Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1914-07-31

opened Il under the light OF the even
ing lamp.
Good Wah Lee" she sighed. az she
united the red silk cord that securely
bound II In It's wrapptngB Of thick Chi
nese yellow paper.
At last silN camo to a square lacquer
Cd box. She lifted the I'D and discov-
cred a small bronze incense burner.
She lifted the cover and discovered a
few pale yellow pastifles in the bottom
OF the vessel.
As she examined the curious incense
burner from the mysterious land where
her husband had disappeared she felt
a vague uneasiness-as II she were not
alone.
ut Il my foolish imagination. I be-
teve / am growing nervous she said,
trying to laugh on the unpleasant SEN
Bation.
She could not see that at one win
dow, where the shade had swung away
from tho pane, permitting a glimpse OF
the room from the outside, there shone
two beady black eyes that watched her
increasingly. So intent was the hyp-
motto stare that she was quite uncon-
scious that It influenced her to take the
bronze incense burner from the box
and to remove all the pastilles except
one.
She touched a match to the pastine
and sat down In a deep chair.
A trail OF blush smoke curled up
from the incense burner. She watched
its lazy convOlutions, inhaling the pun
gent odor Of sandAlwood and patchouly.
Helen felt a drowsiness stealing over
her. She tried TO shake II on, but in
vain. Her eyes stu watched the drift
ing smoke when 1t began to take form
and shape before her until she sleepily
realized that she was witnessing a
scene set amid the blush vapor Of the
smoke.
Then, like a knife thrust, something
told her that this scene was taking
place for some reason; It wal telling
her something-sOmething about David,
her missing husband.
She saw the quay Of a foreign city.
Chinese coolies ran to and fro with
burdens on their bare brown backs.
She saw many people streaming along
-ghostly passengers carrying hand
luggage. She just gllmpsed faint out
lines Of faces, that was oil. Among
them one lowered. tall and broad
shouldered- It was David. His face
was clear to her. Perhaps her very
intensity Of feeling brought out the In
distinct features. He vas carrying q
black leather bag and swinging along.
In the distance was the glimpse Of a
busy street, many modern stone build.
lngs, with here and there a pointed,
tiled roof. It was like watching a
moving picture show.
She saw some one-a coole-pluck-
ing at David's sleeve. some n who
showed him a bit Of paper, some one
who hurried him into a waiting jim
rikisha. The scene drifted into a
change. The jinrikisha was whirling
along a beautiful boulevard. On one
side was a glimpse Of a-swiftly flowing
river crowded with craft Of all descr1p-
lions, a hutter Of the stars and stripes,
a ripple Of the Union jack, the BAN
boo sail OF a sampan, the fitting bulk
OF a great Chinese junk. On shore the
sight OF many Chinese betrayed that
she was watching her husbands ar
rival In Shanghai
But where was he going3 She knew
that the hotel was near the quay and
that this beautiful boulevard was none
other than the world famous ''bund'
Of the foreign settlement Of Shanghai
The bund followed the river through
the different concessions - American
English, French-unul It ended at the
arched and frowning gate that led int
the ancient, walled city OF nativI
Shanghai
And David was going there. TIL
ricksha halted q moment ut the gate
then disappeared under its dark arch
way.
Again the scene changed
She saw an old stone temple N 1
mean street. Ragged beggars impor
tuned worshipers who passed In ant
out The ricksha whiried into view
David jumped out, stu with the biacl
bag and in earnest conversation wit
one OF the rickshA men, who appear
ed to be explaining something to tn
big American.
They entered the temple. and afte
them streamed the company Of beg
gars, silently. as II afraid OF beinI
seen. Strange to say, the rIcksha mel
who were leading David did not driv,
them back. Were they accomplicesf
A scene within the temple now
grim idols In the background. inceRs
drifting up, tall prayer screens nea
the votive tables. David hurryiDg tc
ward a dim corner where there was
doorway. They were past the dooI
way now and climbing a narrow high
OF stone steps. Helen saw It all.
Up, up. with David in the lead an
the ricksha men behind. and traiiin
after them like a company OF vulture
crept the counterfeit beggars. Heie
knew now that they were ~assassins 1
disguise. She also knew that Davi
could have vanqUished the two uel