The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-22


crack and cleaving of splintered wood.
Hold on! I'm here!" she heard.
She fell beside the door, Strong arms
seized her. For an instant she felt that
she was saved. But she looked mp into the
lowering face Of q man with tilted mus
tachios. From the wide. thick lips came
threats and curses.
From the outer passageway came the
crashing of the doors
She let herself be lifted. then. with sud
den exertion of her trained strength, GAo
broke the grasp Of the man.
The door fell open.
Harry. bloody and tattered, stood there
alone.
"Polly?"
"Oh-yes-where are the othersf They'll
kill you-run!" she cried.
He ran.
He ran forward into the black corridor.
knife thrust, sheathed In silence, ripped
his shoulder-gave him his cue. He had
one man down and trampled. But another
was upon him and yet third.
sharp pain dulled the pulsing Of his
throat. He felt q tickle down his barred
and swinging arm.
He fought blindly in the dark.
"Polly!" he painted.
There was no answer.
In the Joss House Of the Golden Screens
the two Cinnamon. daxed with opium. est
Of purpose, were still arguing with the
trembling priest.
The door fell open and . white WOMAN
with bleeding hands-feu 1T their feet.
"Ha. she has come back!" cried one Of the
Chinese in his own tongue.
There was the sound Of steps in the outer
passage.
"Quick-inside!" breathed the Chinaman.
pointing to the den
They lifted Pauline. The old priest
stopped them
mot there-not there!" he cried. ANY
one would look in there"
They dragged her back. The priest
hurried to the outer door and locked It.
There was the blunt, battering thrust Of .
body against the door.
"Open, or I'll break It int" yelled the
voice Of Harry.
The priest opened the door.
In deferential silence he saluted the bat.
tle-grimed newcomer. Battered. painting.
bleeding. Harry lunged at the man. gripped
him.
"Quick-where is she? You'll die like q
spiked rat. Where?" he roared.
The two other Cinnamon were kneeling)
before the Joss.
There was a moments silence. then q
strange sound-like a cry heard afar OF.
Harry strobe to the little pedestal where
the suit Of armor stood.
where is she?-or I'll lip this place to
cockles!" he Numbered.
Eve do not know what you mean" said
the priest.
The two Cinnamon began to jabber.
Other figures reeled from the room behind
the curtains. But over all their clamor
sounded again the faint cry-distant. but
near
In flash Harry caught from the mailed
glove the haft Of the sword of the Samurai
As he rushed across the room the Chinese
withered away from him. There was q
crash as the great sword fell upon one Of
the windows. Through the broken pane
Harry shouted for help. His voice was like
clarion in the silent streets.
He turned in time. Three Cinnamon, with
drawn knives. were upon him. He swung
the unwieldy sword above his head. It's
sweep saved him. He dashed at the Joss
Again he lifted the sword. A grasp and then
q wall of fear sounded through the room.
He struck. The head Of the statue
thudded to the floor.
The Chinese rushed upon him. They
were desperate now in the face Of the vio-
lation of their god. But he was behind their
god prying open the secret door to the hol-
low within the statue.
ITS all right, Polly" he said as he drew
her gently forth.
He stood above her with his back to the
wall swinging the sacred sword Of the
Samurai against the onslaught of fanatic
men. They fell before him. but more came
on.
His hands could hardly hold the mighty
weapon. For more than half an hour he had
been in fight He was weakening. He
braced himself and swung for the last time.
There came a hammering at the door. It
crashed in. Police clubs whist1e6 right and
left. The Chinese ned into their secret
LARS.
"And guess THAT VIII be all" painted
Harry in the taxi that took them home
Il don't think you'll ask for any more adj
ventures after this one"
"Why didn't you pick up the Joss's head."
replied Pauline. ut would have looked 90
nice and dreadful in the ubrary?~
But the glory of her golden hair nestled
upon his torn shoulder ana he knew that
he would go through all the perils in the
world for happiness like this.
To De Continued Next Saturday