Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-07-08
The Web
of Destiny
BY J. U. GlESY & J. B. SMITH
Authors Of Semi. Dual Stories
Copyright.
The Frank A. Munsey Co.
The Frank A. Munsey Co.

1u5ua1uuuroa auuuunQaconupn
We walked on. Behind us | heard
Reich speaking to Colonel Mac, Dual
spoke again.
stop, This Is the place"
We had come to the front OF tho
building where many lanterns of n
great size swayed in he breeze from
balcony lined with flowers. above a
doorway painted red and lettered with
ideographs of gilt
McKabe stopped.
This joint" he asked "Well all
right. This is the SWEETEST place in the
town, All the big men give their par
ties and banGuets here. For y man
who's never been here before you're
4 good picker. Mr.. Dual"
He grinned slightly and turned to-
ward the door Of the place.
started to follow after Lucille and
Semi. Reich and Sheldon were behind
me, and Homer burst out into objec.
tons.
This Is all piffling nonsense, I tell
you, don't want to eat chop suey-.
want to flnd Lilly. Come on. Shell.
don, let's slip this bunch and do some.
thing. It's been dinners and tea par.
ties ever since we started. can't
zee"
I turned back. just as Sheldon seiz.
ed his companion by the 9rm and lit.
orally an hill UP the STEPS.
Il know you can't Sc, son" be
tryin' to any more But DuaI's wise
en- he told me to stop your irwin TO
kick over the traces, an I'm on the
job Shut UP an come on | don't like
sea any better than you do"
The thing was ludcrous. and
found myself grinning as l resumed
iny progress after the others.
We came into an entry where was
q counter, modern cash register, and
q Chinese cashier wearing pair Of
very large shell-rimmed glasses. He
nodded us toward a stairs, and we be-
gan to mount.
Above us | heard the climbing feet
of Dual and Mckabe and Lucille, and
! ran up after.
At the top we turned and mounted
yet another flight of stairs and
emerged into passage before an
arched entrance into room set out
with Oriental trappngs.
We went in and sat down at a
table.
| gazed around. Beyond me were
the windows opening onto the balcony
of flowers. Around me were EN-
broidered screens and screens Of
ivory carving streWn across them.
Curtains of bamboo painted and gid
ed swung from the ceilings.
lockwood tables and chairs.
quantity carved, were scattered all
over the room. AT a far table a party
OF Chinese men and women 49, were
dining.
A waiter came up and took our
order
Chicken chop sucy," said Lucille.
II haven't had any FOR years-and I'm
hungry
Mckabe smiled.
you talk like native daughter,
Miss Foote," he remarked.
Lucille returned his smile and re-
piled quite frankly:
Il am"
The detective nodded.
"You look it" he told her, and turn
ed TO the waiter. Double that for
NINE Charlie
Dual and | and Sheldon ordered
tea. and Reich, after moment Of in.
decision ordered noodles
Tho waiter smiled and shuffled
away.
McKabe nodded at his retreating
back
They're an odd bunch" he obsery.
Cd Now you wouldn't think It, but
Charlie there is a graduate Of the
University Of California, and yet he's
A waiter in chow shop. He speaks
four languages, too-Chinese, Japa-
nese, English and Spanish. He's
pretty nice chnk."
I glanced at Dual. How about
you. Semi" inquired.
Not yet" he returned slowly.
"Yet before this night is over | shall
show you something more appalling
than that"
''You ought to show us something
said Reich out of sulky silence. Il
can't stand this waiting game much
longer You might have little pity
on mans feelings. You haven't lost
anything, of course. aud aren't liable