Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-08-13
80 ta.s
Shared (.
" J, U, otESy 4 ]. 3. SMITH
Authors Of Semi.Dual Stories
Copyright.
The Frank A. Nunsey Co. Z
The Frank A. Nunsey Co.


Y Duai nodded. Good" he made
comment. If there is need, he may
prove his strength" He turned to the
men and began to address them in.
their own language. Once or twice he
paused AS il for answer, and received
q servile assurance in sing song
whine. Seemingly he told OFF three
men to some task, for they bowed low
10 him and their master and fled crab
wise from the room.
There remained two OF the others
and the grimfaced .hatchet man.
Dual spoke to the two coolies. To
my utter surprise he directed their
gaze at me. By his direction, as it
seemed, they came closer TO where l
Sat, stood and stared at my face, as IL
fixing 1t in their minds beyond any
achance OF forgetting lifted my head
hand gazed back into their beady brown
eyes.
III you will stand now, Miss
1VOtej ocuhl Dudl
/ gave him the obedience had
promised.
Full of wonder at the request, and
his purpose in having these two men
study Liy face and figure, ! raised my
self from my seat and stood while
they walked about me, studied me rs
q modern woman mi. lit in pect Il mar.
kin in new.sVle creation, and final.
~ retreated to their places.
glanced at Dual, and he nodded me
back to my seat. sank into my chair,
filled a cup Of tea, and drank 1t.
Dual was addressing the two again.
His voice ran on, rose and sank,
drooned and strengthened, in every
seemingly possible infection OF the
difficult Chinese tongue. found my
self marveling at his mastery OF the
language, and told myself that after
all II was but another manifestation
Of the unbelievable things this incom-
prthensible man could do.
In the brief time had known him,
days merely since had met him in
Salt Lake, / had found that he under
stood and spoke English, Italian,
Greek, and now Chinese.
The two men he was addressing
whined what took to be an atfirma-
tive assurance. Dual nodded to Kim
Lee, and their master waived his men
from the room. At further word
from Dual the Ratchet man also made
his exit and left us three alone.
| didn't understand word Of what
had been said, but felt sure that the
first steps in the program Dual had
mapped out had been taken. He met
my eyes and smiled and nodded
1--WE are beginning to act at last"
Sheisaid.
Again he spoke to Kim Lee. The
merchant listened closely, frowned
slightly, and made short response of
what ! took to be objection, because
Semi Dual leaned toward him and re.
plied in hurried accents which seemed
charged with driving force.
For perhaps moment the Manchu
drew back before the volley of words.
At the end, however, slow smile
creased his stern face, and he nodded
in acdniescence.
While I watched he drew massive
signet from finger OF his left hand,
and cast II on the table between Dual
and himself.
will that do. Abdul" he ques.
toned in English "To one who
knows 1t means no little, as you may
observe"
Dual lifted the bauble and inspected
It closely. He laid 1t down and nod
ded. "Yet 1t should be certified be-
yond doubt. Kim Lee--say bit OF
writing"
Kim Lee pondered moment. His
eyes lifted from the ring to the calm
face before him, and thought some.
thing like admiration was lurking in
their brown, black depths. Without a
word Of spoken reply he opened a
drawer in the table. took out paper, a
cake of India ink, und q pencil.brush
Moistening the latter In glass OF
water. which he poured from carafe,
he took a long slip of paper and began
marking = column Of ldeographs down
ity length. AT the end ne lifted II and
waved It TO dry 1t Ut moisture. reached
out his arm, and laid Il face up before
Dual.
Semi read 1t, or seemed to read H.
bowed a grave acceptance. picked W
The ring, and wrapped The paper ssoa'
=. - . 4. q. -. -