The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-01-20
By John Fleming Wilson
COPYRIGHT. 1914. ~ JOHN FLEMING WILSON

AS they passed out the detective con-
tinued hesitatingly, DO you know Mrs,
DarnelI very well?"
There was that in the mans tone
that made John pause before answer
ing. He glanced mt the cool. impas-
siye face and caught the CLINT OF the
steady eyes. He tool; sudden resolu'
ton.
I II believe you're really interested in
this matter" Dorr said briefly. "Snp-
pose we talk this over before hunting
the taxi chauffeur"
/ II was merely curious. that's ALL
was the noncommittal murmur.
"That girl is not her daughter" John
continued. II have reason to believe
that 1t is Miss Ruth Gallon the heir
ess to the Master Key mine. whom she
is abducting." His passion blazed
forth in spite OF his self restraint. II
must find her and save her"
"llight ] ask what relation you are
to the young ledy?'' asked the detsc-
tive mildly.
John stared at him and then realized
the oddity Of his actions and words.
He briefly explained his position ut the
mine and his wardship Of the heiress.
He also went into detail as TO what he
suspected Wilkerson Of, describing him
carefully.
HE was one Of them. sure enough.
agreed the detective. But young heir.
esses amt being KIDNAPPED days like
these out Of hotels like this"
Il may be mistaken" John assented
YEARLY. "All l know of Mrs. Darnell
IL from occasional words dropped by
Wilkerson. But suppose we might
get clew US to where they went any
way"
After some search of the long line of
taxis they came to one which the de
tective identified as the one Mrs. l'ar-
nell Ind taken the night before.
Driver. take US where you did those
fares who were in such hurry last
night" the detective ordered.
The chauffeur shook his head. You
can search me for the address" he re-
turned There wasn't any"
The driver leaned out from his seat
and went on earnestly: You know
how they jumped III aud we rolled on.
Well. 1t seemed 1t was case Of life
and death. according to the woman.
and stepped on the machine and
hastened some toward the North Pa
cific hospital. But when we got into
Chinatown one Of the men hailed me
and told me to drive just rs he said
He got out here in front with me. and
when we reached certain spot they
all beat it."
''Can you take us to that spot?"
II was just wondering to- myself
whether l could find It.. was the re.
spouse. But I'll try"
He threw in his clutch and the car
left the line and started up the hill
toward California street. John Dorr
leaned back against the cushions with
a strange sense Of ut last being OH bis
way toward his goal. He barely heard
his companions murmur, "Evidently
they took her into the lower part OF
Chinatown"
We usually credit the oriental with
little or no Imagination. pointing to
his art, his clothes and his language as
evidences. AS the fact runs. even the
Chinese coolie uses the faculty OF
Imagination more frequently than his
white brother on IN equal social plane.
Sing Wah. or Wah Sing. as he was
indiderently called. was outwardly II
stOlid, dull eyed Chinese Of uncertain
middle age. His picture-it was In the
gallery OF every secret service office
from Singapore to Philadelphia-was
not less chanseless Of expression. nor
more teciturn than he. Yet IN spite of
his. scInber clothes and general air of
blank stupidity, Sing Wah was a man
Of mark. Il man with history replete
with adventure and. not too seldom
with crime.
II the ordinary criminal could have
an Office or Il store he would quadruple
his profits. But the common run Of
rascals must steal and fly. Their post
office address Is pigment. They are
not ut home when opportunity knocks.
Sing Wah knew this, and It was his
boast that for thirty years any one
who wanted him. either day OR night.
could find him.
So he sat ut the back Of his little
store night after night. blinking
through the wooden screen ut the va
rious customers who came in TO trade
or barter. And year after year they
came to his door. the pirate and t!,.
thief. the smuggler and tue robber, and
he took his toll Of them and passed
them on. Whittier? Sing Wah never
told. And because be did not tell they
came back with greater loot and rich
er booty, and lie again passed them
through his store to vanish utterly
from the haunts Of men and the pur-
view of the police.
Among the many hundreds who had
availed themselves OF Sing Wah:s aid
was Wilkerson, who, during dark pc
RODS OF his career. had several times
run athwart the barriers OF the law
and been compelled to seek refuge
where he could.
Harry WiIkerson was not fool. In
some wars be was brilliantly endowed.