Newspaper Page Text
ISKBmjmUJLLLULU
tSJt-y-afnnff' 1
the note, signed "A," and I placed the
precious' screed next to my heart and
hastened to respond in person.
Now this was what happened: The
brother, an artist, had gone to Amoy,
one of the sacred towns of Tuam oc-
cupled by an exclusive tribe arid 100
miles distant. He had been discover
ed in the temple of the great sod,
Honghi, sketching its details. This
was sacrilege. He had been seized,.
Imprisoned and was to die by the
knotted, rope oil a certain .great tribal
festal day, which was the following
Friday, to propitiate the devotees of
the offended deity.
Miss Lisle had appealed to the con
sular agent, the local authorities.
They Ivere helpless to rescue the
doomed man. I quieted her frantic
- fears as best I could and returned to
my home to think out some plan to
rescue her brother.
I found that the effort would be a
dubious one. All along the path were
difficulties, risk, danger, I could think
only of the sad pleading face, of
the impending doom of her devoted
brother. I bad to find a confidant. It
was Foocbing.
"The Amoy!" observed my loyal,
grateful pensioner when I had told
my story, and be shrugged his shoul
ders in a dismal way.
"You know them?"
"Perfectly, and their dialect.
Force, influence, bribes cannot reach
them. It must be a shrewd, keen
battle of the wits, if you save your'
friend."
"Can it be done?"
"It .must be done, to repay you life
for .life, for the sake of the mourn
ing sister. Ah, yes,' I must accom
plish it,"
The next day Foochlng came to
me, He proffered a photograph
card, such as were sold at the
Chinese curio shops. I noted that it
was labeled "Hangbi."
"A picture of the idol of the tem
ple ".where my friend is held a pris
oner?" I asked.
u 'The same. listen;.! have beenj
much, interested In the motion pic
ture outfit of your friend. There is
the small projector outfit used to tesj
films, It is light, portable, with a
Bimple calcium attachment If you
could make a slide of this pboto-tg
graph " Di
. "Yes; what then?" I demanded'tod
hopeful eagerness. H
"Then I will show you a way tod
save your friend. There must be a
second , slide see," and FoochlngA
handed me a double line of Chinese
characters written out in their hiero
glyphic -form.
Looking back now, that secre fur
tive tramp to Amoy, constantly men
aced by wandering train bands, the
midnight arrival at the great tem
ple, the scaling of a broken wall, the
finding of a suitable hiding place up
near the roof it is all like a dream
now, but then Foocbing and I shared
a thousand perils.
The most vivid feature of that
restrospect in the event of the second"
night. We looked, down at the soin
bre robed prjests, at the victim, Ar
line's brother, whom they led in.
Then, as the sacredestal rites were
about to take place, Foocbing spoke
the quick word:
"Beady!"
Wbir-rr! Flash H There was a broad
blank wall at the front of vthe tem
ple, affording -ah -admirable screen.
Unmasking theprojector f threw the
picture of HohghTupon it in a broad
clear disc. There were affrighted
cries from the priests. ' s
"The script the message!" spoke
the quick-witted Foocbing, and I flar-
ed out the sentences that ordered the
priests to Instantly release their vic-j
tim or encounter the wrath of Hong-r
hi The idol had spoken! Trembling
jyith superstitious fears. the chief
priest released the captive 'and bade!
him depart
I do not know what the priests? .
thought If they ever found the outfit,!
for we abandoned it to join the resvi
cued artist'to regain his sister then.
Canton. ' fc -
ftMOMMMflftHMMMIiiMMMiaiaii
