Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-08-08
Shared
~ J. v. GIESY 4 J. B. SMITH
Authors Of Semi.Dual Stories
Copyright.
The Frank A. Munsey Co.

$&$S1S&&Sx$x
Ats interior arrangement was mosiiS
Occidental. Its salesw0men wrote
your order or purchase in duplicate
book, and kept record Of their sales
~ precisely as any shop girl down ON
kesrny.
Its floor walker-small, dapper,
Occidental clad-would direct you to
anything you might desire. 1t main
tanned a magnificent tea room upon
the second floor.
| had been in ii dozens Of times
now and then, but never before had l
heard OF Kim Lee as the governing
spirit OF the place. That shows you
how secretiye those people are.
wondered as | stood for moment
before 1t what luck would have in
reaching him today.
Then pressed my lips and made up
my mind that reach him would in
one way or another In way. put
it up to fate TO lead me on from this
point to the end.
went inside the great plate glass
and bronzed front doors. and APP.
preached the dapper little genius who
walked here and there with clasped
hands behind his back.
"One moment, please" said.
He paused. glanced up. and allowed
= blanc smile to grow upon his other.
wise inpassise face. In nome mt he
was all atteL ion toawhat | might re-
Quire.
Yes, madam" he returned in ex-
ceilent English.
u have message message OK
importance--tO deliver" | told him,
sndeavorlng to impress him at the out.
SET so that he might perhaps tell me
what wished. 1T is a message which
! cannot deliver except in person. II
is a message for Kim Lee"
II had asked for paper OF pins 1t
would have been all the same, | sup.
pose Not one muscle in the yellow
face changed under my scrutiny.
Yet fancied that deep down in the
brown eyes which met mine fully
little something stirred, looked Wy
quickly, and dropped its head.
Kim Lee, madam" he questioned
softly-"who is Kim Lee?"
Surely YOU must know" sug.
gssted, smiling as though very certain
OF what l was saying. He is the
man who controls this great bust
ness"
He shook his head.
T am afraid there is some mis-.
take" he responded. 4 am sorry.
Madam must have the wrong store in
mind
But those narrow-lidded eyes were
not quite steady, and / knew he was
lying.
"See," l said quickly. II under
stand that Kim Lee is not known az
the owner OF this business, but I know
for l was told before was sent, and
the message is one Of Importance"
Even your Oriental has the human
failing OF curiosity. | thought the
little man wavered.
"And did not the one who sent,
madam, tell her how to reach this
Kim l.ee?' he inquired.
only to come here and say what
] have" | returned. ALSO, that 1t
might be denied that there was a Kim
Lee, but that was to insist that be
taken to his presence"
He smiled family and shook his
head.
Il do not know. am sorry" he
repeated.
Duty had, dragonlike, swallowed his
curiosity.
But was sure now. even though
my heart failed. had spoken on
impulse, fitted my answers to his
questions, gathered facts for my re-
plies from his very actions themselves
and still he barred my way.
Yet | was sure that there was a Kim
Lee and that this was his place. il
only could come upon way to reach
him. But it was not through this
man Forbidden to admit the slight
est knowledge OF the overload, he
would maintain his steady denial.
What, asked myself was | to
do?
1T is the wrong store, | think,
madam" he suggested when l did not
speak.
After all, It WAS combination Of
senilty and childhood which stepped
I'm to save the situation.
There was a stairway leading to the
y sscqpd floQr and the tea room, com
ung down on the central aisls of the