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W1!i*^0tÂ¥SiHi^ViÂ¥!6i^ti(^^m KAI WANG; A TALE OF SOUTHERN CHINA. ' »rt-mTft>«rt^cH-«>«>«+«>ia>i:H-»>04^ «h-j:^ o-kh- CHAPTER XIV. The first round had been quickly 'lought, with but trilling danger to the brave couple who hud bojrded llie Coaling juiilc In search ol Dr. Jack's widow. True, they had not allowed the ragged line of Celestials to come within strik- ing distance, and the latter liad been unable to put their knives against the action of modern firearms, el.se the ro- 6uR might have been somewtiat differ- ent. It was necessary, however, that th°y proci-ed to take advantage of the re- spite offered them, since the golden opportunity might prove to be the de- sideratum upon which their whole fu- ture depended. So Larry edged his way further along in the quarter where he knew the door ol the junk's cabin lay. And close to his side the more bulky Iranie of Plympton kept pace with his movements. The latter had grave doubts regarding the tactics of the Chinese crew of the boat, and believed it his duty to keep their rear well guarded. He had considerable respect for the well-known trickery which has always marked the cJiaracler of the race, and feared less this sudden change of base might be only a means to an end. In other words. Lord Rackett, blunt and straightforward himself in his bluff English fashion, dreaded the enemy fully as much when they threw them- selves upon the bloody deck and ceased their clamorous outcries as when thejr surged forward in bold attack. Some characters are more dangerous â- when still than while whooping it up like wild Bedouins of the desert. They reached the cabin door. Larry's groping hand came in contact with the knob by means of which it was opened. Of course it moved outwardly, so that a heavy sea might not force its way 'n- side during some tropical typhoon. A Chinese junk is an ungainly craft in the eyes of sailors accustomed to the trim outlines of boats built upon the Clyde or in American waters. She reais her squatty shape out of the water much after the fashion of a Dutch galiot of olden days, and it takes some time and experience to realize what weatheply qualities may be in such a quaintly- formed vessel. And yet a deal of comfort lies in some of these same junks, fashioned to ca'.er to the tastes of native nabobs and pow- erful mandarins. The cabin is usually richly furnished, after the prevailing Chinese style, to be sure, but those who affect to sneer at all such chiiiisy plea- sure craft would doubtless change tlioir tunc could they have a glimpse of their luxurious surroundings. Larry, having clutched the brazen knob, which was fastened in fantastic guise, perhaps after the manner of a dragon's head, started to pull open the door. It resisted all his efforts. Whether the sheer weight was against him, or the door was held by some con- trivance on the other side, Larry had no means of discoveringâ€" all he knew was that his most earnest efforts to drag it open were in vain. Again he deemed himself signally fortunate in having such a robust com- rade in the hunt. Lord Rackett, seeing that his help was needed, stretched out a hand, Jook a good grip upon the metal Knob, and with a sudden muscular contraction of his tremendous powers tore the door open, its male also flying, outwai-d. The cabin was before them. Neither stopped to take an observa- tion, but plunged boldly in. It would have been the height of folly to have lingered even a secoad, a temp- ting of Providence, as it were, for the rasping voice still haran^iued the wretched Chinese, and some of the sail- ors, cither slung into aclivily by this being so placed as to hold the fort against the foe. .Meanwhile Larry had been enjoying somoUiing of an adventureâ€" though one ' i^efeal; he laughs loudest who laughs "Load !" said Plympton. [leaving the cabin besides the door or the There was a succession of clicking wmdow, and presently joined him in the sounds and a tossing aside of empty seaj'ch. brass shellsâ€" then both cylinders were freshly charged, and the new power had been placed at their disposal. Now we can consider what may be done to further our escape," said Plympton, gravely. "By Jove I What d'ye think of that, now*' snapped Larry, as he suddenly threw up an arm and discharged hiij weapon in the direction of a cabin win- dow where the wriggling figure of a Chinese pirate could be seen pushing through. CHAPTER XV. EvMcntly the people of the junk did not intend to give up the ship or call off the dogs of war so easily, after all. IBecause all the first round in the battle had gone against them was no sign '.f might perhaps quesUon whelhor he fan- cied the sensation very much, for it cer- tainly is not altogether conducive to the greatest pleasure in the world to have a small revolver thrust directly into one's face, with a nervous finger toying with the trigger. That was Larry's experience. He had not been looking for any such sudden meeting, and was for the mo- ment rendered quite breathless by his rtcenl labor and this really startling de- nouement. At the same time a voice he should know, a voice that thrilled every fibre of his being, a vcice he had been dearly wisliing to hear, exclaimed in accents that spoke of bravery wrestling with womanly fear: ".Stand back, you villain ! I may be trapped, but not conquered ! Stand back, or " She left her sentence incomplete, for by this time she had been enabled to catch a glimpse of Larry's face, now wreathed in a huge grin of astonish- ment and pleasure. "Larry 1 God be thanked I" came In accents of keenest delight, and in an instant the situation underwent a kaleidoscopic change. The little man was threatened with death from a toy weapon at one mo- ment, and tlie next he foimd himself in danger ot-lhe same violent end through being smoihered. For in the excess of her emotions, due to the revulsion of feeling upon dis- covering who this intruder on her privacy really was. Avis had gathered the little man in her arms and given him a genuine, hearty, cousinly hug. Larry made no protest, not he; such things are Uko angels' visits, too few and far between, and he was ready to sfand the consequences with the valor of a stoic, however short of breath the vigorous attack might leave him. Besides, Larry infinitely preferred this sort of an assault to being com pelted to face even a toy revolver that blinked into his left optic with tlircalen ing zeal. Lord Rackell now came up, and Avis quickly hold out her hand for him to clasp. - The dim pa.st was forgotten. Once she hid dreaded contact with this man. at the time his soul was con- sumed with a mad love for herâ€" once she had despised, ay.e, feared him as an enemy of her husband. That was all gone. The big Briion had conquered h'mself, and his life since had been in positive evidence of the sincerest refoimation. 'I'o-day, at this hour and minute, he was proving the wonderful change that had come over his nature, and, instead of taking risks in the endeavor to bring harm upon any whom she loved, was placing his own life in deadly peril, so that he might stand between Dr. Jack's widow and calamity. And this with no other prospect of re ward â€" at least that she knew anything aboutâ€" than the pleasure that over whelms one when the call of duty has been obeyed. She therefore gladly gave him her hand, and thanked him with an elo- quent look from ber glorious blue eyes, now bright with tears that had been started by this sudden change from darkness to the dawn of new-born hope â€"tears that no danger could have forced her into showing. And Plympton, thrilled by the touch of her hand, felt that his grievo\!s errors of the wretched past had been freely and fully forgiven; and that henceforth she would look upon him as an honored and trusti'd friend It were well worth enduring many times what ho hiid gone through iii order to gain Iho ^r-'-'d-will and confi- dence of so churniing a woman. He cxpcriencwi a solid satisfaclion. last; and so long as the Russian could control his voice, with Chinamen to obey his commands, there was little or no danger of his crying quits. Larry had taken a snap-shot at the chap so industriously engaged in the end'.avor to enter by the window. Ho had no positive means of knowing whether he had struck liim or not, but ai all events the result was the same for the fellow vacated his lodgings in such quick oider that it was utterly im- possible to say whelher he clambered â- â€¢Joft or dropped into the dark river. Lord Rackett sprang to the spot, ready lo present his particular compliments I ' any others who might be attracted by the prospect of another "grand open- ing," but the prompt action taken in the case of the leader sei-ved as a check upon their actions, snice none put in an ap- pearance. There was now time lo examine I' eir situation with a view to extracting oil Ihe comfort possible out of it. Taken as a v/hole, the condition of affairs was decidedly unique. There they were shut up in a cabin 01 a hostile junk, with vengeful cneriip!< on deck, and drifting down the tiver. What would be the end'? A sc.^n of things might happen to them, any cne o' which could only be consid-^red Wilh a shudder. Even the .sen lay beyond, an 1 there were many ways in which the'? en.'mio might force them info a surren ier, cr accomplish their destruction if it came tc that desperate end. In imagirui.tion Lord Rackett could see the junc ter.tfn by one of those fierce temjvsl! that sweep the Chine.se coast, born ' tropical influences amid the island* of ibo Rnst- ern seas, or else engulfed in fames, wilh not a boat remaining in whicii to escape. The prospect was not alliiri â- >g. Indeed, it presented a grim a-neet lo even such an old and tried ca'/jpaigiier a.s himself. Not that he had any idea o' submit- bitter goad, or the realization that llieir'.such as had probably never come lo him desperate enemies were on the retreat, | before in that other day when, urged on had scrambled lo their feel and w\Te ! y jealou.sy and malice .and envy, h rushing pell-mell in the direcliun of the IkkI conspired to rob Dr. Jack of liis cabin entrance, yearning to get in at; wife as well as his fortune. least one savage stroke ere this bold foe passed from the immediate range of their vii-ifln. The two men had an indistinct view ol a dimly-lighted compartment where Ginken draperies hung, and many rich Oriental divans and pillows were scat- tered about. Lord Rackett turned instantly to snap the doors shut and fasten them, if pos- sible, against the projected intrusion. He uttered a shout of delight when his eye di.scovcred Ihat the double dooi-s could be rigidly fastened by means of a bar which, when dropped into certain metal arms foshioned for the purpo.se, might hold out against any ordiiuiry force from without. It was a close call. Even as the weighty bar clanked into place, a hand was eagerly laid upon the dragon's head without and the door was shaken wilh a violence that spoke of ex- treme pa'j.slon. Lililf Wjinplon cared; wilh him a miss was an good as a mile, and he fell as thoiiL'b Ihey w*re favored by fortune. cartridge.s. Loixi Rackett was well aware, how- ever, that the present was no time lo indulge in these rellections ; his work, although thus far successful to re- markable degree, couhl not by any means be regarded as completed â€" in- deed, he felt it had only been fairly started. Eiu'mies were clo.se at hand; the stout doors alone stood between them, and no doubt such clever rascals would sj.eerl- lly llnd a way of getting at the be- leagiu-od ones in the cabin. This being the slate of affairs, it be- hooved the two comrades to prepare for aclion and place themselves on a foot- ing to meet any new emergency. 'iheir first move must be lo i-eslore their faithful weapons to a condiliun in which they would be able to do further dan)agc should the exigencies of the case require Jt. So Lord Rackett thrust a hand deep into one of hta pockets. Larry did likewise. These hand« came out holding extra Imp to the plcnsurw of those en deck cne minute longer than was abSi-lutc;.';' necessary. Such aeq':iL>rpnce would n."t have been in accordance wilh the natu/e of the man. Escape from the floating prisjn they must, and wilh Avis in their cimpeny. But how was it to be done? That was the all-important question. The situation was unparalIole<l. Plympton could rack his brain and not find anything in his stormy past that held a candle to it. This threw him entirely upon such re- sources as the cabin of the junk offered, barked up by the inventive abilities of lumself and comrade, which it may be understood were of no mean order. They could tell from the motion of the boat that the junk still fioatcd, and, so far as they were able to detect, no move- ment was in progress looking toward reaching land. It evidently quite suited the purposes r' those on board to keep afioat while wrestling wilh the unique problem they had on their hands. Plympton looked out of the stern win- dow in which the piratical chap hail teen lodged at Ihe lime Larry gave him his compliments. It was some little distance over Ihe scmbre-looking water of Ihe river, but a valorous man would have thought I'ltle about making the plunge when his life was at stake. This method of procedure was not in iiif mind just at present; some other means of escape would have to be con- sidered, since they had a lady to look after. He glanced back over the course they had come. Lights could be .seen about the city, lul after all it made a miserable show- ing, considering the immensity of space covered. Chinese methods are still rf the antiquated kind that were good enough for their ancestors. Should (hey I insult Ihe reverend memory of those worshipful generations bv deserving better? Perhaps Plympton had cherished a hope that a boat of some kind might le trailing a.«;lern of the junk. Alas! there was no sign of one wh.itever fancies clustered about chance vanished in thin smoke. Then he looked up. To clamber out of the window gain Iho poop deck of the junk was cer lainly feasible, since one of the sailors had effected a reverse movement. What good would it accomplish? Ho could not thus gain the mastery of the boat and send her ashore. Evidently the game was to be fought ou^Jpom another vantage point, and he musTlook within for means of continu- ing the contest. So Larry was posted to cover this weak place, where Ihe open windows invited an assault, while Plympton e\- aniined the cabin in order to obtain his bearings. Avis had recovered her usual .self- possession and watched these manoeii- vTes with considerable interest. She quickly comprehendetl Ihat Lord RacknU honed to find some means of It seemed useless, however. While they were speculating as to what might lie beneath the caUm Uoor, Plympton felt a trembling movement under his feet. His first thought was that the junk had struck some floating objectâ€" then it flushed into his head that mayhap the rascals had started to scuttle the vessel, hoping that those in the cabin might drown like rats. The most amazing fancies are apt to surge into one's mind when an earth- quake thrill makes the footing insecure. Again he felt that sti-ong quiver be- neath his feet. Then it suddenly dawned upon him that some unknown person was endea- voring to raise a board in the cabin floor. There was. after all, a cavity or hold, beneath, and a means of reaching it fi-om the cabin; but the sagacious enemy had taken possession of it first, and thus shattered any dreams he may have indulged in. Lord Rackett was a very accommodat- ing man; at least his friends all thought so He sympathized with the aspirations nf those whom circumstances kept down and who were ambitiously trying to rise above Ihe environments. .Now, he could only give a rough guess as to the identity of the man who from below was endeavoring to raise the trap in the cabin floor, nor was he in a position to fully decide what his designs might be. but somehow he felt that here was a chance where assistance and appreciation were needed. Accordingly Plympton stepped sud- denly back, and, relieved of his weight, the trap, owing to the tremendous pres- sure below, fiew up into the air. With it came the head and half Ihe tody of a very dirty and extremely as- tonished Cliinuman, who. never s)is- pecting the true cause of the resistance, had been doing his level best to accom- plish the work in hand. Of course, he had no idea of coming into the cabin, but such a warm-hearted f.nd generous-minded fellow as Lord Hackelt could not bear to refuse a favor, since he hated to see any one left out in the cold. Acting upon this impulse he had stoop- di down and laid hold of the fellow By the neck ere ha could recover sufilcient- ly from his stupefaction to dodge. .Not understanding this philanthropic action on the part of the big English- nan, the yellow fellow began to wriggle and squirm after the manner of a ser- pent, doubtless under the mistaken no- tion that he could in this wav slip out of the clutches of liis master. ' A less muscular man would have lost him most assuredly, but Lord Rackett had limded many a lordly salmon, and he slapped this contorlionLst upon Ihe cabin floor wilh a vigor that warned him to desist. The trap had fallen in its place again Evidently if there were other fellows be- low, Ihcy had been frightened off bv the falo that so suddenly befell their leader for, according to the ethics of warfare 1.1 vogue among Ihem.'selves, he must be a dead herring ere this. Plympton begged Avis to secure some utterly mipossible such a Uimg mv-i prove. Then it became evident that a meetins must take place, and that he snd Lar-/ would be only wise m taking thne by tha forelock and making such preparatiois tc receive th«iir foes as lay in Uut power. (To be continued). BRAVERY IS REWARDED. Ha- Carter Receives the English Royal mane Society's Reward. The Royal Humane Society at its an- nual mectmg in London, England, the other day, awarded the Stanhope gold medal for the most daring rescue of the year to John Stockton, a baker's carter, of Warrington. The heroic action for which this honor has been conferred took place on .March 6. when a workman while engaged in cleaning a sewer wns overcome by foul gas and became imconscious. Two fellow-workmen who went to his help were al.so stnick down. .Stockton >'r)hmteered to try lo save them, tnit on going down the manhole was at first driven back by the deadly gas. A second attempt was more suc- ce.ssful, and he brought up one man alive. A third and fourth lime he went down and brought up the other two, but one of them was dead. ARTFUL .MRS. WTTHERBY. hen Wltherby â€" "I've mvited a fellow to diimer to-morrow night." .Mrs. Wltherbyâ€" "Oh. my dear, what did you do that for? Why, the new cook is coming to-morrow, and you know it will lie just awful." Wltherbyâ€""! don't see anything aw- ful about it. Give him what we've goC I guess it's good enough." Mi-s. Witherbyâ€" That's just lika a man. You don't seem to care for ap- pearances at all. Can't you put him offT' Witherbyâ€" "No, f can't. The ideal I invite tt friend to dinner, and my wife protests. But, madam, he comes just Ihe same. .As long as I am rurming this house I propose to do as I pleude." Mi's. Witherbyâ€" "Who is it?" Witherbyâ€" "Wigson. You know him, don't you'?" Mrs. Wilherby (seized with an inspira- tion)â€" "Know him! 1 should say I did. Why, he's an old sweetheart of mine." Wilherbyâ€" "I guess not.' Mrs. Wilherbyâ€" "But he is. Have him to dinner by all means. Oh, I should just love to see him I How he used to make love lo me!" Wilherbyâ€" "He did. eh?" Mrs. Wilherbyâ€" "Yes, indeed. It was fnly by the merest chance that I didn't become hLs wife. This is indeed a plea- sure. Dear boy! Lets .see; 1 haven't seen Charlie Wig.son for four vears " Witherby idryly)â€" "You haveii't, ,'u7 Well, 1 wouldn't be surprised if you didn't see him for four more.' Mrs. Witherby (feigning great dlsap. pointmenl)â€" "Oh, you haven't changKl your mind, have you? Aren't you go- ing to bring him to dinner?" Witherbyâ€" "No. madam. I'm noU" And Mrs. Witherby. having gained point, glided blandly " her ccrd. and when- this had 'been""bro"uKht rcom """"' ^""^ '"^"'^'^ ^'^^ ""' he wrapped his captive in it, arms -.t and this and his sides, until he was little better fhan a mummy. "Let them only come one at a time and we will soon have Ihe whole gang in hmbo; but 1 fear they have taken the alarm, and mean to fry other methods," was what he .said. There was a reason for his belief. Already sounds came from the direct- lion of the doors, sounds that indicated a gathering of Ihe cluns in Ihat quarter. Lord Rackett had faith in the bar. hut slill it was not irresistible, and Ihe crew cf the junk might yet find some means of clearing away this stout barrier lo their progre.ss. Indeed, they appeared to be working upon that theory at the present mo- ment. Bang! Lord Racket uttered an exclamation. He had seen the effect of this concus- sion on the doors, and realized Ihat it would not take a very great numBer of such blows to weaken, aye, utterly de- molish their barrier. There was no mystery about it at all. The Russian diplomat had gone back to antiquated methods of warfare, but which under certain conditions were just as efilcacious to-day as in the times of the s'one-lhrowing "catapult. A fragment of mast or spar had been obtained, which, put in action by the Chin.-se, was being made to do duly as a battering ram. Such nn object in the hands of men entirely great, and u.-^ed for such a pur po.«e, is mightier than the sword. It looked as though the temporary security which had been achievii through the siralepy of the two friends was about to be shattered and give wa.' once more to the slir of battle. Lord Racketl's first thought was in thi; direction of strengthening Ihe doors but he almost immediately realized how QUITE GENEROUS. One Sunday recently a lady went into a church in a town to which she was a stranger and asked to be shown to a seat. The sidesman conducted her lo a back seal in the gallery, the onlv other occupant at the time being "an old gentleman, who rose to let her pa.ss It was somewhat daik. and the lady as she shook her skirls and seltled down, had a horrible su.spicion that she was silting on sometJimg besides the cushion. .She put out her hand and drew forlh the sad remains of a silli hat. "Oh," she said lo the old gentleman, I beg your iiardon. I'm so sorry." The old gentleman looked at the mel- ancholy ruin, and replied that it could not be helped. "Oh. it's truly generous of you to say so." said the lady, "but I'm afraid vou're angry." ".Not in the least," said the old gentle- man, straightening out the hat and placing it under the seat; "you .see it's not my hat. It belongs lo Mr. '- - who showed you in I" At an eleclion meeting recently ilia candidate wa.s somewhat troubled l.y a man in the audience, mIio at length became offensively personal. "Is it Uue that your mother washes " he began- but before he could add the word "clot!>es" the wilty candidate called out smartly ; "Of course she docs; why, don't your' This rai.sed a loud laugh ai, the disturber's expense; but, slill un- damitcd. he returned to the attack. "You can't deny," he said, "that your father was a rag-and-bone man. " I bough! some old clothes off him thirty years ago." "And I see vouVe slill wearing them!" was the candidate's lighJning retort. THE ADV.V.NT.Vr.Eb OF \VF^\LTU. Doctor Pal lent n;o.";iir.a. â€" "Is the cough any easier, madam? â€" I think not. Marie, cough for the doctor as you heard me thto