The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1919-06-19

would stop at nothing to accomplish
his ends, Chu stood trembling before
their gaze. Resistance was hopeless,
for he well knew that should he en-
gage In any struggle with them he
would be strangled upon the spot, yet
he determined to yield his piece OF flag
only in the last bitter extremity. His
only. chance lay In outwitttng them.
and thought after thought went fly
ing through his cunning Oriental
brain.
"Well, are you going to give 1t to
us or not?" scowled Scarface as he
made threatening gesture toward
the other.
Chu, despite his fear, grew sudden
ly crafty, and pointing to the idol,
replied:
"Piece flag in box by Joss"
Scarface glanced in the direction
indicated, and saw the box sitting
close in 'front.' of the huge squatting
idol. For an instant suspicion flashed
across his brain and he gripped the
Chinaman's shoulder with fingers that
sank into the flesh like talons.
"Are you telling the truth, you
heathen?" he swore as he shook the
other ms a terrier shakes rat. The
voice of the other arose in shrill pro-
test.
"Chu tell the truth alice samee Joss
himself. You no believe, you go see."
The other hurled him aside.
"If l find you have lied to me I'll
make mince meat of you, you cursed
Chink," he gritted.
Scarface advanced to the idol and
reached for the box, when the arms
of the idol swung down toward him.
Leaplng back, he covered the Chinese
with his pistol, shouting:
"Nan Brunt and his woman get here
soon. Show me how to work that idol
and bring them here. No tricks or
you are a dead Chink."
Foiled in his effort, nothing remained
for Chu but to do as the other com
mandcd. Several times he pressed the
button while Scarfacc, his eyes glis-
tening, watched the mechanism as 1t
went through its silent operations.
He turned to Screwoyo
"See If you can work it." he COM
manded.
'Screweye thus commanded ad-
vanced upon the figure and began
pressing the buttons as Chu had done,
and beneath his finger pressure the
arms of the idol stretched forth
threateningly.
at seems simple enough" said he.
"All we have got to do is get them in
here and the idol will do the rest.
See that dagger in his hand! Well,
when the arm comes down with 1t
the blade would go through any man
that ever lived as though he was a
piece of cheese"
1--WE had better be getting out of
sight for they may be here Mt any
minute" announced Scarface, and
threatening the Chinaman with in
stant death if he tried to betray them,
Scaface and Screweye took their
places behind screen where. hidden
from sight, they could observe all that
took place within the room.
Dick and Polly arrived shortly and
we're shown into the idol room by
Chu, who, on learning their mission,
pointed to the box. Dick stepped up
TO the idol as the coerced Chinese
pushed a button and he was grlpped
by the huge arms as the dagger
descended. Sprlnging from behind the
screen, SCarface shouted:
"Now, I've got you. Give me that
flag"
Terrified at the sight of the great
dagger descending upon Dick, Polly
stood riveted to the spot. Absolutely
ignorant of the mechanism of the
thing and powerless to stay the flight
of the blade she could but stare at
the spectacle as though fascinated.
Though she would have fought to the
very death rather than have surren.
dered the piece of bunting to the
wretch who stood leerlng Mt her with
a look of triumph, to stand there and
see Dick murdered by this Internal
cOntrivance for the sake Of mere gold
was n thought not to be harbored for
a moment. Her hand flew to her
bosom wherein reposed the bit Of flag.
Dick told Polly not to do so, but
the girl, ns she saw the dagger drop
lower and lower, pulled out the piece
of cloth and threw 1t at the outlaw,
who then had Dick released. AS he
staggered forward he came on trap
door in the floor. Scarface pushed n
button and Dick shot from view.
Polly, In reaching for the flag, felt
4 1. i 1 IL