Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-10

would kill me. It was my plan to make
. dash at thA right moment, and I must
make the dash toward the interior.
Mcso It n sa. sa plan to
son. That would have caused suspi-
cion.
After long considering. I finally told
by friends that I expected to open up
a market for lichee-nuts in Arabia.
They brought me samples. But I de-
cided that did not like them. I want
ed better fruit. / would 60 north and
into the interior and buy the nuts di-
rect from the growers.
I wrote to the British authorities at
Hongkong to send me additional funds.
as my own were running low. and I
waited impatiently for their answer
and remittance.
frequently went for long walks by
And It was this horrible. hidden
hatred OF the impostor which caused me
to 50 for a long stroll on that memoir
able night-Monday. the Sd Of April
which I shall never forget.
1t was . pinching. frosty night. the
moon still low and shining far to sea-
ward. I walked steadily westward.
with no special aim or goal. The
streets were lonely and still.
swung along. deeply In thought. not
caring where I was going. and I was
surprised when presently found my
self on the outskirts of the town, at
the very spot where a few weeks ago
] and Mascasenhas had been Interested
spectators Of the feast Of universal
rescue.
The spirists' house was still stand
ing.
Instinctively I entered the house.
Suddenly 1 remembered the screen: I
remembered the trap which 1t had
seemed to hide. Now was by chance to
satisfy my curiosity. walked into the
center apartment. The moon had
come UP clear and bloated-white.
could see distinctly. and walked over
to where the screen had stood.
But there was no trap. Only I
noticed that the flooring there was Of
a slightly different color, as II recent
~ put down. I knelt and examined 1t.
tried to bulge It. But 1t was per
which would give me grip or leverage.
Then I drew back. startled. fright
For from very great distance, from
a very great depth, I seemed to hear
x izaS thin thin. wheeling, deadened. ason-
bent still more closely to the floor
ing ! shouted at the top of my lungs.
Hello. Hello, there"
A moments silence. Then the an
sweriag voice, faint and thin.
Help! Help"
English
It was the more frightful because 1t
was muffled; because though distant, 1t
was thick. palpable. horrible. entreat-
lng. rose and ran to the window and
examined 1t eagerly. 1t was cut in half
oy stout steel rail, buried in the wood
on either side. which had once served
as n curtain-rod 1 wrenched at II with
superhuman effort
Inc wood gave and splintered and
, proke; and in second later / found
myselt In the possession OF a hne piece
OF metal which would do for a club.
summing back to the trapdoor, I
wheeled the metal club In both hands
once. twice. thrice-I crashed 1t down
with all my might. and at every blow
me hooring sighed and yielded. A
fourth blow sent II rushing down the
beyond
! let myself down. held on to the edge
.. !he trap for second, felt my
ss,' encountering nothing but space.
Ano .hen let myself drop.
old not drop very far. The voice
sounded nearer. and / followed 1t, and
s snen leil over something soft which
souIrmed and whimpered. lit match
ma looked. and just barely stifled 4
Sry My hand shook like leaf. I
dropped the match.
1000 heavens, could II be possible!
struck another match ana held It
STEADY with an effort.
tnat Whispering. squirning bundle
." 'front.' OF me was MAscAsenhas!