The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1917-01-26
CHAPTER xI-Continued.

Ember pushed back his chair and.
rising, strolled to the door. "Moonr'se
and fine, clear night he said, star
ing through the wire mesh OF the
screen. 'Wish you were we'll enough
to go riding with me. However, you
won't be laid up long. l fancy. Ana
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 living-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 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
lexing 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, d
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 apparition.
Cautiously, noiselessly, edging inch
by inch across the yeranda, the man
approached the door. 1t was open.
full, long minute elapsed. Even Sum
Fat held his breath throughout that
interminable reconnaissance.
At length, reassured, the man slipped
into the room. Another minute: no
sound detectable 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.
Leaping from a sitting position. with
bound that was little less than q
flight through the air, the Chinaman
caught him halfway. There followed
a shrek. a heavy fall that shook the
bungalow. the report Of a revolver.
sounds of scuff1ing
Whitaker. half dazed found himself
standing in the doorway, regardless Of
his injury.
He saw. as one who dreams and yet
IS conscious that he does but dream,
Ember lighting candles-calmly apply
ing the fame of taper to one after
another us he made Il round of the
sconces. Sum Fat was kneeling on ali
fours, above something that breathed
heavily and struggled without avail.
Whitaker's sleep-numbed faculties
cleared.
"Ember" he cried. what i'll the
name of all things strange"
Ember threw him flickering smile.
"Oh, there you are?" he said cheer
fully. 1--WE got something interesting
Ii, To- he S-tn cd
and picked up a revolver-''yOu may
let him up now, if you think he's safe"
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 impatiently. up
with you''
The man sat up as if galvanized by
fear, got more slowly to his knees
then, grasping 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
Ifurd to believe that this quivering.
shaken creature, with his lean and
pasty face and desperate, glaring eyes
this man in rough stained. soiled and
shapeless garments, could be identical
with the well-set-up, prosperous and
confident man Of affairs, he remen-
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
.rmIy. How about that pet mytk
II. - .a~r What price .hC astute