The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-11-09
By Sax Rohner
1Copyright BY The North American G

Knowing him did I-sould tell from the suppressed
passion in Smiths voice only by his unhestatins
acceptance OF my friends word and implicit
keeping 1t had Doctor FuManchu escaped just retribu
ton at that moment. Fiend though he admired
his courage; tor all this he, too. have known.
The doctor turned and with the dacoit walked back.
Maryland Smiths next filled with surprise.
Just as silently was thanking God for my
friend began shedding his coat collar and waiscoat
Pocket vaiuabes do the same"' he NUT
tered hoarsely. we have poor chance but
fairly fit Tonight. Petrie. literally have to run for
lives"
We live in peaceful age wherein falls the 10.
of few to their survival neetness of
foot At Smiths in flash that such was
To be fate tonight.
have said that the hulk lay promontory.
East and west then. had nothing hope the
south was Fu-Manchu, and stripped
heavier garments started northward the weird
<gnal of daeoit the night and was answered.
Was answered again.
Three leastr' Smith; three armed dacoi,s
Hopeess"
Take the revolver" cried. smith, it's"
No he raped through clenched teeth. "a servant
of The crown in the east makes his motto: Keep your
word though it break neck, don't think need
fear Its being used against avoids noisy
methods"
So back ran, over the course by which earlier we
had come 1t was roughly. mile TO the buildng-a
deserted cottage and another quarter to that
occupied Our chance of meeting living soul other
than FH-Manchu's dacoits. practically nil.
At first We ran easily for IT the half 1nls
VINO pafsoed us ran like panihers knew; and darei
not allow my mind dwell upon yellow ngures
with the curved. cleaning knives. long time
neither If US looked
on we Tan-and sienty-doggedly.
Then kissing breath from Smith me wha, to
expect
resist the horrible fascination
threw quick glance over my shoulder
ana never while l live shall forget what ".
Two or the pursuing daccs their fellow
Cor fellows, and were actually yards of us
More like dreadful animals they looked than human
beings, running forward with their faces curousiy
he Hight
teeth as could see, even at that distance
quick agonized glance upon
shaped knives
"As hard you can 90 nowr painted Smith we
must-make atenptfo break into the empty cottage
Only chance"
had never in my younger days been q notable run
ner; fot Smith speak. But confident tnat
the next half mile done time would
dissraced crack Not again did either OF
look back Yard upon raced together.
My heart seemed 10 be bursting throb5ei
With pain Al last with the empty cottage In sight
came to that pass with three yards
Looked unattaaaAl three t-A--te-e- Stumbled
My God" came from Smith weakly
But recovered myself Bare feet battered close
heels. and painting breaths how even Fa-Man-
chus hloodhounds hard TO by the killing
we had made.
smith, whispered. Look front Some onet'
AS through a had a shape
itself from the shadows cottage merge
Into them again 1t only dacoi,;
smith not needing hearing family whispered
words crashed open the gate and hurled himself onAy
the door
burst open before him with a resoundng boom.
pitched forward interior darkness Fat
upon the floor lay. with effort. gained
the threshold and dragged myself within almost ted
over hts recumbent body
Mady snatched a the held open.
kicked the foot away and banged the door to. AS
turned the leading daco his starting
sockets his face the face Of demon eaped through the
gateway
That smith had burst assured. but ~
divine accident my weak nal
WITH the last strength spared
in HE full six of chi n4r
steel Spite the middle panel and protruded above
dropped sprawng beside friend
blow shattered every pane OF glass in
solitary window, and one of the grinnins animal faces
looked in,
Sorry. OH man" whispered smith his voice
barely Weakly he srasped my hand Ny
/ shouldnt-have let you come"
From the corner OF the where the black shadows
fcked a long tongue fame Muaied staccA,o.
came the report And the yellow The window ~sa
botted
one wild cry. ending in rafting gasp told OF a
daeoit his gray figure giided mo
and was silhouetted against the broken window Again
the pistol message night and
reply tell nov truly
had been delivered
In stiffness by sharp contrast the sound
OF bare soles patterng the path outside stole to me
Two ught there were, four dacots
have upon trai. The fun OF
pungent smoke staggered TO feet the gray hg-
ure with the revolver turned toward me Something
familiar there In that long garment and now
| perceived why had thought
1t my raincoat.
1 whispered.
Smith, supporting himself upright with difnctty,
holding the ledge beside the door. muterei
something hoarsey. which sounded like God bless her"
The girl. trembling now. placed her hands upon my
shoulders with that quaint pathetic gesture peculiarly
her
followed you" said Ibid you !
should follow you? But hide because Of n.
other following also had but just reached
this place when you running toward me-
She broke off and turned to Smith.
This is pistol she said naively II found 1t IN
your bag Win you please take it7''
He took without word. Perhaps he could
himself speak.
Now go. Hurry she said. You not safe yet"
But your / asked.
You have faedst she replied II must so back
him There Is nc other way
Strangely sick at heart a has just had .
from DEATH opened the door Coat
less disheveled figures friend and stepped cut into
the moonlight
Hdeous under the pale lay the two dead men