all
,'0fS' above something that breathed
1.liY and struggled without avail.
"AiJaker's sleep-numbed faculties
Ember'" he cried. "what in the
-..le Of all things strange"
amber threw him e Pickering smile.
IA' there you aref" he said cheer
I've got something interesting
- snow you. Sum Fat'-he stopped
l picked up a revoIver-"you may
am up now. if you think he's safe"
SAFE enough" sum Fat rose, grin
Had plenty"
.-5 mounted guard beside the door.
-'' an instant his captive seemed
-e'ant to rise. Ember moved to his
and stood over him. balancing the
yer in his palm.
'me. be said impatIeudy. up
V4 y0u :"
e n1a sat up az If galvanized by
GOT more SLOW To his knees
er2s7.og the edge Of tile table.
himself laboriously TO q stand
Position.
'ev dropped ar5 his eyes
ita wonder aad pity. He
-say -Ae G14n yet le found Il