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f 4^54^MHCH^CH^CW««h«5>«WW«4«^^ KAI WANQ; TALE OF SOUTHERN CHINA. ' «H»^+<H-<H-0>»4«^«4«+»+»>»«H«4«^ CHAPTER IX. When he threw away his priestly dis- guise Larry Kennedy had no inlenlion of lettiug his caution go with it. The knowledge that he had enemies without number in this imperial city ol China was a fact U>at could not be dis- counted, a fact that haunted the little man day and night, so that he was not likely to let it pass out of his mind even when appartuiliy in the midst of friends. Those who are best acquainted with <3iinese ways have the greatest respect Tor the cunning of the Celestials, and Larry's experience thus far had taught him that when dealing with such shrewd schemers no one was really safe until he had thoroughly cleared the woods. When he entered the hotel, it was with the idea of bodily taking up his •quarters there, thus giving his enemies to understand that he no longer had cause to four them; they could draw whatever conclusions they pleased from his action, he did not care the snap of his finger, though naturally they would â- consider that his new course was brought abput by his having jettisoned his cargoâ€" relieved himself of the papers wliich were the cause of his troubles. The very first person Larry set eyes on after er.tcring the hotel was the Eng- lishman to whom they had intrusted the documents but a coupie of hours be- fore. Lord Racketl was comfortably stretched out in a chair and smoking a pri'ne weed. He looked the picture of contentment. Larry, though not at all suspicious by nature, could not but wonder what hrought him there. How could he help it if his mind went back some years to stirring scenes in the harbor of Valparaiso, where this same bold Briton, furious because Dr. Jack interfered with his plans for a fortune, and stung with Je.alou.sy, since he had been a suitor of Avis Morton be- fore she ever met Evans after tlie bull fight at Madrid, had done his level best to make her a widow, and failing in this laudable endeavor, had even des- cended to the miserable work of having her kidnapped and carried to his steam yacht, from which she had been rescued only through the gallant endeavors of Dr. Jack and his friends. Yes, such stirring scenes, together with others equally as exciting, in which the Isnglish bulldog had had a hand, flashed athwart I^arry's memory as he saw milord comfortably installed in the building where Avis, secretly mourning for her lost husband, had taken up her aboile. Could it be that Plymplon . No. perish the unworthy thought! The Bri- ton had professed such devout contri- tion for the pain and trouble his con- duct in the past had given .\vis. and was so zealous in his desire to make the amende honorable that Larry wos cora- pelleil to believe him sincere. Perhaps, as was quite naturiil, he had lodgings at the hotel himself; or it his right hand in the mnst excruciating as well as the latest absurd high grip, all of which quite tickled Plymplon. "By Jawve! glad to see you, my deah fellosv. Assure you I am delighted to assume my ordinary attire â€" widiculous garb, that mandarin affairâ€" beastly feelingâ€" solemnly declare I felt un- commonly like one of the mummies, ye know, such as came from the Pyra- mids. I^vesunie you put up at this es- tablishment; quite an honor to English enterprise, by Jawve!" "As you say, it is something of a building for this port of the country; but I have my own private lodgings," might be such a common centiv proved , best to make mv cousin a widow, and the attraction for many foriMgiicrs after â-  now that .she .•seems to be one through tlio dinner hour, a sort of vantage no fault of voui-s, bv Jove, vou are gniiiiul where they could meet and ex- j ready to risk vom- life in the endeavor change views upon the grave questions , to find Dr. Juclc. if perchance he may of the time concerning Ru.ssian, Ger- still bo in the land of the living. man and British concessions in the , Heninie, it's simply remarkable, that's awakening empire; or it might be the in- \ what it is!" terual affairs of China, connected wiih j "At any rale, that's just what I mean l.i Hung Chang, the weak Emperor and lo do. 1 told vou words were ehenp. and that moat ri'markable woman in the that deeds spoke louder. That devilish ca.sc. the Itowa^jur Empress, in relation | past has given mc manv a pain and I'd to whom now and startling suritiises be bca.stly glad lo wipe it all out, and deep set on his jaws, and which he had reason to beUeve had been the means of his betrayal; "in fact, I am positive that what you say is true, for a howl- I ing mob congregated in front of Kai Wang's door, and shouted themselves ' hoarse in demanding that I appear and have ray hair cropped in Uie prevailing Chinese style â€" the head to go with it." "Ah! I see; and, declining this favor at their hands, you picked up your bed and walked, which showed remarkably good sense on your part. But, as I re- I member, you were always able to take jcare of yourself, as well as do some 1 thinking for others." I This throwing of bouquets at each \ other was all very well, and doubtless ' had some effect in drawing the two strange comrades closer together in the i bonds of friendship, but all the same it optic, and gave milord his I was not business, and shrewd little â-  Larry knew it. So he "returned to his mutton," and took up the case at the pomt where it had been dropped. "What did he want, this minion of the Czarr "The papers, of course." Larry uttered a cry of alarm. "What cursed assurance! But the^e Russians would not hesitate to claim the sun by right of first discovery. Of course, you declined lo grant his favor?" How confidently lie said this! The other noticed it and showed his plea- sure. "You may be certain I did. He tried relumed the other specious arguments to prove the docu- Larrv Uiought he detected a gravity "?*"'^ 'J!'«"fc'^ 1° ^"^i ''"'^ "^"^ '*' in his manner^thal was miusual-^t anv ^^°'*' ^hen he showed me a comm«- rate, after his recent exciting exper- iences he was just in the mood to talve the alarm. "Do you know â€" are you aware that she is under this rooU" he asked, pointedly. "She told me so herself, you remem- ber," replied the other, composedly. ".\h! then you may have come here with the intention of seeing my fair cousin ?" Lord Rackett, glanced hurriedly around, and there was enough of mys- tery in his action to set that valiant little heart of Larry's thumping at an unusual rate against his ribs. Ho scented action in the air, and mentally groaned to remember that whatever was coming he must meet it alone, deprived of the sturdy arm and daring spirit upon which he had been so accustomed to lean. "Pardon me for acting as I have done, but it seems to me as though there is danger in the very air we breathe, and in China it is never safe to assume that the very walls themselves have not ears." Clonfusion! you alarm me, you do, by Jawve, now. But, pway, do not hesi- tate, Loid Wackett, but proceed. What's up?" That covered the whole question, as it were, in a nulshellâ€" what was up? "I became anxious and thought it only right I should se>> Mrs. Evans again. You spoke of her resolution to again enter the Forbidden Ciiy in order to look upon tlie spot where her hus- band was ait down, and to assure her- self, as it were, that the very last chance for hope in his case had become exhausted. I have determined to ac- company you to Peking and share your venture, if you will allow me." Larry was struck in a heap by the un- expected offer, it was so generou.s, so noble, for no man could be belter ac- quainted with the danger than Lord Racketl. who showed such a willingness to take his life in his hands. In dealing with such a man, Larry could no longer maintain his studied affeclation, which he cast a.side as easily as one does a top coal when the sun shines toward the zenith. 'That is good of you. my dear fel- low. Years ago you tried your level were ol daily ocourrcncc. So Lany throttled tlio first feeling of distrust that caused a fluttering of his pul.se. Kriend.1 were too scarce under Ihe Hag of the yellow dragon to de.spi.se this heurty good-will offered with such aidor. Lord Rackclt chanced to set eyes on him at alxiiit this moiiieiit. Down came his feet !riiin ll;? chair where they had been nv-iing, Yank« fashion, and immediately he sprang ci-oit, advancing toward llie other v. illi eager, outstretched hand, iiiul u broud grin upon his glowing face. "By Jove! now, this is a pleasure! It was dinicult for me to place you, in feel myself dear of Ihe slain. The glow of manlinc»<s in his eyes louchetl a sympathetic chord in Larry s henrl. They .shook hands again. "I accept your offer anil apprev-iale the motives lliat urge you Id make it. God willing, vc shall know Ihe worst before long. II is useh.>-ss Irving to inlluencc Avis againsl underlnKing this desperate n;ove- .>he is a woman who dares any- thing when the innii she loves is in qiieslion. Bui I have felt Ihe need of a sining arm, and I welcome you as a comrade in time of necessity." Which was a very clever speech on the purl of Larry, more given to saying ridiculous Ihin^ than words of wis- Uial b«>astly toggery of a yellow-jacket som. mandarin, but now I have no trouble Lord Rackett showed positive signs of whateverâ€" only your appearance makes satisfaction- lii.<! blooming coiinlenance me .squinii, d'ye know, a.s I reriiemb<T | l<«)k another shad*' of red, and there was some very deucedly unplea.sant facl.s i a tinii look almiil his mouth that spoke coniuvlfxl with the "past, which I had I well for his newly-mude n»soluUon8. hoped lo entirely forgel." | "That was one of the things I came Larry accepted Uie proffered hand, but .here lo tell her," he remarked, with Ihe rauiMin of one whom cxper- 1 "ii on you had another?" queried his fence had taught wisdom; these giants companion. h«l such « grip and se<>med utU-rly un-| "Yos. After you left I h.id a visitor- perhaps vou can guess who he might be?" "Ah! yes, the Ru.ssian. to be sure?' "Cxuml Petoskey it was. You see. it was already known that she had been at the ofiice of the consul, and the.- jumped to conclusions as lo her miswlon; he al- m ronsrions of the pain they caused •queezing a set of tender digits. Lairy was a two-faced felUnv- that is, he hii a way peculiarly his own rf picking up his aflactalioii at will or totwin^ It aside whm the occasion de- manded manly (|ualities. It .scorned to fee an saiuttement for him lo i)osc as a ! so mentioned you, and this ga\ e iim an nttle PkxadUly swell; nor did he often ; idea they had iH?nelrali>d evcfi that very neglect a tavonble opportnnity to stmt ! clever mandarin disgiiiso," •nd pose in this attitud* when he had i "(,)uite likely." murmured Larry, as â- â€¢thing better to do. { his hand involuntarily loyed with the So ii«*> h« ooeked his monocle into I treacheruua lUUe putts of blond* hair Then he showed me a commiS' sion from the Dowager Empress, giving him full authority to seize those docu- ments wherever found, and confiscate them in the name of the empire." Larry eiiiilted a low whistle. "Carried it pretty far, I should imagine." "Correct, my boy. He found me stubborn, and began to use violent threats. I gave him one minute to apologize or Ije thrown front the door." "That cooled his ardor?' "Like a bucket of ice-water down his back. When he saw me start to lake oH my coat he came to his senses and with- drew his offeneiive remarks." "OhI if I had only been there to sec it aU." "We went into argument again, and he became heated once more, though careful to refrain from personal insults. I snapped my finger* in his face and told him that was all I cared for any threatsâ€" Ihe papers were upon British territory and would be defended against any and all comers. He went away mighty hot under the collar, 1 a^surs you." That Lord Rackett rather enjoyed the situation, the broad smile upon tiis face testified; it is not every day that :i sturdy Englishman finds a chance lo get in a fair blow at a representative of the mighty rival power that crowds the interests of the British empire in China and along the Indian borders. "Butâ€" such a desperate man, backed by Ihe aiillio-ily of so bold a ruler as Ihe Empress of China, might not hesi- tate lo even sack the consulateâ€" of course concealing his hand in Ih* gome," splullereil the troubled Larry, but the other continued lo smile. ".\h! yos, that same thought occurred lo me, d'ye know. Strange how greai minds move in a similar channel â€" eh, Larry, my dear man ?" "Then you took precautions?" eager- 1/. â-  "That I did." "And locked the safe?" "Better even than that â€" called upon the captain of Her .Majesty's gunboat Hornel, who chanced lo drop in, having business at the consulate, for a guard of marines, and there is a cordon ol blue-jackets stretched around the build- ing that will hold it against any force Petoskey could bring to the front." Larry waved his topee wildly abov« his head. "Good for you!â€" that's the true spirit â€" checkmate Petoskey, my boyl I think he will liuvc to go to school again and lake a few more lessons before he finishes this game. 1 tell you, it relieve* me to know those papers are safe." "You value them highly." "Why nol? They are worth millions to .\vis. and represent what Dr. Jack gave his own precious life for. I endured eon.sidcrahle rough work myself in their interest, and feel a decided concern in their safely, as should you and every oHier Anglo-Saxon in China. They stand for our victory over other foreign inleresLs." "Well, worry no longer about them, since they arc .safe from any attack." "By Jove! now, I am glad to liear you soy ihal; but we should continue to be on the alert. It was Jack's policy never to underestiinalc a foe." ".\nd deuced good policy, too: but, d'ye .see. I'm unable to understand what this fi'llow could do lo secure the papers." "Being outgeneraled in regard lo force, he will next try diplomacyâ€" these ("os- sacks are great on .sly tactics.'' "But we are not babes in the wood, that he can play with us. With force a dead letter, how could he lay hands on the documents '?" Larry threw up both hands. ".\sk the wild winds or Ihe sad sea waves, they can tell you as eu.sily as I; but, an the same, 1 feel, 1 know, Petos- key is itever the man to stop at trifles; and something tells me it won't be long before we di.scover he is far from hav- ing gone to sleep. Here comes a yellow flunky looking for you. I iinagin«, Lord Rackett. " "Oh! yes. ihe fellow who broufrbt up a card a deuce of a time ago. with a re- quest for an inmitxliale interview." He turned and sixike with the Ole»- kial servant of the caravansar>-. and when l.arn- once more set eyes upon the florid face of ihe Englishman he instant- ly diBCOvereU signs of new apprehension there. (To be oontiaued). PERSONAL POINTERS. Interesting Goesip of Some Promiiient Actors on the World's Stage. Admiral Alexeioff, late Russian Vice- roy in the Far East, owns a pet bear named .Musca, to which be is immense- ly attached. It used to acuumpaay him in his Uagstup wherever he went. The Stale coach used by the King of Spain IS drawn by eight pure while horses, with white piutnes and wliite harness. Plumes wave from each cor- ner of Uie coach, whUe a crown orna- ments the centre The young King of Spain is an e.tpert in the use of the sword. When quite a I little ctuid wooden swords were made I for his use, and with these he w ould I fence with the young nobles who were 1 appointed lo play with huu; his mar- vellous ahiUly was even then most I noticeable, and he is now perhaps the most expert Royal swordsman in Europe. Of her many treasures. Queen .Alex- andra values most a modesl milk-jug of earthenware, wliich she keeps in the boudou- attached to her dairy at Sand- ! ringham. U was given to her by a poor .dying girl, whose laUer days liad been . sootheti by the tender nur&uig and sym- ; palhy of the Princess .Alexandra. When : the Queen entertains any very exalted • guest at afternoon tea in her Su, iss ] chalet, it is from this humble but price- jless jug that she pours the cream. I .Sir Harry John.slon. the famous ex- jplorer, once escaped from a ver>' light comer in .Airica by a queer stratagem. .\ score or two of murderous naliveshad surrounded his tent, into which, before I rushing it, they sent an envoy. The eii- j voy was told that small-pox was in the 1 camp, and a wretched albino- was sent lout as an awful example. In five min- jutes the scared tribesmen had \anished. As Sir Harry well knew, they feared jthe "white disease" more than all the ' inventions of Ma.xim. Lord Wolverton is one of Fortune's prime favorites. Eighteen yeai-s ago he was a poor man comparatively, with an income of a few hundreds a year, which jhe spent pleasantly enough' in Iravel- ; ling in remota regions and himting big game. Unexpectedly his elder brother died unmarried at the earlv age of ' twenty-seven, and he succeeded to the title and on income of S250.000 a year. E(iual fortune attended him in mar- riage. Lady Wolverton is a sister of : Lord Dudley. Like her husband, she is ] exLi-cmciy devoted to yachting. I Mr. Thomas Hardy, the novelist, spent i part of his early life in an architects I olTice. and he has made two of the char- actei-s in his novels architects. Mr. Hardy's mother died recemlv in the thatched collage, built more" than a century ago. where he was ^o^Il and spent his boyhood. He w as quite a little boy when his mother gave him a copy of Dn-den's "Virgi!." She took grea"t i pains with his education, and had him taught Latin when he was twelve years old. At fifteen he received his fii-sl les- sons in French from a governess. King Leopold's "morganatic" Queen was formerly Nfme. Vaiighan. She is said to be a very beautiful woman. Originally a bannaid at Bordeaux, .she met the King accidentally in Brus.sels, and was privately married in Uie palace at Laeken not long after. It was for her that he biult the beautiful villa at Villefranche. where he spends so much of his lime. Nominally owned by Bar- oness Vauglian's brother, it is kepi up in regal splendor; there are several motors in the garage, and King Leo- pold's ni«gnifi(v>iit yacht, the .Ubert, manned by an English crew, is always j at Ihe disposal of its occupants. 1 When Lord Uufferiti was Viceroy of I India he was presented with a novel i iiaper-knife. One day Uie Mahai-ajab illolkar of Indire paid him a visit at the I Residency, and asked for his ivory Ipaper-cwlter as a riMnembrance. Lord I Duflerin consented, the Indian potentate 1 left, and the \iceroy saw him some months Inter, when Holkar introduced a fine young elephant into the n^om. \ pile of newspapers lay at Loi-d Duffer- I ins side; the animal went up to Iheni, jciit them neatly with his tusks, which ] had been purposely shurpeiie«l, and ! laid them in a neat heap on the floor, [ ready for perusol. I ."Sir Joliii Brunner. who celebrated his I birthday Ihe other day. is looked upon ; as one of the commei"cial kings in the i Briti.sh H(Htse of Commons. Me is head jof Ihe largest manufactory in the world, and is deeply interested in science and I education generally. He rivals Mr. Carnegie in the number of free libraries, town-halls and scholarships which he has so generously given, especially in Cheshire, the N(U'lhwich Division of which he n'presents in ParliHinenl. Ht' urges that the young men of the day sliould be given a scientific e<lucntion, and says thai every pi-nny he has in the world comes "fnim Ihe application of scieni'v lo commerce." Sir William While bears Ihe proud unotlicial title of Father of the prc.s«»nt- dw British Navy. .\ Direelnr of Naval Construction, a post which he resigned in 1901. after occupying it for sixteen years, he designed some 2.S0 w.irships, n'pre.Hpiiting an outlay of S.'i.flOii.OOO. in- cluding the cost of their 2.IXX) big guns. Bom at IX^vonport in humble circum- AMMALS WITH FALSE TKKTIL Have Been Treated by DentiKs to Thdr Great Benefit. Some f3w years ago Judge Woodfall, of England, was caued upon to aeuUe n case brought by a lady, who sued a naturalist lor failing lo provide .lur fox with a set of false teeth. .As it m customary for ladies to mala loits <J foxes, or for foxes lo suffer trvu l-t«k Oi molars, the case promised to provid* some features uncommon in Uie gener- al run Df County Court litigation, but those present who expected tike court to coruscate with the witty remarks ol judge and counsel, wtw shouM have re- velled in the possession of such a peg upon which to hang their witUcisins, were doomed lo disappointment, for U speedily transpired that the fox in ques- tion had long since given up Uie ghosi and that the teeth were to be suppUed solely in order U. give a more realistic appearance to the skin that was to b* turned into a boa. AlUiough Uie race of rejrnard has yet U, pay a visit lo the denlist for profes- sional treatment, caniiie and equine patients have both been treated by the piofession. and have gr-eaUy tieneflltcd br- their visits. Thus, in 1901. Mrs.. Jeflfferson .Seligman. of New York, had her W.OOO saddle-mare, .\nna, fitted out with eleven teeth, wlach anablod the anim.il, that could not eal before the operation, to masticate its oats with a relish that it had long been a stranger to. It is interesting to nole that the ec,uine palieut was treated with the same consideration as a human being, the nen'es of the teeth operated upon being deadened with cocaine prior to being filled with gold where the filli ign wore likely to show, and silver where they did not. .â- \ New S5ciilh Wales shepherd living at Hargreaves. near Mudgee. having s valuable i)edigrce ram which found great dilTicully in masticating its food owing to the loss of teeth, provided the animal with an artificial set that u.i- doubtcdly ser\-ed as iLsefu! a i>ufi)osc as tlic four gold '.ceth set with diamonds that tHTiced Ihe mmilli of a seven-year old Gordon «tter that was e.xhibiled at the Ladies' Kennel Club show in New Yerk in 100?. This dog. by Ihe wily, is by no mea.M the only canine patient that dentists avf had to deal with, as can be gather;! from the fad that early in the yeai* be- fore last Beauty Sli-el. a prize Boston bulldog, was in the dental chair three hours, while Mr. Beanlsiey cle,-mscd the cavities in two of his lower front teeth, filled them with gold, and put on gold ci'own.s. If may be mentioned, for Ihe benefit of would-be canine dentists, liiat thf doctor in this insliince secui-ed liis safety without Ihe aid of anaesthetics by ' stuffing a towel into the dug'* mouth. A CHRONIC GRlMBI.En. Giumpy at his best is not a companion- able man. but when unusually disturbed in his ramd. slomuch, or liver he is simply a sivial terrtjr. • He loses all re- gard for Uic amenities of Ufe. and is an animated frost moving throutih the warm currents of siK-iety. One of this men with whom he can gflt along tlie best is Jolly, but there are stages of hi: depi"essions when Grumpy wiiuld do. hi.-i worst to stir up a row with a saint. Grumpy and Jolly met the other nkirn- ins. with this result;â€" "How do you do?" inquired Jolly, clieerfuliy. "How do I do what?" growled nnimpjr. "I mean, how ari> v-ou. of coin-se." "How am 1 what? Explain yourself." "Oh. you've got one of your fits, Giumpy. How 'io you feel?" "I feel .saUsfif.i w ilh nothing. I feel that W per cent, of the hi • ~n race ai>e fcols. that marriage is • r'; iliiiv. Ihal our si-K-iat organizalion is i huge f.irce, and that the man who is \.:lling to live his life is entitled lo an everla.sting re- wnnl.'' "See here, old man. yntir spleen's out of ortler. The whole .scope and extent of my curiosilv was to ascertain the slate of your henlth." "Oh. only thai? What in creation do vni take me for? I've had forty doc- tirs. and all cf them put togellier cant an.^iwer vniir question. You want lo know offlinnd from .i layman what Ihese 'orlv prxfessfonal healers have fniUx) lo lell me. Ihwigh I have paid out enough 1 1 make Ihe whole kit of Ihem comfor- Inblv well off. You're olii enough lo kniiw belter." "Good niomina." said Jollv. ns he rrnved away, with as great a show cf .TiT^r .IS he eould ever make. "\nlliing of the kind." .shnnlcd Gruni- pv. "Deuced beasflv raw. cold. riri77.lin(j utoiiiing. A cs.se nf pneiimoniii in every breath. You don't seem lo imderslaml vniir language. .lolly. When ynu f<>el ,ihle 111 evoi-ess voiirsclf correcllv and inlelligenlly. come round." dances he became a shipwright's ap- prentice, and made Ihe most of the splendid opportunities which the .\dmir- ally offered lo these youths. His genius carrietl htm up Ihe ladder witli a pnpi- dily Ihel amazed his fellow-wnrkers, and at the early age of forty he suc- ceedetl to the high and responsible post of Chief Constructor. VKHY LIKELY. "What do you consider ll»e best foun- dation." a.sked Ihe amilioiis youth, "on which lo build a successful biisine.'ss ."' "llocks." proiiipily r«>plied Uie multi- luUliuiiaiiv. \ PRINCI-: OF SII.EN^4^. .Sir Henry Pevlon was famous a gen- eration or two ago fur his grny team .ind Ills Inek of small talk. II is n^iilcd. in Ihe "Life" of the second Earl Granville, that .<ir Henry once honored a pretty Eiiglishwonian with Ihe seat on llie box of his coach for a .sixt<>en-mile drive. Half w.iy he openeil his li|>s for the first time : "Woolly wealher for coach horses, my lady," ho ivmarked. On another occasion ho fairly oiddid him.sejf. His hcftJIh was bt>ing drunk eiilluisiuslicaliy at .in agricultural rnoeU ing. 'Thiinks." said he, and drank their healUi in return. Silting down, he kicked his neighbor, I.onI Jersey, and nuiUered : "1 didn't say loo much, did I T" Agnes rnooF. She - ^nd you nvMy think married hjm for liis money ? He - I'heiv can't b«> any doubt about IL She preferred him lo mo.