The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-19

..r have seen Lionel Barton" he said,
"and to put the whole thing in q nutshell. ne
has laughed During the months that have been
wondering where he had gone to- he has been some
where in Egypt He certainly bears charmed life.
for on the evidence Of his letter to the has
things in Tibet which Fu-Aanchu would have the
blind to; in fact think he has found new Key
hole to the gate of the Indian Empire!
Smiths darkly tanned had grown ieaner than
since he had begun his fight with the most un-
canny opponent suppose, against whom man eve.
pitted himsef-Doctor Fu-Manchu He stood UP and
began restiessly to the room. furiousy stumns
tobacco into his briar.
Long we had placed the name OF Sir Lionel bar
upon the list those whose lives stood between
Fu-Manchu and the attainment of his end orien'ast
and explorers the fearless traveller who first mad pehe
uated to Lassa who thrice as pilgrim. had entered
forbidden Mecca he had turned his attention again
TO Tibet. thereby signing his own death warrant
That he has reached England alive 10 . hopeful
hgnT suggested,
Smith lighted the blackened brtar
England present is the Web he replied. The
spider will be waiting Petrie. sometimes despair
Sir Lionel Ia impossible to shepherd You ought
to his house F1nchey A low. squat place COM
pletey heraned in by trees. Damp swamp. smells
like jungle. Everything topsy-turvy. He only ar
rived today and he is working and eating land sleep
ing expect in study that looks like earthquake
Ut Sothebys auction rooms. The rest OF the house Is
half menagerie and half cirousi He has a Bedeuin
groom. Chinese body and heaven only knows
what other strange people"
Chinese
"Yes-r saw him. a squirting Cantonese he calls
Kwee don't like him. Also. there Is secretary
known ssrozza. who has unpleasant face. He Is
fine inguist. understand. and is engaged the
Spanish for Bartons forthcoming book the
Mayapan temples. BY Sir L4oners baggage
disappeared from the landing including his Tbetan
notes.
"ssnhoantr'
"of course But he that he has crossed Tibet
from the Kuenlun the HifnaIayas without being
sssassinated therefore tina, is unlikely ne will
meet with that fate in London left him debating the
uie"'
He wasting time!'
Wasting timel In addition the Yucatan book and
the work on Tibet he has to read paper at the In
stute week about tomb he has unearthed IN
Egypt AS came away. van drove up from the
docks and couple of fellows delivered saroophasus as
bis boat 1t Is unique. according to Sir Lionel.
and will to the British Museum after he has
amined 1t. The Grams six months work into six
weeks. then he is of again"
What do you propose to dor
What 1 that MancAu will
a him. cannot doubt It Ughl that
house gave the shudder~! No sunlight. III swear.
Petre can ever penetrate TO the rooms and when i
arrived this afternoon. clouds Of gnats foated like
wherever stray beam filtered through the trees
OF the avenue There's seaIny smell about the place
that Is almost malarious and the whole Of the
front is covered with sort OF monkey creepe which
he has imported at some time or other 1t has close
perfume tina. quite In the picture tai
the place made for murder,"
Have you taken precautonsT"
Il called In at Scotland Yard and sent a down
watch the house, but
He shrugged his shoulders heiplsssly.
VIVA, Is Str Lionel nke7"
"A mailman. Petrei A tail. massive man. wearing
dirty dressing gown neutral color: a
tidy hair and brtsting mustaehe keen blue
and a brown skin who wears a short beard or rarely
shaves-I don't know which, left him strding about
among the thousand and curosities OF that IN
credible picking his through antique turnt-
works OF reference. manuscript. mtnies
pottery. and what rsotsometmes kicking book from
his stumbling stuffed crocodile or
Mexican mack alternately debating and oonversingi
Phewt"
For some time we were silent
Smith," said we making headway in this
business With all the forces arrayed against him. Fu-
Manchu still eludes still his deviiish. In
scrutahle way
Maryland Smith nodded
And don't know ALL" he said I'VE mark such
and such alive to the yellow peril. and
hiui-.it Perhaps he escapes. per-
haps he does know. Petrie
those others who may die every week by his murder
Gus agency. We cannot know every enc who has read
the riddle of China a report of some
found drowned, Of apparent suicide. OF sudden
though seemingly death. without wonderngl
tell you Fa-Manchu is omnipTesent his tentacles
brace everything said that Sir Lionel
charmed life. The fact that alive is miracier'
He glanced at his watch
Nearly ELEVEN" he said. But sleep seems waste
OF tine-apart from its dangers"
We heard bell ringing. A few moments later fol-
lowed knock at the room door.
Come I'M" cried.
girl entered with a telegram addressed to Smith.
His Jaw looked very square lampiight. his
shone like steel he took from her and opened
the envelope He glanced at the form. stood and
passed 1T reaching his which lay my
writing table.
God help US pesrier' he said
This was the message
4 onse 'n'' A''n WErMoTTH me n aa ri aS0'
Although avoided unnecessary delay. 1t
close midnight when cab swung round into
darkiy Swallowed at the farther end which.
through tunnel the moonlight gittered upon
the windows Rowan House, Sir Lionel Barton's
Stepping before the porch long, squat
building. II banked Smith
by trees sTrubs The facade showed mantled In
tho exotic which he had mentioned and
pungert with odor OF decaying vegea-
tionsswh which mingled the heavy perfume OF the
little boomed luxuriantly upon
the creeper
The place looked veritable wilderness. and when
wsrs admitted the hall by Inspector Weymouth.
for the bail was constructed from the model OF some
the low seats the hangings all eloquent Of neg
lect being thcly dust coated The musty smell
AZ pronounced here outside beneath the
literary the floor the detective conducted
Good heavensr' I cried. whats that"
Soanothnx a
silently the Uttered and passed from
y library like a I IL
startled Inspector Weymouth laughed dryly.