Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1919-01-24
CHAPTER xi.

AuS udWh-cycu iHdi anu myself
walked after.
Outside in the shop we had entered
not so very long before Semi paused
Once more he drew money from his
person and placed it in the sinewy
blood-stained hands.
He spoke briefly to the man, who
bowed and smiled slightly for the Sec
ond time that night; and, having
smiled, pocketed the gold Dual had
given and stalked out of the door to
the street.
Dual watched him in silence. and
turned to me.
Come, Gordon" he said, "the mat
ter is ended. Let us return to the no
tel.'
But Miss Foo.e?" questioned.
and McKabe?"
do you doubt they are safs?" said
Semi.
Doubt! Great Heavens, no." as
sured him quickly. II was merely
wondering where they were and just
what had happened
I'VE can learn that at the hotel,
fancy" said Semi, and led the way to
the door.
If had felt bizarre when l walked
out Of the Palace hotel, l surely felt
more SO when l followed Dual in his
purple and golden robes from the taxi
which put us down in and across the
lobby of the st. Francis.
Our advent caused almost COM
motion. and the boy in the cage we
entered stared until he well.nigh for
got to start his car, and was spoken
to sharply by the captain, who had
signaled him twice.
i think ii was in a mood Of whimsy
that Semi raped on the door of the
suite. Once in a while my strange
friend gave way to sort of playful
manner.
Sheldon himself answered our sum-
mons. He stared into our faces with
out recognition.
'Hello!" he began. Il reckon
you've made some mistake, amt you,
mister?"
Il hardly agree with you, colonel"
said Dual.
The old man started.
We'll, my Lord" he exclaimed.
''Pm wise to that voice, but well,
by golly, was that what you put on
when you shed your clothes? Say, l
remember you pulled that sort of
stunt once before. though / didn't see
it. That was the time you was Prince
Abdul of Teheran. Come on in. Say.
folks-here's Semi Dual an Glace"
We entered. and l started to see
Lily. McKabe, and Lucille Foote star
ing toward our entrance.
Dual smiled at my surprise, and
spoke to the latter.
did Abdul say truly. Miss Foote!
Didst reach TO thy hearts desirel
A flush swept the face of the girl.
In an effort to mask her confusion she
answered lightly:
dull"
"She was just telling us about it,"
said Colonel Sheldon. And what
happened then, Lucile"
The girl went on with her narrative
much as 1t is set down in preceding
chapters.
And then the man with the knife
sprang through the door at us. The
one with the lantern turned ii on US,
coming just inside the cell.
"'Stop!' 1t was Danny's voice.
Il turned my eyes to see him level
the little automatic on the man with
the knife.
"'Come any further and III drill
you, you rat!"
THE crouching figure paused in its
advance and stared at the gun trained
upon it. A snarl grew on the yellow
mask.
No good he said on the instant,
in English. You kill me, others kill
you alice same, McKabe.'
You'll kill nobody!' cried, adding
my voice. l reached up and dragged
at my hair. tearing out the package
Kim Lee had given.
You look this--you see you kill
or mol" called to the man and tossed
the package to him where ne crouch
ed.
He caught it deftly in the uncer-
tain light, unwrapped 1t. and gave il q
glance, started, and nearly dropped it.
After a bit he gave 1t a second in
spection, spread out the strip OF pa
per, and seemed to read it, His eyes
lifted to mine, and the snarl had left
bis face.
Where you getr he questioned,
with the savage menace gone from his
tones.
Something seemed to force me to
answer:
From the MASTER
He gave me another glance. Alb
ruptly he turned with the signet and
the paper to the man who held the
lantern.