The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-12-18

be any business for the natives after
that. They would starye nliserabiy
for awhile. and then one by one they
would take their families and struggle
OF to some other district where work
might be had. +
Bassett regretted his folly In erecting
his mills at distance from the city
As a matter Of fact, he was nearer the
old native city of Shanghai than he
was to the aourishing foreign metrop-
oils. He had always found his own
men trustworthy. and with young
Jack Hall, his assistant in the office.
he had felt capable of withstantltng
any ordinary riot among his work
men.
As he studied the paper he realized
that the discomfort had grown to such
proportions that he must seek out
side help. His bungalow was situated
not stones throw from the factory.
and I'm the next room young Hall was |
snoring m,isically
What the dickens did the paper
| mean?
There was soft padding OF bare
feet on the floor, and Bassett ieaped to
his height. snatching at revolver as
he did so The light died out at the
snn,c instant He waited. tense and
breathless. for what might happen
Then came welcome voice, All Eng.
lish speaking voice, TINT Of Jack Hall,
/ "Rassett ?" he whispered.
."Oh. It's you, Jackr' Bassett finished
on the light to assure himself that It
| was his countryman who had spoken:
then he beckoned to the other to come
and sit down on the white mating
beside him. Their hacks were nroppcd
against the wall, and there was no
i window on that side OF the room.
i Once more Rassett turned the fash
on the red paper. what do you make
OF that:" he asked
Jack Hall studied the three circles
Tor an instant and then said quietly.
put her out now" aud when they
were in darkness he continued: This
is my own solution Of the secret mes.
sage. The outer circle represents the
walled city The second one Indicates
certain district in that city. and the
inner circle means the identical group
Of houses in which something Is ex-
pected to happen"
? .sThat something is my death. OF
course" said Bassett quietly.
Il .That's what they will try for re-
T turned Hall grimly .'The yellow dot
has meaning also
: .Fve thought OF that. suppose y
: Indicates what section Of the old city
/. ii referred to- One might swing q
: circle In almost any quarter
.Then you don't know as much
= about the old rabbit warren as do
Asa" interrupted Hail. 'Thcre is
d place In the old city. over toward th'
u western gates. where. Il you wers
Is aloft in balloon. you could look dowi
# and see that the buildings beneath yo'
Is were ranged III n complete circle; tha
= within that circle was Il smaller ont
4 composed OF buildings OF red brick AM
that the inner circle was green tile'
i houses.
ID "What does the yellow dot repre-
b sent?'' asked Rassctt impatientIy.
n. .sThc house OF DEATH" was Halls n
IL pIy. "It.s small building Of yelloy
Is tile. and there Is saying that who
et ever goes within never comes out "
y "Never comes ont alive, you mean. !
e. sDead or alive. he yanisfles as con
I'd pletely as Il he had never existed
u .s.What Is your theory Jack
=. .Give 1t up unless It's deep we
Of or sewer that runs down to the rive
. But who ever heard Of q Chinese cit
be possessing nm underground sewer 2"
ID ..What do yon know about It? Ho
I'd did yom come to be 50 familiar wit
MT the dark phases Of that wicked o.
nd holc?" asked Bassett curionsly
y "Ianier showed me around" said Z
Is young man briefly.
nc .Tanier. / forgot Jean La,licr. He
Just the chap to help out In m affair
q this sort / wonder what Il the seer
4 OF his influence with the natives
unused Bassett
i "A desire for gain, Asa. Tie told
I the other day that there Is no barsa
Fl he would not make for = price. ! to
II him to be outside here Mt 2 O'clock al
=, whistle like an owl
l .GoOd boyr. calculated his employ,
N patting tho arm nearest him. The
he goes now never would have q
u pected It Get him inside
ii Presently two pairs Of feet cal
/ softly toward him. and thin.
hand graspcd his for an instant.
Il aWhat do you know. Jean Laniel
y asked Bassett after the first greetiI
were over.
Il know It Is o'clock now. and
thirty minutes more am to dell,
you alive to the Brotherhood Of the
4 .ner Circle said the Frenchm
AZ quickly.
GOOD God. Jean. what do ,
mean?'. breathed Bassett quickly.
snapped on his pocket lamp
= studied the face OF the other m
~ Keen and dark and sharp. with brf
81 black eyes and pointed dark be
~ that covered compressed lips. It wa
face familiar enough to Asa Rass
s- Jean Lanier was man who had
price. aud his services we're In
mand by friend and foe. II was I
ron ally the highest bidder who won
allegiance. He was always neutra
his feeling. and his long years 81
eign among the Chinese had made him
auainted with their ways as no o.
DR. white man ever could be
lase II sold out to the brotherhood.
{ an Bassett.. said lean coolly IT ]
ldcd 49, ard = y,iChor l,iddps 7 rnf1sf I.