Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1915-01-07
TONI Darnelrs credit II must be
said that she rebelicd strongly. But

you've got 70 do the trick"
the stake was too great to risk, and she
bitterly consented TO Wilkerson's has
tiy outlined plan OF hiding Ruth away
somewhere in Sing Wah's precincts I'M
Ill they could once more get their plans
into working order.
Before she would leave the place
she must indeed see Sing Wah himself
"will the girl be safe hereT she de-
manded.
The Chinese looked at her flushed
and passionate beauty I'm silence until
she repeated her question. Then he
said quietly and In his own exquisite
" modulated English: you need have
little fear. The servants are honest
and discreet. And"-he let his eyes
meet hers fully think it is possible
that she is safer now than she has
been for some time. Good night, mad
amp'
While Wilkerson and Mrs. Darnell
had been hurriedly arranging matters
with Sing Wah, Drake had gone in
search of lodgings nearby. He found
them in what had once been a noted
hotel, which had fallen into sad decay.
II was In the faded rooms he engaged
here that the three met to consult on
the future
"The first thing to do is to get hold
Of those deeds and papers she has in
her grip" said Wilkerson. II wonder
you didn't think to get them before
Jean"
The wOman's eyes lit with dull
hatred. but she made no answer. She
watched him fuss with the locks of the
hand satchel which she had indicated
as the one in which Ruth carried her
valuables. When 1t opened and Viii
kerson thrust his clutching fingers
downward into it Mrs. Darnell leaned
forward as If in protest He paid no
attention to her, but continued his
search with ever increasing haste. AT
last he Strengthened up with an oath
SO yenomous and deadly that even
Drake shrank back.
''The deeds aren't here" Wilkerson
said thlckly. "She's hidden them!
"But whereT"
| This question seemed to break Will
kerson's almost steely intensity of pur-
pose. The question put his whole prob
lem before him In two words-but
whereI He shifted his eyes from the
emptied satchel to the curtained win
dow. Instantly there leaped before
him the picture Of the truck turning
slowly over in the gulch, Of the huge
blllow of smoke, Of the little lances OF
DIRE that charged through the dry un-
dergrowth as If to preserve to the
danes their prey. Was 1t for this that
be was a murderer? The curtain blew
inward before some vagrant wind from
the bay, and Wilkerson drew back In
terror.
what is it. Harry?" demanded Mrs
Darnell. instantly taking alarm.
Nothing" he said sullenly. Il was
just thinking of something" He turn
ed on Drake. you've got to do the
trick" he went ON.
'How's thatT" demanded the young
err man.
Wilkerson eagerly formulated his
his plan. ticking off the points on the
tips Of his quivering fingers.
First you're Everett, turned up at
last. You find her.
"Tn Chinatown sneered Drake.
you can easily gain her confidence
aud get hold of the papers, and may
be-
Drake laughed uglily. 81 look like
the kind of joker who would dress up
us banker and then proceed to renew
my clients acquaintance in a Chinese
Joint How am l supposed to know
she's there2 tell you, Wilkerson, that
you can't travel straight, even when II
pays you. Why in Gods name you
ever took that girl to that place OF
Sing Wah's is beyond my eomprehen.
sion. Any place would have been bet
ter. Now you have put the heads Of
all of us In a moose. You know what
people win say when
they'll say nothing" said Wilker-
son furiOusly, and he proceeded once
more to argue that Drake could easily
continue to impersonate Everett and
In that guise carry their scheme TO its
profitable conclusion. In spite of his
eagerness and sophistry he was unable
10 move either Drake or Mrs. Darnell
from their attitude OF frightened con-
tempt. At last Drake agreed to do his
best to make Ruth trust him.
"But | don't like this impersonation
business" he said firmly. 81 might 90
to hotel and hand In my brokers'
card aud ask for an interview, but !
haven't lost my senses"
"Well.p growled Wllkerson. 'just see
to It that you worm out OF her where
those papers are"
CHAPTER XII.
Crossed Wires.