The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1915-03-12
CHAPTER XII.
Crossed Wires.

kNiSI56NI Wah's unpretentious door
- way the taxi with the hotel
detective and John Dorr drew up in a
side street and stopped.
1T was here they left me- said the
chauffeur sulkily
The detective and John got out and
stared about them. They were in the
lower part of Chinatown, single tier
Of blocks that stretched beyond the
bounds toward the bay-not in the
quarter, but Of it.
(which way did they take the girl p
said the practical detective.
The driver led them around the cor
ner and up an alleyway. He pointed
to Sing Wah's door. II think they
went in there" he muttered.
'Ahv' said the detective thoughtful
ly. when l was on the police force
l used to know that Chinaman. He's
the smoothest rascal in America, bar
none"
John gritted his teeth in helpless
rage And she's in that fiends foul
clutches" he groaned aloud.
At this moment a policeman came
along and accosted Johns companion
Familiarity. In few words the case
was explained to him.
''You won't find anything, Of course, :"
the officer remarked. But just for
satisfaction let's have look-see and a
chin-chin with Sing Wah."
They entered the shop just as Chi
nese was closing a panel door after
Drake, who had come to make his
promised attempt to win Ruth's conf
dence. Sing Wah was nowhere to be
seen.
After some futile parley With the
Chinese. whose ignorance was com
plete in every detail, the two officers
agreed that they were wasting time.
'"Old Sings the boy to see,'' said
the house detective. Lets wait
awhile"
Now, Sing Wah had pondered the
affair during the night, and the more
he thought over having lovely white
girl in the cylindrical room the less
he liked it. 1t was deadly dangerous
Courts might be lenient with the SNUG
gler and the go-between. Sing Wah
knew that if even suspicion got
abroad that a young white woman was
imprisoned in his quarters a ravening
mob would tear his place stick from
stone and hang him without trial. He
was determined to get the girl away
immediately. So he was unfeigne(1ly
glad to see Drake.
Drake attempted to explain what
Wilkerson wanted, but the Chinese cut
him short.
'Harry is INSANE" be said quietly.
"He is mad over that woman. | have
done all can. You must get her out
of here"
But how?" demanded Drake. "She
doesn't know me very well, and she'll
scream her head off, and III be arrest
ed, and Wen all be in 4 muss."
Sing Wah nodded thoughtfully
Then he looked up and listened to the
low words of one of his clerks. Dis
missing him with a single grunt, he
turned to Drake.
''There's not much time," he said
softly. ''They are on the trail al,
ready"
"WhoY'
'aThe police" He motioned Drake to
a chair in the little alcove, where they
stood and went on: ''Stay here a mo-
ment. l will see for myself" He
pulled a lever, and the room swung
around till the door was opposite him
With long. slender fingers he Slipped
back the panel and vanished.
Ruth lay on couch. open eyed and
white faced. Beside her a richly dress
ed Chinese woman crouched. whisper
ing ,soothingly. At sight of Sing Rutt
Gallon suddenly sat upright in silen,
horror
Il beg your pardon. MISS" Sing sale
in his silkiest English. 81 have come
to take you back to your friends out
| side.' -, .: a..
The girl shrank back. mo, no, nor
she moaned. 'They are not my
friends"
Surely Harry Wilkerson''- Sing
suggested craftily. to see how the land
lay. ~S>'.- 1.#
"Wilkerson" she whispered. rs he
was he here?" .-...
Her tone conveyed all that he wished
to know. He motioned to the woman
to leave and when she was gone pulled
a. cord, which let down Light rope