The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-03-11

He had picked up this bit of informa- l ton on one of his vacation trips This then was the solution. The lit tie Chinese woman before him was impersonating her twin brother the 'gleat actor
 What would happen?" asRe Chester, eff they should find it out ?'
 The Chinese priest had been watch | ing his ia ce, and had noted the look | of understanding. His comprehen- sion of English was better than his 1 efforts at speaking it. His answer in this case was terse indeed.
 "Pop:" he said. | "Pop?" queried Chester. l "Ye-eh. Pop!" l Chester looked blank. ''Try again." he urged. l The priest glanced about him, and 1 lowered his voice.
 "NIaybeso Hip Sing Tong meet On leon Tong," he said. ''Pop!'
 Chester had read at times in the l between Hip Sing Tong and the On Leon Tong, and knew what happen ed when the two met. In the United States the long blue barre1ed Colt re- volversa have replaced the hatchet of l their native land.
 Lust goes to show," he observed, that bit of Knowledge is never ] wasted. You don't mean pop You 1 mean bang"
 The Chinaman gazed at him un- blinkingly.
 ''Not 'pop'," said Chester. "Rang!" He IeveIied a forefnger at the priest.
 "Ye-eh,'' said the latter. "Popp
 Have it your own way,'' said Ches- ter resigned1y. @.As I understand it, the young lady is in danger of being shot if anyone discovers. that she is not her twin brother. That probably accounts, for her solitary boudoir OF the roof. But what if someone should find it as I did? What would hap pen %
 s'Pop!' said the Chinaman.
 Exactly. Well, now, if she will rent me the pagoda they would have to pop me first. Sabe?'
 The priest turned to the little woman who had been ,an attentive
 
 gether.
 Sounds like cat fight cogitated Chester.
 Presently the priest turned to him again
 ''How much you pay?'' he inquired. ''How much will pay?'' exclaim- ed Chester. How much will she pay for the protection?"
 ''You lich?" queried the priest
 'tNo. said Chester. 'I am not rich''
 Another spirited consultation took place. The little actress appeared to 'z.7 ''Maybesoz you eat?" the priest asked suddenly.
 ''No," replied Chester. ''I don't expect to for some time to come. l am blowing all my cash available for food on the hippopotamus in Central Park
 .tNo can,'' the priest said suddenly.
 Chester bowed to the Dream Lady gravely. There was a sound of ap preaching feet on the stairway, and the latter ducked suddenly under the big round umbrella of state. Nothing but her extremities encased in loose mauve silk trousers were visible. Chester had not hitherto noticed that her costume approximated that of a man. He placed himself in front of the umbrella, as two tall Chinamen ws slked in. Chester stood watching 1 as they talked in queru1ous high pitched tones with the priest. One of them walked around the end of the teak wood carving near the um- brella, and Chester's muscles tight 1 ened fnstinctive1y. The Chinaman | reached out a sinewy yellow hand as If to touch the fringe of the urn- brella. Chester grasped it in vise- like grip. At the same instant he i was startled by the deep boom of the red, barrel-shaped gong. The six foot Chinaman wrenched away. Tn another instant they had both dis appeared down the stairway. Ches- ] ter gazed about him in bewi1derment as minute after minute passed, and there were no further developments. "Great Scott!'' he muttered, "I seem to have constituted myself per- sonal bodyguard to a Chinese actress, or rather a Dream Lady, because the former doesn't exist. Am stacked up against two powerful Chinese tongs? really ought to get a free lodging out of this, especially as haven't money enough. to buy a re- voIver.'
 Gro be contfnuedD