Now, as the two sat
side by side upon a cushioned divan, the woman's arm about the
boy's shoulders, they were startled to hear, in the depths of the
house, three notes of a gong.
Young Kerry's sleepiness departed. He leapt to his feet as
though electrified.
"What was that?"
There was something horrifying in those gong notes in the
stillness of the night. Lady Pat's beautiful eyes grew glassy
with fear.
"I don't know," replied Dan. "It seemed to come from below."
He ran to the door, drew the curtain aside, and pressed his ear
against one of the panels, listening intently. As he did so, his
attitude grew tense, his expression changed, then:
"We're saved!" he cried, turning a radiant face to the woman. "I
heard my father's voice!"
"Oh, are you sure, are you sure?"
"Absolutely sure!"
He bent to press his ear to the panel again, when a stifled cry
from his companion brought him swiftly to his feet. The second
door in the room had opened silently, and a small Chinaman, who
carried himself with a stoop, had entered, and now, a menacing
expression upon his face, was quickly approaching the boy.
What he had meant to do for ever remained in doubt, for young
Kerry, knowing his father to be in the house and seeing an open
door before him, took matters into his own hands.
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