The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1911-09-13
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- THE -
BL LACK
!: DAGGER
A Story Of China
3, dARiSSA MAoIE
Copyri<ht ~ American Press Asso-
citation, 1a11.
A Story Of China
3, dARissA MAolE
copyright ~ American Press AssO-
citation, 1a11.

cihc liner Tropico, and from the frst
attraction of congenial natures there
developed a warm personal liking.
Garland was from the state OF Maine,
and Harpeth was q SON OF California
Out Of 100000 human souls fate
had drawn these two. one from the
east and the other from the west. to
play the principal parts In . strange
incident
They had left the fairy islands OF
Japan far behind and were drawing
near to the fat outline Of the China
coast @s
-Are You going 30 stop over in
ghanghai7'' asked Garland, with a
touch of Yankee inquisitiveness
Haven't heard You say"
There was q little pause while Har-
peth's eyes sought the rising coast line
Possibly" He clipped the word
rather sharply.
Garland glanced at him curiously
you know really didn't mean to pry
into your AFFAIRS" be said apologetical
Iy. Its rather a natural question Tor
one tourist to ask another"
surely; no harm DONE" returned
Harpeth quickly. How about your
self-you going to stop overr
It was Garland's turn to show embar-
rassment The quick look Of Inferno
RntIon he flashed at his companion
was met by Harpeth's expression OF
Ianguid Indifference It was quite
plain that Harpeth had asked the ques'
ton merely to make conversation, not
that be cared a rap about the matter.
maybe I'll stop over to see the city"
said Garland A5a
Clumsy junks came lettering over
the sea toward the mouth OF the
Yangste. but the Tropico left them
far behind as she steamed up to her
anchorage or wusung and landed her
eager passengers on to the little trans
fer tugs that would convey them up
the tributary tidal river. the Huangpu.
90 hospitable Shanghai.
In the crowd Garland and Harpeth
missed each other. accidentally or by
design. Garland could scarcely walt
for the tug to make her landing at the
1etty before he was on and swinging
away up the bund toward the hotel
OF his choice.
The electric lighted hotel. with its
air of western luxury mingled with
It's quiet eastern service, impressed the
Yankee wanderer most favorably, and
he retired to his room and bath. whis-
ting cheerfully at the prospect Of the
excellent dinner that he was sure
awaited him below.
But when the meal was concluded
and he had enjoyed the gastronomic
delights which his fancy had conjured
M he retired to the smoking room to
pore over q queer little map drawn
with brush strokes OF india ink on
notified tissue paper.
II was an hour after midnight when
he left the hotel and made his way
along the bund to where a flight OF
stone steps led down to the river.
Here were several sampans moored to
the landing, and the coolies tmmedi-
ately fell to fighting for his patronage.
He settled the matter by stepping into
one of the little boats. and. being
bounced upon by it's delighted owner
he was soon padded out into the
stream. which glistened In the moon
Hight like molten silver.
''Kaoyang! SabeT' he cried sharply
The coolie nodded his head and
whirled the sampan about until II
headed up stream. For a mile he pad
died steadily with his long sweep-like
oar and then suddenly ran the boat II
between high banks on the north shore
and grounded In the mud.
As II guided by some invisible hand
he who could not recollect ever having
touched foot on this soil before sough
for and found a narrow path winding
upward to where a ruined temple
crouched among group Of distorted
wind blown cedars. The moon sen
long rays down and here and there
pierced the secret places with an FLU
minating touch. 1t showed Garland
the outline OF a dark arched opening
and he made for Il fearlessly.
Just before he reached It he drew
from his pocket the little map he had
studied earlier In the evening and turn
ed the flash from his pocket light upor
It.
Pocketing the map and swapping OF
the light to hold 1t In his left hand
while his right hand closed around
q small repeating revolver. Garland
plunged into the opening to fnd him
self In the crooked passage. which wal
lighted down Its length by the moor
which hung above its roofless walls.
On either side OF the white ston'
walls there stood out sharply the littl'
black daggers. which seemed to poin
his way. CHANGING to the right ant
left, he followed their guidance unit
one last circling curve Of the passag
brought him sharply up against an
ether arched opening which gave fortl
n damp, earthly smell. On the ston'
post Of the door was painted anoth"
black dagger pointing downward. Go
land flashed on his lamp and saw 1
wriggling fight Of broken stone step
dropping down into a black pit. Fo
an instant he hesitated. and then. witt
q shrug of his shoulders. he steppe'
forward.
He counted twenty-seven steps In o.
before his feet touched soft earth. ii
extinguished his light for an instan
and tried TO pierce the darkness wit
his eyes
Before he snapped on the light agai
he was startled into rigidity By th
sound of footsteps treading the pai
sage overhead. They came rapid
with sharp, rapping clicks OF leathe
boot heels on stone. This was not th
soft padding of felted native slippers
Il was the tread OF a fearless ma
wearing European footgear or perhaT
American boots like his own.
Garland moved backward and ava
from the steps until his back struc
sharply against cold wall. There b
stood. q part Of the enyeloping blacl
ness, while the footsteps stopped 0
the arched door. and then by the fiar
Of a sputtering candle damned in tn
neck OF a soda water bottle Garlan