Cruel Treatment Followed by Thrilling Escape of a Missionary (Continued fr rom last week.)
Presontly the robbers began enter our' room while from the hole in the corner of my blanket anxiously watched the proceedings. They came in leisurely. The sight nen lying dead upon the boat With their life's blood sprinkled over the floor, seemed to have appeased their wrath, land they went quietly about the room taking whatever they wanted. Some of the robbers took 'a fancy to blankets and_ presently, my blanket was pulled. Being thus exposed I aroa> to my feet and with~ out the slightest resistance yielded myself to the bandits. Three of them at once began"to rob me. One of the robbers stood on guard ready to shoot me should I attempt to resist, while the other two went through pockets and helped themselves to what they wanted. The robbers did not seem, however, to be accustomed to robbing white people, and my many pockets rather confused them. After ransacking one, they seme: to be at a loss where to look to find the next.
While Twas being robbed hear€ and my watch boat in unison. Both thumped so hard that T was afraid the robbers might hear the watch ticking. They did not, how-fever, much to my conifort. me, for in my grip had two parcels lof bills. One parcel contained seven hundred dollars. and the other one hundred and ive dollars. This money was not my own. It had been given me by two Chinese gentlemen, who on account of the lawlessness of the country, had not been Jable to'send money to their families who lived in the city to which I was bound, and taking advantage of my going had entrusted the money to me. I realized that although the money was not my own, if the grip was taken I would lose all. The thought troubled me, and for a moent I was worried. Then reeovering my composure I closely watched the robbers, and when they were not Igoking my way I cautiously put my hand behind me and opening my grip I took out the large roll of seven hundred dollars, and loosening my belt T quickly pushed it down, jo the front of my trousers. I thought somewhere in its downward fight it would catch and be saved. But it had barely started on its journey when I got a shock that al. most stopped my heart beating, as T remembered with horror, that' my: under garments were short and the roll of bills was going to go right through on "Rapid Transit" and fall The robbers were still searching out on the floor, there to be picked my pockets, though with little}up by the robbers. I could feel success, when suddenly they noticed slipping. It was going, going, several' rolls of silver coin hidden most gone. under the blanket of the fat man But just as T reached the point of with whom I had been lying, and so despair a happy thought struck me. releasing me they turned from the During recent years American firms shadow and went to the substance, have Been shipping Boston garters and began to rob the the fat man, to China, and' the enterprising pro-After taking all the money he} gressive Chinese have been buying possessed they went to the next man, them. And in order to prove that lund then to the next, going farther they are progressive many of them id farther down the line, and wear the garters on the outside so ving me standing like a chicken that all may see and take notice, half plucked, and wondering when The Chinese are very moder in they would return to finish the job. way of thinking. They reason But while T had passed through "Why buy such pretty garters the fir hing without losing with their Blue and pink stripes—colours that attract the _ese—and great deal in actual cash, still it did, not mean that T would be exempt then hide them—unceremoniously from view?" T remembered this from further molestation. In fact, Just in the nick of time, and as my under the circumstances, each pi heart again began beating. I slowly Senger was apt to be robbed at stooped down and quickly attached ten times. The reason was obviot my garters on the outside. There The bandit band numbered over was nothing to attract attention. 1 hundred, and "the two little boats was only adopting local styles, and that brought them from the shore moment later when the roll of bills could only bring about ten or a dozen ell down and stuck fast, f thanked ata time. These marauders robbed my stars thee the flag was still ly-the passengers at will, and then with ing. The Boston garters held the their loot returned to shore wh one other company came out and robbed er, the position of the inva similar manner. This plan was mones soon formed an unsightly' followed until the whole gang had bulge and was apt to be detected. 1 had an opportunity of getting a. therefore presently. worked—the: share of the plunder. Therefore money down to the heel of my sock, with the robber band approximately Jand then tied a strong cord around numbering one hundred, each pas-ankle, thus holding the package Senger was apt to be robbed at lea place and kee from ex. ten times. The thought was not panding.
Pleasant to contemplate. I had There was another breathing spell, passed through the first plucking Jand then kidnapping began, Pa: with comparatively little loss, but Jsengers were taken to be held for faced the coming ordeals with a ransom. Men, begging piteously for sickening fear of failure. But it [their freedom, were bound with rope does not pay to give up too soon. and led off to captivity. Women, I like the motto, "Never die until weeping and pleading for release, you're dead," and "While thore's life were also laid hold of and taken there's hope." If you have not away. The men's earnest pleadings, drawn your last breath you have and the women's sobs and tears still another breath to draw, and were alike una\ ling. Both fell on} PO? while you are drawing that, apdeaf ears and calloused hearts. The parently, last breath, the crisis captured men were tq be held for pass which leads to recovery. ransom; tortured if there was undue!
The outlook looked hopeless, but Jdelay, or killed if the ransom was! Just as Twas about to lose heart a not forthcoming. The women faced bright thought struck me, and the more horrible fate of continuous taking advantage of a moment when [SORtNitY with the outlaws. the robbers ware not looking T turn] <<.uing®, pevteniie ed my pockets inside out. Then with my hands dangling at my sides nine and telling me T was his captive! I stood trying to look Thad Jat once began to lead me away. I expected I might be held in bondage been robbed of all T possessed. The for many weeks or months, and ruse worked well. From th Jwanting something to help pass the moment I was not further moleste time while in captivity, T therefore Che new robber gonas as they came Jasked the robber whether I might on board, glanced at my empty, take my grip. In tke was pockets, and my penniless express money, daily requisites such as'shat Sion, and then with @ curse and a ing paraphernalia, Bible and reading disgust they passed me by|tmatter. etc, 'The' robber asked. me and went and robbed the other what the avip contained and, without passengers.
T watched the others being robled, or want to get is, But fraing for an answer took was la an] each one losing all, until eventually obliging frame of mind. Jose them the robbers began t take grips. (and s> teached frst, apexed the wei Then again my heart almost failed and enxptied the contents ea the floss
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.