The Republican journal., 1912-11-07
The Spectre Bird.

slowly up the Huangpo river, the steers
man skillfully guiding his unwieldy craft
in and out of the shipping. In the luxu-
rious cabin of the pleasure craft two
Americans were dining with the most
powerful mandarin in northwest China.
Ling To Fey, massive bulk of flesh,
was gorgeous in blue brocade.
At his right hand sat Luke Ponsonby,
million aire promoter of mining indus
tries. His attorney and friend, John
Burnett, sat at the left of the Chinese
potentate.
The attorney knew it required a deli
cate approach of the crafty and super.
stitious official, but after many weeks of
skirmishing he had brought together the
two principals in the transaction. The
evening on the junk was the result:
~ presume your excellency,' said
Burnett. lis prepared to close this mat
ter now. All that remains is for you to
sign this agreement and give Mr.. Pom
sonby receipt for his check, which
covers one-half of the agreed amount.
The remainder will be paid to you at the
the matter may be made public"
in his slow English words. 81 shall be
pleased to discuss the matter when my
secretary appears. Meanwhile we will
enjoy the entertainment.
He clapped his hands, and moment
later wide easements were thrown open,
revealing the flower boat alongside keep
ing pace with the junk's leisurely prog
ress. The lanterns in the cabin were ex-
tinguished, and the three men gathered
about the window to witness the spec
tacle.
Burnett's eyes seemed to pierce the
darkness beyond the lighted boat. His
compelling glance seemed to demand re-
assurance from something that should be
near az hand, and vague anxiety crept
into his watching face as no sign appear
ed.
His eyes finally wandered TO the mas
sive head of the mandarin behind whom
he stood. The glowing ruby in the white
velvet cap seemed to pulsate with some
strange emotion.
After while the mandarin clappeG his
hands, and the singsong boat dropped
astern and was seen no more.
AS the windows were closed and lights
fiared forth Ponsonby drew out his
watch. "The hour grows late, excel.
lency. We wish to return to Shanghai
before midnight" he drawled.
The mandarin smiled blandly. HIS
voice was smooth as silk. II regret
that my villainous secretary has been
left behind in Shanghai. l have dis
patched "a sampan for him, and in the
meantime we will anchor until he ap-
pears. The matter must wait until the
rascal joins u.s."
The two Americans exchanged quick
glances. The lawyer spoke first.
tsTe hot &c ha will dofpr tho
settlement of this matter"
I'VE will await the coming of the
secretary, purred the mandarin softly.
at will avoid future unpleasantness
-" began Burnett with some heat, when
something happened that closed his lips
into rigid line.
Out of the night beyond the closed
windows, so loud that it seemed almost
at his elbow, there came blood freez-
ing scream, followed by splash, chok-
ing gurgle and then dead silence.
"What was that" Burnett asked
sharply.
The mandarin shrugged his fat Shout
ders, and for the first time his eyes fully
opened, and the hatred in their depths
startled the foreigners. ga killing-a
small NATTER" he sneered.
The cry in the night as they passed
through the houseboat city merely serv-
ed to strengthen their belief that up
here, now beyond the confines of the
native city, they wereq quite at the mercy
of the mandarin.
lnstinctively Burnett's hand sought his
hip pocket and came away-empty. HIS
muttered exclamation prompted Ponson-
by to feel for his own weapon, with the
same result. Some time since their ar
bod >f
their revolvers.
Ling To Fey's yellow hand touched
gong beside him and the curtains parted
to admit the recreant secretary, who
DOUBTLESS had been within ten feet of his
master during the entire voyage.
The mandarin uttered few words in
Chinese and the secretary moved swift
ly to the heavy draperies that covered
the walls of the cabin and lifted them
one by one, revealing rows of armed
servants in grim outline against the
carved background. When the Ameri-
cans had counted thirty in all the last
curtain dropped from the hands of the
secretary.
"a holdup for suren' murmured Pom
sonby, drawing small leather covered
book from his pocket. From among
the leaves of cigarette wrappers he
drew a thin folded slip of paper, tore it
in two and passed half to his companion.
"Smoke your last cigarette, Burnett"
he said significantly, offering his tobac-
co pouch.
Burnett smiled sardonically as he deft-
iy rolled a cigarette and watched Ponson-
by do the same. Then as he touched
match to his smoke his glance caught
the malevolent gaze of the mandarin.
Ling To Fey uttered a few sharp
orders and the secretary motioned the
foreigners away from their stand be-
hind the table. Reluctantly they STEP
ped aside, careful that their backs should
be against shattered uncurtained WIN
dow.
The secretary opened wide panel in
the bulkhead, disclosing canopied dais
on which was a gilded and inlaid chair.
On either side of the chair stood one of
the mandarin's retainers, splendid in
purple and silver and bearing tall staff
tipped with red feathers.
A low lacquered table was placed be-
fore the dais and spread with a cloth of
golden tissue. Then the mandarin slow
ly arose and mounted into the chair of
state.
"sons of dogs began the mandarin
politely, because l am merciful ruler
l shall give you an opportunity to die
4L-k Ill l.