The Washington times., 1919-02-21
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Bv CHARLES F. NESBIT

Weddings, taken all in all furnish
the clergy a considerable amount OF
their pleasure. They are always
events that bring with them q kind
Of mild excitement Two little oues-
tions, like twin butterflies playing In
The summer sunshine, are always nut
1erinE about In the back Of their
heads during the ceremony. VIII
anything startling or unusual hap
penF And will the bridegroom come
across generously, or win he e1hinn
early in his career a. a benedict q
form Of economy approaching II not
achieving meanness?
The officiating clergyman had
strangely mingled feelings a. be
stood facing the little gathering. He
fully realised that something must
be done. but he did not feel called
upon 70 do Il himself. He was keen
" alive to the fact that something
very UNUSUAL was transpiring. BIS
mind vent back over the very re-
spectahls List OF weddings at which
he had ofhciated. The only incident
At All approaching this was when a
best man had fumbled and dropped
the ring, and Il had rolled apparently
with All the clatter of Ford auto
mobile under the front peWs and in
among the guests. This whole Incl
dent came back in q flash Although
Il had been years since this event haa
happened, he still remembered the
tail bridegroom with his white gloves
as he crawled on hands and knees
70
His Yeverie, II such IL may be called,
which lasted but for a moment was
broken by the realization that the
bride had been carried fainting in the
arms Of Major Knowles into the
SUNDAY school room OF the church,
where she was tenderly laid on the
platform One of the guests, who
mad been a trained nurse, and who had
lone valiant service in Washington
during the "flu' epidemic, promptly
stepped forward and took charge Of
the patient
knowles had rushed to a corner
drug store for some Testoratives.
Henderson, who had stood facing the
company, at the second repetition OF
the words, 'T forbid it," had clearly
determined that the voice came from
the gallery. In spite Of his excite
neut over the brides fainting, his
mind moved directly to the purpose
which animated such an interruption
Of the wedding. and looking up he
discovered the Chinaman, Wa Tsang,
steaIthiIy retreating toward the exit
from the gallery. A sudden rage I
siezed Henderson. and he said to
KimbalI, That's the Chiuaman, WI. |
Whatever else happens, I'm going to |
get him"
AS he started down the aisle, the |
thought occurred to Kimball that 1
ne was going for this dangerous |
character alone. II did not occur TO |
KimbalI at the time that the chart |
giving the formula for the transmuta- |
tion Of baser metals into gold, with 4
the restored triangle, was in Hen |
derson's possession.
KimbaIPs attention was taken up
with Madeline, who showed the first !
signs Of reviving. The former nurse /
suggested that Madeline had been \
under a great strain, and that all she 4
needed was quiet, and suggested that |
they retire. that she would soon be 1
all right, and that she would stay l
with her until she was taken back 4
10 her room in the Raleigh Hotel.
Mrs Thsyer had hastily withdrawn /
from the church after Madeline had |
tainted, not wishing at this time to |
let 70 be known that she was present |
Kimball's mind, greatly relieved at |
SIadeIine's quick recovery, fiew i'm i
uediately to Henderson and the 4
Chfnaman. wondering what the out
come OF Henderson's pursuit would /
be. Two or three Of the friends had |
remained, and as Kimball saw
knowles re-enteE the church he 1
sfarted iu pursuit Of Henderson. It 1
was impossible for KimbsH TO ex- |
plain to any Of the friends present |
tAe situation regarding the chart, /
which the three men had determined /
should be kept = secret, and feeling /
that Madeline would soon he herself