The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-18
LOVES GAMBLE
,continued from Page Nine)

CT. Confucius, this Chinaman had profound respect If you sin. against heaven there is no room for prayer" repeated Chang Bing Ho, with rever- ence, aid quite deciding that this down. and outer hadn't any chance of re- demption in another world. He would certainly go to "Ti Yu" (HelD.
 Chang Bing Ho seated himself on the hard brick "kang" and softly re- peated to himself some of the De crees of Heaven" His tones were dull cetly smooth and soft. so as not to wake his sleeping "clients."
 His Chinese voice went on dreamily- Birth and Death are infallible De- crees, but Happiness is to be found in Heaven alone"'
 It was a curious scene, there in the worst opium den in London. Unfortunately, however, Chang Bing Hos philosophical reflections were pudeIy interrupted by the blowing of a noisy whistle up above. "rhe policel They're going to raid us" A half-caste boy who acted as kind of sentry rushed in to the proprie- tor Wake 'em all up-quick" The Chinaman, however, wasn't in- terested in the safety of his clients. His mantle of Confuscianism fell away. He stopped reciting ''The Decrees of Heaven" and leaped nimly through some loose bricks at the back of the kang, and thence into subterranean passage that led out to safety The half caste followed him. Speed was | their motto
 | Thereon ensued a still queerer scene | in the Chinese opium den. Several brawny policemen took possession of the place, including-incident ally-the jrecumbent down-and- outer. | An orrid bit of goods" one London bobby designated him. "'ls checksn l soon be in--you mark me words! 1 The down-and- outer stirred. Vaguely he guessed just what had happened. The place had been successfully "pinched.'
 | "Shut up-and let mo sleep." he | growled, immensely angry that his 1 blssful dreams should be so disturbed. "Lemme alonew
 He turned round, with his face to the wall.
 "Go get van for all of 'em,' the | chief of police directed one of his sub ordnates. And you there"-he point ed to the man who had described the
 down and outer as "an orrid bit of goods"-'you there, stay and keep wa tch. He's too far gone to give you any trouble. I'll send the rest up 1 stairs, with Jones and Brown and Smith and White to look after 'en
 until the van arrives. We've got a pretty haul this time!" He chuckled In a few moments the down. and outer and the London policeman oc- cupied the den alone.
 The befuddled brain of the former began to work. Who was this burly guardian of the law that would try tc take his precious opium from him? l Well, he wasn't going to stand 1t He would help himself
 He stretched out a thin, emaciated hand toward the spirit lamp. "Oh mo- you dont You've at
 enough already" The London bobby moved step toward the other. Pm your guardian n-angel, please remembel till the prison van arrivesH'
 His words awoke the n-and
 outer fully Az tempest of baked de
 sire and fury surged within his bosom He staggered to his feet and, opium maddened, swung the spirit lamp witt
 terrific force, and caught the police
 man cn the temple
 The policeman fell. The down-and Iouter lurched toward his prostrat
 body. With all his strength he kicke
 him on the forehead. Then he lifte
 upN bar of iron and struck him re
 peatedly. Deprived of opium, he lGone crazy.
 After a time his anger left him. an he stood there weakly. staring at tn
 limp body on the floor.
 Believe I've done him in" A cum ming l3ok crept into his glittering eye! He knelt down and felt the policeman lheart. It didn't beat at all. The ski
 felt cold as ice.
 The down-and- outer leaped to hi