THE CHINA MAIL, FRIDAY,
JUNE 21, 1935
The Sacred One
(Continued from Page 9)
"He has slain a cat, the sacred cat of Ra. The gavemor will up; hold us! The governor has grant-} ed us our rights. Take our cornį if you will, but our holy ones youf shall not touch! It is the law!"
"Hear me!" cried Cominius. "Justice you shall have. I swear. be all the gods of Rome that Iự myself will take the guilty one to the governor, and that forthwith. But by Bicchus, a fair trial the man shall have, otherwise............
Me faced them squarely. His voice ended on a menacing note.i- The crowd stood irresolute-
Then another legionary pushed his way through them. Cominius heaved a sigh of relief.
"Here comes Chiron!" he in- formed Varrius. “Now all will be well. Be raised his voice again:!
ood people, our duty as soldiers to resist force. If you attack, remember that we have authority to resist-rebellion. If on . the other hand you allow us to take our prisoner - quietly, you may follow to see that justice is done, the justice of Rome, law-givers of the nations.. What say Fon? Choose!**
And he touched significantly the short sword thrust through his girdle
The Alexandrians had no illu sions about the fighting powers of these terrible legionaries from the farther shores of the Mediter- ranean. One they would bavc faced But these three deter-i mined men. iron-disciplined. With | all the authority of Rome at their backs...
They decided instantiy. "To the governor!"
*bey cried.
"We will take him to the governer and demand his instant death.". „To' the governor ***
*By Hercules," said Varruus ruefully, as between Cominius and Chiron, he led the way towards the palace of Alarbus: Andronicus. "thou hast done thy best. Com- inius but Fam berween Scylla and Charybdi. Of а certainty the -governor, will uphold those people.
He hath no choice.”
"Wait adjured Cominius. The zovernor came, called from his dicing to hear a case which- he was assured would "brock no delav, sêving to the temper of the people. The great Had of Justice. the largest apartment in the palace, was thronged with Egy tians.. clamouring outwardly for justice, inwardly for any chance to avenge themselves on one of the hated conquerors. The got- ernor sat in his seat of state, and Varrius was brought before him. The accusation was proclaimed.
Alarbus Andronicus. stroking- his grey beard. thoughtfuly: re- garded the prisoner with wise.' quiet eyes, which held some com- passion, and asked him?
"What dost thou say to the charge?"
That. I have not done the deed!" answered Varrius boldly. He added: "I call these two legion- aries as my witnesses."
Cominius, adjured to speak, stood forth.
I and my comrade, Chiron, were returning from the shores of; the lake," he stated. "Varrius had! promised to meet us, to take leave! of me, since I take ship this night! for Rome. We were within the shadow of the temple of Serapis when we saw the creature spring! at Varrius. We saw him strike, purely in self-defence. Instantly i he was pursued by the towns- people, and I followed to see that justice should be done, and that my friend should not be assassin- ated, but should be given a fair trial That is all I have to say.”.
The governor frowned. This stupid witness had sealed the fate. of the prisoner. He would have done better to have let ill alone.j Did he not know that an accident made no difference?
In his heart Varrius groaned True, Cominius had saved Hiza from a shameful death at the hands of the mob. But not from death itself.
The exultant cries of the mob
arose.
“It is proven! A Roman has borne witness. Give sentence, Alarbus Andronicus, Andronicus the Just Death to the prisoner! We demand his deathi
Comining caught the glance
doomed man - He mad
elfare:
MAGGIE BUYS THIS ISLAND AN LEAVES ME HERE TO SPEND THE NIGHT. I WISH THERE WUZ SOME WAY TO GIT ASHORE, BUT I GUESS I'M OUT OF LUCK.
Bringing Up Father
I'LL MISS THE SHIN- DIG AT DINTYS.
I PROMISED TO MEET PATAN' MARTY BUT I'M OUT OF LUCK SO
I'LL GO TO BED
AN FER-
GIT
ABOUT IT
THE GOVERNMENT
OVERLOOKED A GOOD
BET WHEN IT DIDN'T
BUY THIS ISLAND
AN' PUT A JAIL ON
IT HI-HO!
THE TIDE IS RISING
NOW, MAGGIE HAD NEVER SEEN THIS ISLAND WHEN THE TIDE CAME IN-NO ONE ELSE COULD SEE IT EITHER.
| THIRTY
MINUTES LATER.
ONE HOUR LATER.
TWO HOURS LATER.
AND STILL LATER.
WELL! 1.GUESS ||WHAT'S
JIGGS AIN'T THIS COMIN' TO THE PARTY TO-NIGHT
COMIN' DOWN THE
RIVER?
1913, King Features Syndicate, Inc., Great Britain rights reserved.
Rosie's BEAU GED.M-MAMUS
Registered U. S. Patent Office
IT'S JIGGS! - WHAT KIND OF
A BOAT IS
THAT?
I DONT THINK MY PAL DID RIGHT BY TELLING ROSIE A LIE, THAT I'M IN A HOSPITAL
JUST TO GETS HER SYMPATHY.
HE SAID HED FIX
IT SOWED
MAKE UP
YOU'VE GOT TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND PRETEND
YOU'RE SICK.
IS THAT YOU, PAT? AM I AWAKE? WHERE AM I?
WE WUZ JUST GIVIN YOU
UP.
TELLUS-HOW
DID YOU GIT ́ HERE, AN WHY. THE PAJAMAS?
IT'S A MYSTERY TO ME- BUT:IM HERE AN THAT'S WHAT COUNTS.
IT'S THE GYPSY IN ME
LISTEN: ROSE GOT PERMISSION
TO CALL ON YOU AT
THE HOSPITAL
NOW THERE'S
HUH?
ONLY ONE
HOWDY BRIGHT
EYES
HOW DARE
| YOU?
THING TO DO.
LOOK SICK HERE ARE THEM DOCTORST
LAM SICK
NOW