The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1934-09-21
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0ISs~ As'iaR ~ 9o.Uss.sssN MessiL

why do you like to kin thinssY"
said Ivy.
Would you like me better II +
didn'tf" he asked.
Lots better" said she.
In that case" said Bowers. .sr
don't like to kin them as much as I
did"
Ivy ehuckled. A radiogram from
Sinbao was Flint's excuse for ioiu.
ing them. The guns themselves were
an excuse for any mans remaining
awhile. The radiogram was from
Mcleod in answer to one Bowers had
sent:
DELIGHTED ANIMALS WELL
CARRY ON"
There had already been a message
from Van Reuter- to say that Nc.
Leod was out OF danger.
There is something lacking in the
man who takes no interest in weap-
ons, especially when they are works
OF art Flint's eyes shone with a
boyish enthusiasm. He seated him.
self cross-legged on the deck, and
the two men talked guns and IVY
was forgotten.
Bowers had Ave rifles and three
shotguns. He explained that the
double-barreled elephant-rifie had
been purchased to help a friend out
or a financial hole. 1t had cost a fear
ful sum even secondhand. but Bow.
ers had never fired It.
He had never killed an elephant
and he was never going to. and fur.
thermore IL It should happen that
bis life depended on killing an ele-
plant. that particular rife was OBJ
solete. II was too much like cannon;
An ordinary army rife was plenty
heavy enough.
1T DIDN'T matter so much how
hard you hit an elephant, as where
you hit him. Bowers did most of his
killing with a doublesexpress Of
about 80 caliber. He put It together
and offered It to Flint, who handled
II almost with alteration. feeling
the balance. putting 1t to his shout.
der and squirting along the sights.
That's plenty big enough for
tigers and elephants and small
enough for antelope and deer. Nice
balance, hasn't it?"
Il was at this moment that Wong
30. drawn by the CLEAN of metal,
Joined the group. he famed himself
and remarked that the rife was
Heap nice"
what does a gun like this chap
COST" Flint asked.
IL think" said Bowers, that It
cost Just one hundred and twenty
guineas."
"How much you say?" asked Wong
30.
about six-hundred dollars gold,"
said Bowers.
Wong Bo's eyes swept the heap Of
gun-cases.
"Other guns all same?" he asked.
"well." said Bowers. "they don't
give guns away, or IL they do. | never
heard Of It."
II is possible that IL Bowers had
not exposed his weapons and made
their value known. the course Of
events would have been different
but eight guns worth perhaps an
average Of five hundred dollars
apiece represented a handsome sum
OF money.
Il is possible that up to that mo-
ment. so far as Wong Bo's plans
we're concerned. Bowers life was
reasonably safe. But the value OF
the guns had altered the Chinaman's
ans and he returned presently to
ask a question and to go on his way
again.
How often you make clean?" he
asked.
"Oh," Bowers said, "Pll look them
over again in ten days or two weeks.
maybe not until we get to Singapore.
They are In perfect shape"
To Wong 30 this was an exceed
ingly satisfying statement, and that
same night. with the help Of the
cabin boy and a pass-key. he stole
the guns from their cases. wrapped
the parts IN greasy cloths and slowed
them In his own quarters.
Bowers had said that he would
not examine his weapons for an
jther ten days. but It was possible
that for some reason or other he
might have occasion to move the
cases. and the lIghtness OF the cases
would reveal the fact that he had
been robbed. Wong Bo did not want
1.-The trouble that shows its face In
the open.
He and the cabin boy carried the
cases 10 the Boldero's disorderly ma,
chine shop and weighted them with
odds and ends Of metal from broken
tools. an old flle or two. some short
lengths OF iron pipe. and vast mum
Der Of spools Of copper wire.
(cssrishs 1884, ~ GSsVsthsw Ro'risJ