Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1918-10-17


And this l shall tell thee, Kim
Lee," said Semi Dual, resuming. "Thy
name is in the stars and the stars
change not in their rounds. The des-
tiny of man is linked with others, as
the power of the stars is mixed and
intermingled, On the scrolls of Karma
there stands debt against thee. Wilt
thou pay?"
Watching him closely it seemed to
ME that the face of the Manchu
twitched slightly. am certain at least
that he drew deep breath before he
answered Il will pay"
ut is WELL" Dual advanced fur
ther into the room, gathered his pur-
pie robes about him, and sank into
chair across the table from Kim Lee.
"Ihe stars say that thou shalt repay,
Kim Lee, and that all shall be well.
Dost believe in the stars, my friend?"
Il believe" the Manchu responded.
He also sank down in his seat, and l
saw he was breathing quickly, as one
shaken in his inmost being. He began
to speak rapidly in Chinese.
chair and a feeling of absolute assur-
ance came upon me. | remember that
as child have dreamed bad dream
and walked to find my mother above
me, and felt strangely comforted and
safe. In way the feeling which flood
ed my mind now was like that, and l
think, too, it was something like that
tuhi al, ir,c ha nf
in crisis of warfare, when some be-
loved leader of corps or brigade
throws himself to the head of his men
and cries them forward. 1t was feel
ing of calm, undoubting confidence in
the success of Semi Dual. Even the
dramatic manner of his coming had
contributed to it.
Now, as / listened to the voice of
Kim Lee, and the calm, quiet answers
or the strange personality who faced
him, recalled that Mr.. Glace had told
me that the mans father was really a
high caste Persian, and his mother a
Russian princess, and that his fathers
first name had been Abdul; SO that
Semi Dual was in reality the Prince
Abdul as whom he had been an.
nounced.
had to admit that as he sat before
me, clean shaven, clothed in the gar
ments of the Orient, he certainly
looked the part.
And there was something else.
recalled his entrance, the words he
had spoken, the signs, barely noticed,
which he had made, and one set of
words he had used. To Kim Lees
question he had answered, Il have
Travelled in the East"
Suddenly the meaning flooded my
mind with the light of understanding.
/ knew that those words were some
times used by members of world
wide secret-older; that they consti-
tuted a sort of sign manual of mem
bership; were both question and an
assurance. l saw now why Kim Lee
had given that Slight start of recogni-
tion, and had later addressed Dual as
1.-The master" Both the Manchu and
Dual were members of that order, and
Kim Lee recognized Dual as brother,
i
words, OF degree superior to his own
glanced at the two men bending to-
ward each other across the great teak
table. Dual had drawn some papers
from his garments and spread them
out on the top. He was pointing cut
various signs, which were drawn upon
their surface, and Kim Lee was fol-
loving his words and gestures with
the closest attention. Suddenly, as
watched. he sat back and lifted his
face to Dual's.
"kismet! 1t is fate" he said for
the second time since / had entered
the room.
Dual smiled. at is the mathemati-
cal precision of orbital motion, Kim
Lee" he returned.
(which is fate" said the other,
with TIE very faintest oil smiles.
Also" said Dual with meaning,
lit is the balance of the Karma which
McAabe has built"
You a.e an excellent collector of
Karma, friend ABDUL" Kim Lee
shrugged slightly. and your plan"
ITO inspire overconfidence and
strike before it is shattered" said
S,nli softly.
A glance passed between the two
men. In it l sensed the subtlety Of
tne East, which makes the straightfor-
ward Western mind thing OF little
avaii az ainst its scheming.
ANA this you viii do?" the Man
chu Inquired.
BY seeming to yield, while not
Yielding; by scheming to be oye.-
ieAched, while yeneaching; by pla-
eng two souls in pawn, in order to re-
deem one by striking in two spots at
once, While seemingly bound hand and
loot; by watching While seemingly
Lind, and hocring when no one seems
TO speak. 10 convey any meaning
10 ysur mind, ltirl Lee?"
u Would haza.d that / must supply
the ears and eyes, at least"
"A good hazard" Semi assented.
'sIIave YOU not several pairs to your