Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1918-10-24


gaze at me. By his direction, as 1t
seemed, they came closer to where
sat, stood and stared at my face. as IL
fixing it in their minds beyond any
chance of forgetting. lifted my head
and gazed back into their beady brown
eyes.
"If you will stand now, Miss
Foote," Semi Dual prompted.
gave him the obedience 1 had
promised.
Full of wonder at the request, and
his purpose in having these two men
study my face and figure, raised my
self from my seat and stood while
they walked about me, studied me as
modern woman might inspect man.
ikin in new-style creation. and final
ly retreated to their places.
glanced at Dual. and he nodded me
back to my seat. sank into my chair.
filled cup of tea, and drank it.
Dual was addressing the two again.
His voice ran on, rose and sank,
drooned and strengthened. in everv
seemingly possible infection of the
difficult Chinese tongue. l found my
self marveling at his mastery of the
language. and told myself that after
all it was but another manifestation
of the unbelievable things this incom-
prehensible man could do.
In the brief time l had known him,
days merely since / had met him in
Salt Lake, had found that he under
stoo, fDand spoke English, Italian,
Greek, and now Chinese.
The two men he was addressing
whined what l took to be an affirma-
tive assurance. Dual nodded to Kim
Lee, ane t'teir master waived his men
from The 'oom. At a further word
from Dual The hatchet 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"
he said.
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-
piled in hurried accents which seemed
charged with driving force.
For perhaps a moment the Manchu
drew back before the volley of words.
At the end, however. slow smile
creased his stern face, and he nodded
in acquiescence.
While l watched he drew massive
signet from finger of his left hand,
and cast it on the table between Dual
and himself.
"Will that do, Abdul?" he Ques-
toned in English. ITO one who
knows it means no little, as you may
observe"
Dual lifted the bauble and inspected
it closely. He laid it down and nod
ded. yet it should be certified be-
yond doubt, Kim Lee-say a bit of
writing"
Kim Lee pondered moment. His
eyes lifted from the ring to the calm
face before him. and I thought some
thing like admiration was lurking in
their brown, black depths. Without
word of spoken reply he opened
drawer in the table. took out paper,
cake of India ink, and pencil-brush.
Moistening the latter in glass of
water, which he poured from carafe,
he took long slip of paper and began
marking column Of ideographs down
its length. At the end he lifted 1t and
waved it to dry it of moisture, reached
out his arm, and laid it face up before
Dual.
Semi read 1t, or seemed to read It,
bowed a grave acceptance, picked up
the ring, and wrapped the paper about
-. 1t lay on the table between them.
him Lee in turn picked it up.
he rose and crossed to where was
s.,-.Ag. He held out the tiny packet.
81 Ike it, Miss Foote," said he in q
y~.c5 Which seemed heavy with mean
ms Take it. and keep it. and guard
II as you have guarded your virtue.
Conceal it in place of safety about
!ou. and use it only should your lie
aJpear to be in actual danger. Few
u omen have been SO honored. Be dis
e. eat in its use"
| wanted to ask him what it was,
but something held my tongue. re.
inembered that Mr.. Dual had said !
LIust act blindly. l took the packet he
extended and laid 1t in my lap. Then
took off my hat and loosed my hair.
i have heavy hair, thank goodness,
and ] gave thanks Tor 1t then. i loos-
ened a braid and laid the paper and
the ring within it, and braided 1t up
again while the two men watched.
Then l coiled up my hair and pinned
1t, and turned the back of my head to
their view.
"Does it show?" I inquired.
"Not at all" said Semi Dual.
"a woman of wit" said Kim Lee.
''And of purpose" Semi added. For
three years she trailed this man
Reich, of whom she told YOU"
pYou chnnge your foola aa n maR-