Ensign Merrill — page 31: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

‘an | * s ww J @ 4 ia s Gays - are | iowa a Ad rr vet hd ae eo se , i a ~F. a > . - esa - z aa07 rr ei — abe rf * . ~~ i Se 4 A eee “= = “4 ee es, ~ : : . , es ‘ SF ~~“, t = = a : Ss ing to glance up, he saw Ah Poy passing’ oo, a a = center aisle. Thinking the man might be looking faa him, he was on the point of addressing the porter, but y ‘ at that moment he halted in front of a little side aleove and knocked at the closed door. It was opened at once, but so slightly that Merrill — was unable to see the occupant. Henoticed a hand ex- tended through the aperture, however, and a slip of _ paper thrust into it by Ah Foy, who immediately _ tarned and started for the door. A few steps and he ‘was close to Mark. His eyes wandered in that direc- tion and fell upon the ensign. ‘To the surprise of the latter he stopped short and seeined as if about to retrace his steps, at the same time exhibiting such an expres- sion of consternation that Merrill half-rose from his chair. It was over in an instant, however, and the Chinaman’s face again bore its habitual look of impas- siveness. With a low bow he passed on and vanished through the vestibule leading outside. } ‘“By Jove!’ exclaimed Mark, half-aloud, staring after the figure. ‘‘'I’here-is something wrong with that fellow surely. Heis up to mischief, and lam going to find out what it means if it takes all night. He has been:on some guilty errand, or he wouldn’t have acted so suspiciously on seeing me. I wonder who could have received the note in that alcove. Whoever it is seems to be afraid to show his precious face. Well, _ 11) just wait a while and see if the gentleman comes out.” | _ A sudden desire to ascertain whether the porter was still lurking outside prompted Merrill to glance through an open window close at hand. By bending over he ~ : could see as far as an adjacent corner, and there, busily. | scribbling on a piece of card was the Chinaman. x