The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, April 17, 1904, Page 4

for the sake of Colonel Oranoff, whose reputdtion is at stake, for the sake of my own name and honor, the imperial funeral must go on over & counterfeit body!" 1 sat down in a chair, my head in my hands. Dulcine stood quiet by herself a moment. Finally she whispered: “Robert, you are right. It must all go on without a quibble. You have done your full duty, new let me do mine. I know woman who will play this ‘part for us. This took me utterly by surprise. And yet the girl was right. After those hours of struggling it was plain that my dummy queen would be too unreal. Dulcine misunderstood my si- ‘You can trust me, Rovert?” It wes not lack of trust, Ge that made me hesitate You can embalm the body” Apparently.’ You know & woman you can trust?” 1 do.” would dare to ¢ knew, { necessary, can have the antechamber leared and place her in the sarcopha- The girl steadied her eyes into the firepiace and then answered slowly, You can do that for me, Robert, and better than L Then I paused to und questions to ask in nd where would the At the Altar of Spices,” I answered fter a moment’s tho “At three taps of my scabbard on the sarcopha- gus let her raise the lid within, and I ill slide the cover. Until then let her ove not. t five o'clock the body will be ly- at the end of the ha!l leading to ntechamber of the throne room, rtains of the a it where it belongs. r>d Duleine the chair again, and took it, and we sat many minutes think. Dulcine her turn woman be J dangerous possi- ssed them rapidly in ked Dulcine once more aga she gently of faith in her, and I 1 then told her that my command guard the bier long journey to the mausoleum e than once the possibility of her being betrayed occurred to me, and 1 could help saying r woman plays spoke slowly, 1 interrupt me. where she false?” the us hoped ald Kill her pered ught of lies!” Duicine trembling. Evidently the my taking the woman's life . for she hid her face Then she admitted it ible that under the terrible n an involuntary movement might ||k Dbe detected and prove disastrous. But i N when she arose presently, there was no D = of tears in her dark, steadfast ves. I kissed her good-night; but then did not go. All our happiness, our very lives, it seemed, hung trembling balance. Duicine was in a house-party at the Rritish gation in the morning, and attend funeral with the legation ladies. I 1 might never see her again, for s happen in desperate games When we meet again—" I said. But I could not complete what 1 had begun. A great gulf seemed to yawn between us already We will never part, Robert.” At last 1 took her arms from neck, for she clung to me tenderly—as though she were praying. Thank God for the tenderness of that farewell! she even Knew my CHAPTER XV. AN EARLY MORNING'S TASK. One by one Dulcine Oranoff placed upon her arm the -scattered pieces of raiment that lay about my rcom, and at last ewept bravely through the cur- which the Cossack sentry held for her That was a picture worth remember- ing! A lithe, comely girl in black, her arms laden with a Quelpartienne's filmy white wardrobe, golng frankly and swiftly to that task she had im- petuously struck out for herself. I let her go willingly, though aching yet that | my failure had brought her this wild night's work. Mind, I mneyer once doubted Dulcine Oranoff’s ability or daring; 1 only regretted that things had scome to such a wretched pass. I knew she would find her woman (I made a shrewd guess as to which servant it was) and I knew the woman would surely play the part. But I knew, too, that Duicine would be in terror for forty hours until I had freed the woman at the Altar of Spices. Keyed up to the wild business of the night, I could not sleep, and no sooner had the orders of the day been issued than I sent for mine. For a long time I studied them and the general procla- mation which was sent with them touching the pageant of the night. It was all as I hoped: Dejneff had or- dered me with the best troops to guard, through the whole day, the main entrance of the King's wing, and to close in about the sarcophagus when it was brought from the throne room. Dejneff was in general com- mand, and rode near the King. Andorph was at the mausoleum. Thus I killed an hour in living over the day to come; then I gét into my uniform, and calling a boy who could speak English I went out ‘into the night which was, even now, growing pale at the thought of day. 1 shall hereafter try the reader's pa tience with the description of Kein- ning on the night of the imperial fu- neral; therefore, I will make shorter work with the city as I saw it now— awaiting, with fevered dreams, the great day now dawning. Yet it is no less worthy his attention. The city slept, and yet did not sleep. The braying of asses tied about the new palace, where the King's cabinet was in session, kept that portion of the city awake; the great bell had aroused all — NV AVWA who slept at the center of the city with its booming at midnight, and no cne found his rest again; at all the gates the cantering hoofs of horses and the tread of the many weary sandaled feet of belated pllgrims kept those portions astir; there were thousands now in Keinning who could not find room nor roof. These sat and smoked and slept wherever and whenever they could— getting up in their shaggy white gar- ments from a hundred unexpected places, and wandering aimlessly out and back again. In passing only to the barracks I met scores walking to and fro, seeking protected corners in which to lie, their arms shoved well up inte their locse sleeves—the Quel- partien method of keeping warm. If any of these (save the proportion who were pleasantly drunk) were awake, it, was the unfortunates who not infre- quently ccllided and jammed into each other’'s throats the long pipes they smoked. One poor inebriate we passed had fallen on a doorway while tacking around a corner and driven his two- foot pipe clean through the back of his neck. At another hcuse a countryman had fallen asleep on a doorstep; as we came by, a wandering fellow-rustic pulled him gently from the haunted threshold upon the ground beside it— where the devil could not “sting him in his dreams,” according to my boy. Near the little gate we passed the belated cavalcade of the Governor of Chal-dong, who had arrived the even- ing before. This worthy Governor was notorious for a rapid rise to his place of prominence, the secret of which my bey Kel] told me as we passed on dowrn the wide avenue. When a mere lad the Governor of Chal-dong determined to leave his home in the little mountain village where his parents lived, and go to the capital and take the examinations for a ernment position. The boy studied as he journeyed, scarcely locking about him until he reached the Great Buddha—an im- mense stone image of great height. Upon the idol's head, which towered into the skies, he saw the famous pear- tree, and the one filne pear upon it which the youth of his land had vainly striven to secure for yvears and genera- tions. As the boy scanned the ragged stone side of the idol's jaws and cheeks, and the precipice of the straight forehead (at the base of which hundreds had been ed), he wondered that no one had endeavored to find another course to the top of the head. The path around the ear to the base of the pre- cipice of the forehead was deeply worn —but that precipice had never been scaled As Song Do (for such was the lad’s name), sat-looking upward, thinking of the high Hosition in the government the flrst possessor of the pear was prophesied to reach his eves rested with fascinating intentness upon the great black gorges of the idol's mose: Had no one sought a passageway to the head through thpse great caverns? The idea was soon burning Song Do’s brain, and, eating the dried fruit he cerried, and otherwise lightening him- self by throwing off his flowing white cloak, he was soon threading with fe- verish haste the worn path which led to the steep ascent up the idol's side. It was like climbing the steepest hill- side in his native mountains, and the muscles hardened by mountain-climb- ing through all the years of his boy- hood were mow put to their, stiffest task. Large clusters of bushes were growing wherever there had been earth enough te catch and nourish wind-strewn seeds. Those nearest the path were worn by the hands of thou- sands of aspirants as high in hope and as excited by glowing dreams as Song Do. Then he stopped to rest and look down; the image had now lost its ac- customed figure, and from his high perch the boy could identify no feature save only the two great caverns cf the nose above him. On these he kept his eyes, and, when the great path turned away from them, he left it and began to pick out a new and dangerous course. Thus he approached slowly into the dark cave cn the right. Here he found the stone sides were not smooth, as he feared they might be, but rough and as easy to mount as the sides of the image without. And when he stopped a moment to rest, he looked upward and thought he saw a dim light, as though there actually existed an open- ing to the top of the head! This awoke all his tired muscles and on he scram- bled up through toward the light. Then suddenly a terrific wind burst through the gorge, carrying poor Song Do with it. His climbing in the nose had made the great stone god sneeze! But when the bruised lad came to congclousness, he found that the giant's sneeze had loosened the pear which lay in the road beside hi and the Quel- partiens still say, “It's a bad wind that blows not good for some one.” ‘We had journeyed to the Great Bell and were now back at the barracks, and, as I went forward to get the son of old Ling to help me, I thought of our own adage so like the Quelpar- tiens’; but of all the ill winds of which 1 knew, what wind blew good for me? Once in the officers’ quarters, I or- dered out my troops and sent for Kim Ling. A strong, sober youth of per- haps eight and twenty answered my summons. I was pleased even the mo- ment I looked upon him. The quiet grave face assured me that the father had not misjudged the son. I told the lad of his father's prayer to me, and of my words to the King. The youth drew from his breast an appointment he had just received. It was that of Secret Chief Guardian of the Queen. He had been informed of his father's death and that he was raised to his father's position. Just what that posi- tion was he had not, as yet, been in- formed, though he was to begin duty the day of the funeral—to-morrow. Meantime he was under my control and —as I admired his stolid presence and A =) . NA — P i A =8/ - sober intelligence—I ordered him to ac- company me. I needed aides then, if ever! I marched my company to the Rus- sian Legation, halting at the entrance of the King's wing. Bntering, I or- dered the antechamber of the throne room to bhe cleared. The sarcophagus stood ia the center of the darkened room. As the last eunuch disappeared, 1 led Lieutenant Kim to the cur- tained alcove. X There lay a figure in gray cerements, still and rigid, on the floor. Kim raised it and bore it to the antechamber and placed it in the sarcophagus. Instant- ly the room became heavy with the sickening odor of spices and balsam. But as 1 turned away a figure in spot- less white stood at my shoulder. It was the King, CHAPTER XVL THE KING. What may have seen to Whang-Su abject obeisance was little less than a swoon, for, though I sank to my knees, the action was wholly dug to the weak condition of my nerves, #uddenly un- strung at the sight of his Majesty. It was a moment before the King spoke, but a moment long enough for me to determine to hold fast to the hand we were playing until I knew it had been exposed. I rose with clinched teeth and hands, even saluting with a closed fist. I placed one hand irrever- ently on the sarcophagus, and I had a dagger in it. If our woman played her part poorly, through fright or hys- teria, I was determined that her gen- uine corpse should grace the occasion! The King's first word, spoken in that jaunty, leering tene, with which I was familiar, dispelled my fears, and I breathed a prayer of thanksgiving. “I slipped in, Captain Martyn, while the room was cleared. I like cleared rooms,” I wondered if the King of Quelparte was ever serious. “I was taking a turn before bedtime,” he went on, after laughing covertly at his own jest, “and heard you were here. I want to thank you for ably completing Colonel Li's mission.” . He was looking at the sarcophagus now, and my hand curled tightly over the blade it obscured from view. “But permit me to warn as well as thank. The announcement—" He paused again until I nodded sig- nificantly. “Yes, this announcement. It may make trouble. You should be on your guard: Certain-so-called patriots, im- bibing your Eastern ideas, pose as statesmen and breathe revolutionary sentiments. Usually they only breathe —sometimes more. But, more or less, be on your guard.” I bowed. For a moment there was utter silence in the room save for the pounding of my heart. What if the King should come to the sarcophagus? I determined to block his way even at the risk of my life. I would say my orders were to let no one look upon the body, and that I should obey the order literally at any cost. Our game had cost too much to be broken up now. And the woman, maybe, had heard the conversation. I feared for her if she thought the King's own eyes were rest- ing on her. But instead of coming nearer, the King moved backward to the wall and beckoned me to his side. For the first time in his life, for all I knew, Whang-Su’s face was serious. He had produced hig cigarette box and offered one to me and lighted his own from the plebeian match. It was not until after two or three nervous puffs and a spasmodic inhala- tion that his Majesty spoke. “¥ou had no trouble?” asked swiftly. “No, Sire,” 1 answered. The King looked long into my face, and I thought I could see a pathetic thing there—the questioning look of one to whom the real truth is never told. But I Jied on right and left, and the King believed all I said. And his face grew more serfous still. I thought perhaps 1 could venture a probe or two, and so I too went straight to cen- ter by saying: “You were fearing Prince Colonel Li told me.” He started and put his finger to his lips. But then he laughed and whis- pered: “Yes; the old boar has been trying to find her,” and he jerked his thumb toward the golden casket. “But we fooled him,” added the King, with his only English oath and a chuckle. Here was my chance. “And would your Majesty fear the myth if he had destroyed the Queen's body ?" “ “To hell with the myth,’ as Oranoff says—fio; but the people would; oh, the people!” and the King held up his hands with an expression of pity I can- not describe. Now, if I had thought Whang-Su would look thus upon the matter, I should certainly have told him the whole truth before undertaking the stu- pendous deception now on hand. But it was too late. I could have confessed faflure and Tuen's success, but I would not confess to this deceit. It would lay bare the whole string of my lies for oge thing, and, after all, the King might fear the myth more than he had confessed. At any rate, we should have to deceive every one else, and he was only one. So I held my peace. But the King was still serious and worried, as could be seen with half an eye. Again I jumped to a conclusion: "You fear Tuen yet?” I suggested. He blew a cloud of smoke, looked at me gravely through it, and nodded. “I shall fear him until she"—blowing a straight column of smoke toward the sarcophagus—“is in the tomb, and the great tablet has fallen upon her.” “Faugh!” I exclaimed, “trust that to us, Sire, your best troops will sur- round the bier at all times. It is safer than ever it was at Lynx Island.” I he then Tuen; () Z S \ YD ’ NS ZhS 2 could tell the truth—at times. The name suggested other things of which he wished to ask. > “Ling and Li were both lost?” he asked suddenly. “Both.” He looked at me seirching- ly now, and I was ready with more lles. “The fire was prémature.” “H~—I1," exclaimed the King, smoking furiously; but then he laughed: “Old Ling was a fox.” That was all. With one glance at the sarcophagus, he went to :the door, where his bodyguard instantly sur- rounded him again. Throughout the long day preparations for the event of the night went on. The city was crowded with country- men, and troops were needed every- where. Nobles and rural governors with their attendants kept pouring through the gates, with the throngs of commoner type from every portjon of the kingdom-—all antleipating keenly the great event “treasured up in talk and dreams’ since the death of their Queen. At sundown the Great Bell of Keinning would be struck for the ini- tial ceremony in the throne room, when the King would close the glass 1id and draw on the golden cover. Then the march to the tomb would be- gin. 3 I had hurried to the Japanese quarter of the city to quell, with a show of Cossacks, a slight irruption in the never-ending feud between the Japan- ese and the Quelpartiens, and was re- turning to the barracks when Lieuten- ant Kim came to meet me with a note given him by a legation boy who had hunted me futilely all day. I tore it open and read: Remember the Altar of Spices and the signal of the scabbard. For a day I am Queen of Quelparte incognito. D. 1 sat utterly speechless on my horse. With Kim's own hands he had laid Dulcine Oranoff in the Queen’s sarcoph- agus! Dazed, I cursed myself for a fool for thinking Dulcine would have intrusted such a secret to another. The degree in which she had deceived me testified to the degree in which I trusted her— for what more is love than faith after al? 5 I hurried Kim 'to the barracks to bring my troops, and I set off at a gal- lop for the legation. I rode as though, I could undo what had been done. Per- haps in my bewildered state of mind I believed I could. If so, the idle thought was suddenly banished from my mind by the booming of the Great Bell. This, I had been told, was the signal for the King to close the sarcophagus —the initial ceremony of the royal fu- neral in the throne room. Now every fear I had became tenfold fearful, and every danger seemed ten- fold dangerous. Things which before had seemed trifles or had not been considered at all became gigantic with terrible possibilities. Was there suffi- cient breathing room in that glittering cell in which I had left Dulcine? Would not the journey of three miles to the tomb over those rough streets in-a‘cart cause her to faint and then' suffocate. If the King was still fear- ful of the dreaded Tuen, why was I so brave? Were there not possibilities of danger of which I had not dreamed? 1 had really taken little definite thought about freeing the woman at the Altar of Spices as I had so heedlessly prom- ised. Would this be possible? Would the sarcophagus be veiled from sight or be exposed to the view of all the peo- ple? As I dashed forward, these and a hundred other questions drove the hot blood to my head. CHAPTER XVIL A QUEEN INCOGNITO. But the beginning of the pageant, the crowds of people, the holiday skillfully prepared, came none too soon! The Government Gazette, published at nocn, announced the agreement reached between the King of Quelparte and the Czar of Russia. It was diplomatically stated that, for reasons best under- stood by the people of Quelparte, Rus- sia, out of the kindness of her great heart, had assumed,for the moment, at the request of the King of Quelparte and his cabinet, the management of the financial, commercial and military de- partments of the kingdom. This was done from two humanitarian motives: to take some of the burden from the King's shoulders, and to bring Quel- parte into such a relation to Russia that she might share her civil and com- mercial advantages. As I struggled cn through the thor- oughfares, these papers were now get- ting into general circulation. Many who coyld not read were gathered at the corners of the streets, where men of commanding stature and volce read the proclamation aloud. Here and there single white-robed citizens wete read- ing it apart by themselves. Some, whose angry faces showed plainly their bitterness, were crushing the white pages and growling aloud. But it was a nation's holiday, and the Russian ruse held good! Holiday clothes, an abundance of regalia and drink, and a national conscience drugged to indifference by centuries of oppression—all these had their influ- ence, and the patriotic orators shouted in vain. They were as powerless as rats in a doomed ship which they can ho more leave—though running speed- ily toward a maelstrom of Russian des- potism. Behind the scenes all had been work- ing well. If friction showed anywhere the “parts” were quickly lubricated with gold rubles and—well, the King of Quelparte was shaved. But this funeral, which was the sav- ing of the Russian plot, was now the wrecking of Tuen's. It made little dif- ference whether Russia had Quelparte if the world did not know of it, for how then could it be thrown over when Port Arthur was taken? And it made little difference to the Chinese Prince whether the body of the murdered Queen was whole or in a thousand N\ = Y <X pléces if the world did not know it, for how then would the myth come true? Could it be depended upon to accom- plish its own deathly end without the fact of the destruction gf the body be- ing known? I could not belleve the Tuen agents would trust blindly to this ridiculous old wife’s fable. I remembered the King's face, grave and stern; he was still fearing Tuen; and what could he _fear but an interruption of the funeral procession? They certainly knew that no Queen’s body was in Keinning; they knew the pageant was a stupendous hoax. Yet I did not believe they would interrupt the funeral procession—since it would be heavily guarded—but I felt sure that by some terrible means the crowd would be led to believe it was all a sham and demand a sight of the Queen's body. And Dulcine would bet- ter-be thrown to Siberian wclves than be exvosed to such a multitude mad- dened by the knowledge of this unholy deception. My wild ideas galloped on through a host of fears and sickening doubts, even as my fine charger broke on through the great tides of white-robed humanity that blocked his way. If I could have confided the terrible dan- ger to another, I might have borne my anxieties more easily, but I could not. It I could have reached one single clear conclusion : concerning the next move of Tuen’s people, I might have pre- pared to thwart them; but I could not. It all resolved itself now to a fight for Dulcine’s life with an enemy whose power and tactics could not be guessed. And the King's fears now increased my own an hundredfold! ‘When I galloped up to the plaza be- fore the legation, I heard the steady tramp of my columns, hastened by Kim from the barracks. I knew my control over them. While the ammu-. nition dealt to others might be blank cartridges, my men | carried heavier shells. The men knew it and respected themselves and me the more. And we were to surround the bier on the march to the tomb. ~ ‘We are apt to go to extremes in times of trylng suspense. As I rode forward \at the head of these hundreds of well- armed men who respected me, I tried to laugh at my fears. ‘We drew up in a hollow square on the plaza before the King's wing. With- in, the antechamber and the throne rcom were seething masses of ser- vants, royal eunuchs, military officers, palace officials and aides—all hurrying to and fro silently, but, to the-eye, in utter confusion. Far up the room, be- fore the throne, stood the elaborate catafalque banked with lotus leaves and chrysanthemums. Upon it lay the magnificent sarcophagus glittering and respléendent in the swinging lights. Around it moved three stalwart eu- nuchs in gorgeous apparel. To it my eyes ran, and on it they rested long. It seemed as if I had not begun to realize Dulcine’s situation before. As I looked over the heads of the con- course of people upon her glittering cell I groaned in anguish. For twelve hours she had lain as one dead, without a crumb of food or a drop of water to moisten the parched lips. But the physical strain was nothing, perhaps, to the mental. With eyes bound over with flaxen bands she could not know whether she was plain in view or com- pletely screened from the gaze of the people. " Was a woman ever so placed? A sneeze or cough might cost her a father's and a lover's life too. And yet I could have trusted no one else there as, I could the dauntléss, stern Dul- cine. While the perspiration streamed from my face I sank on a chair, my head in my shaking hands, and prayed God to gulde and guard. A roll of drums brought me to my feet. The King was coming! Impul- sively I began to press forward to be as near Dulcine as possible until my troops could surround her. Of the cere- mony now begun I knew absolutely nothing more than Dulcine herself had told me—that the King was to close the 1id of the sarcophagus. I won- dered anxiously if the girl was right. ‘Would his Majesty attempt to identify the remains? This I doubted since they were embalmed.. No, that fear was groundless. Bu'tear of Tuen hung over me like the sword of Damocles. I felt it might fall any moment at the raising of a finger. My very audacity in approaching near the sarcophagus was the best cre- dential I could have had, and Dejneff’s uniform now stood me in good stead, and I advanced unchallenged uptil I could survey the golden, flower- strewn casket. It seemed strange that I had only given it a passing notice before. But how -different it seemed, now that I knew what a precious charge it con- tained. It was a very long, deep case, beautifully ornamented with gold and mother-of-pearl inlaid. It measured, as I ran my eye over it, perhaps nine feet in length by four in depth, and was three feet wide; the great orna- mented cover which the King was to draw on was hollow, and was at least two feet in height. Dulcine could even stand up in her golden prison-house. The cover locked f{tself automatically when once shot” Into place—this much 1 had ascertained when Kim placed Dulcine in it that morning—and it could only be opened from within. Thus when the King drew the cover on, he locked the Queen’s remains in their eternal cell, making them proof against all but violence. This was the signifi- cance of the present ceremony and di- rectly pointed to the popular fear of that terrible legend of Quelparte. Pressing stlll nearer, 1 could at last see within the flower-strewn casket. Far beneath a long glass cover, which lifted on golden hinges, a form in musty gray cerements lay still and calm. 8o loose was the upper robe that the motion of breathing could not be detected. The face, bound closely in flaxen bands, seemed calm as in death! As I looked, the matchless bravery of the girl overcame me, and for-a moment I delighted in the daring of the farce. Amid another roll of drums the pro- cession entered the throne room, th King sauntering behind his head eu- nuchs, and beside him walked the Crown Prince. I stepped down quickly from my position of vantage on the steps ascending to the throme, and by me, as I knelt passed the royal party. the King taking his seat upon lp‘z throne. Finally, after an age of heath- en mummery, Whang-Su descended the broad steps to the catafalque, dropped the glass lid and drew on the golden cover — gracefully, jauntily, as his Majesty did all else. The girl lay as dead before him, but I felt sure that when the heavy cover shot into place her nerves gave way from the terrible strain. I was glad the great cover was hollow, allowing the prisoner air, for she could raise the glass lid herself and sit upright within her magnificent cell. My heart, too, was in the Queen's sarcophagus, smothered by the dense fragrance of flowers and spice. As the King passed out, the imperial watch, dressed in the brilliant uni- forms of Quelpartien army officers, took its stand around the sarcophagus; but I saw at once that they were gen- darmes in disguise. Dejneff was with them, and I spoke to him as he handed me my orders for the night. “Those men are armed?” I asked in French. “To the teeth.” “With powder and ball?” “Powder, ball, rapier and dagger,” said the man, swiftly, and I saw he, too, sensed trouble in the wind. And he looked at me significantly. I did not realize that I looked like a ghost, and so I read into his searching glance more. than he ever meant. But to talk a moment with another did me a world of good. “You look for trouble?” “You look as If you had seen it,” he replied evastvely. “How do we get to the tomb?” “Through the West Gate; the King’s Trail of Barth is laid that way.” “My God, Dejneff, not through the Chinese quarter,” I gasped. The Russian shrugged his shoulders and tapped his orders significantly and then moved away. ‘With a groan I gave one longing glance at the golden sarcophagus and rushed out into the open air. CHAPTER XVIIL THE TRAIL OF EARTH. I quickly made up my mind to go to the King and demand a change of the route, but I paced up and down in the hollow square formed by my com- panies considering a worthy excuse. I did not wish to frighten His Majesty, yet, if it lay in my power, the route of the procession should be altered. T also needed to have an alternate course on my tongue’s end; on this lat- ter point I needed help and sent for Lieutenant Kim. ‘When he came I pulled him into the dark. “The route of march is out the West Gate?" I asked. “So the orders read,” answered the youth. “Is there no better way, Kim?” He looked at me in surprise. ‘Why better?” “Well—safer, then!” for I felt I could trust this serious lad. “Oho! so you are troubled too,” he said, thoughtfully: “there will be few sorry when this business is over.” “Answer me,” I ordered; then I added encouragingly, “I do not like that Chi- nese quarter, Kim.” “Nor I!” he put dark as night.” “You mean “I mean there are no lights burning in it: even our lanterns In the silken nets which line the imperial route have been put out by boys who are throwing stones into them.” All this chilled me. “But can we go another way™ “Yes,” answered Kim, “through the little West Gate.” “A roundabout course?"” already in quickly; “it's “And we could evade that quarter?” “Entirely—but—" and Kim looked away across the dimly lighted city. “But what?” I asked sternly. “Tell me anything you know, Kim. I dread going into the Chinese quarter; if we do, I am sure there will be the devil to pay.” “The orders are out, and I do not think they can be revoked.” “Is that all?” “That is all, Captain.” He saluted, and I strode on across the plaza to- ward the King’s wing. There I ran upon Dejneft, {ssuing the orders of the night to the cavalry offl- cers flaring In their great red silk sleeves. g 1 called him, and he stepped back fnto the gloom with me. “We must change this route, Dej- neff,” and I pointed to the orders. “Why?” broke out the old soldier, holding his breath. > “Because this parading up and down in the Chinese quarters is nothing but senseless bravado. Look you,” and I pointed toward the west gate, “the whole quarter is in darkness. Even the boys’ are pelting the silk lanterns with stones. And the commonest coolie knows Prince Tuen would rather miss the tribute from a dozen Quelpartes than have that tablet dropped over the Queen’s corpse. If, as the King has said, he ‘has pawed Quelparte over for her,’ do you think he will let us carry her body safely through a thirty-foot street in a Chinese city at midnight un. opposed " Continued Next Sunday. o, \\./ ’ T R thoughtfully, < A8 MR S > AN