Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-03-25

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"
81 may be mistaken" John assented
YEARLY. "All know of Mrs. Darnell
is from occasional words dropped by
Wilkerson. But suppose we might
get clew rs to where they went any
way"
After some search of the long line OF
taxis they came to one which the de-
tective identified us the one Mrs. OAR
nell had 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 in and we rolled off.
WE'LL it seemed 1t was case Of life
and death. according to the woman,
and stepped on the machine and
fastened 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 III 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
strange sense Of at last being on his
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 an equal social plane.
Sing Wah, or Wah Sing, as he was
indifferently called. was outwardly
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 changeless of expression. nor
more teciturn than he. Yet in spite of
his scmber clothes and general air of
blank stupidity, Sing Wah was man
of mark, man with history replete
with adventure and. not too seldom
with crime.
If the ordinary criminal could have
an office or store he would quadruple
his profits. But the common run of
rascals must steal and fly. Their post
office address is n Pigment. They are
not at 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 at 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 the
thief, the smuggler and the robber, and
he took his toll Of them and passed
them on. Whittier? Sing Wah never
told. And because he did not tell they
came back with greater loot and rich
er booty. and he 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 Wtlkerson was not fool. In
some ways he was brilliantly endowed.
He recognized Sing Wah's superiority
to all others in the great game of out
whiting the law. He perceived beneath
the stolid mask the alert, active, stu.
dlous mind which was ever vigilant,
never forgetful. always intelligently
watching the world that passed before
his filmed eyes. The Chinese had, as
well, acknowledged Wilkerson's adept
ness and persistency. In several deals
they had been partners to their mutual
profit.
You are a very good fellow. Har-
ry." Sing Wah had told him once as
they drank tea in little room in the
rear. You are smart man-aimost
as smart us am. But you are too
(, hungry. You cannot resist your appe-
tiles. Now. The made slight GEES
ture of distaste with his lean brown
hand-"I have no appetites."
| Wilkerson nodded. II guess you're
right. Sing Wah. You even haven't
any pride. You talk pidgin English to
the tourists and the rest. instead of
!! s:,ealsing the perfect English you
know
The dull eyes lit for moment hui
morously. II have always felt that
I owed it to Oxford not to haunt my cd
| ucation In small bridesmaids shop.
don't you know"
! The imitation of the Oxonian drawl
had been so natural that Wilkerson
had slapped his thighs in delight.
Thereafter he took peculiar pleasure
in watching Sing Wah's assumed silent
stupidity and comparing 1t with what
he knew to be the real person behind
the dull features.
1t was to Wilkerson that the Chi
nese had explained his reason for new
err changing his address. no matter
how brisk the nnlica MIGHT no MAnd