The Washington herald., 1920-02-02

take his gaze from her face. Into
this moment Of quiet came the
heavy breathing of the two strange
Chinese with their backs to the
wall.
Where are my trunks"
Each syllable fell like a bit Of
ice from Chez Ming. He put q great
deal of subtle force into the simple
question: magnetism that seized
Lexington but seemed to have no
effect upon the girl.
They are in Tien-tsin,- Norma
replied. ct did not bring them to
Peking. They will be taken back
to the big ship tonight, and I'll be
there, too, in the morning. Per-
haps you do not understand, Chez
Ming. my lord, that this is hold
up, a robbery1you see? 1 am the
robber, and you are the victim. You
should not blame Lexington. He Is
the only honest man in Asia First
of all, he gets his precious paper or
map, whatever IL is, and then l col
lect all your money. Is that clear!
She smiled. much the same smile
that a living model displays when
wearing gowns for prospective
purchaser. She turned to nod to
her pair Of strong men, who sprang
forward. Chez Ming did not re-
sist. He whistled like a nightbird-
I a thin, penetrating cry from his
narrow lips. a call The two ruff
ans were forcing back his arms
There was a straining pressure at
the front door. a crash of glass in
the hallway. Lexington snatched
a thin, blue dagger from Chez Mings
sash. The two hired Chinese were
ipinioninE the victim, while Norma
helped herself TO the money-belt in
side the silken robe. She cut the
leather with a knife OF her own.
needless of the ominous noises al
the door.
Here is your paper" she saio.
thrusting the parchment into Cons
hand.
Chez Ming's gold lay shining upon
the table. As Con ran with char
20 barricade the street entrance, the
door was demolished with an AK
and three faces showed in the dim
ness Three Chinese leapt into the
hallway. Then the candlelight went
black. Chez Ming's bodyguard
rushed upon Lexington.
1t was not a noisy fray. Foot
falls padded softly upon the floor.
There were no guns. Con crouch
ed against the wall. and powerfully
his blade was locked inside the arm
of an invisible assailant. whose
knife was cool against the back
Of his hand. They swayed in the
dizzy gloom, snatching breath.
Their feet groped for a better stand.
A low-drawn cry came from
mans throat. Anything could hap
pen in the utter darkness. Norma
was calling from the inner room:
Con. mind the AK
New hands came at Lexington.
Hot breath gushed in his face. A
sound like ripping boards came
from the second room. He contact
ed a swift wrist with his free hand,
and parried uncertainty. One who
had fallen in the hallway scrambled
up, and fell again in the same place.
blocking the door. Now the blade
of an ak sank into the panel be-
side Levington's shoulder.
In ignited fury. Con lurched for
ward into the arms of his first as
sailant, and drove the thin blue
dagger into something that snapped
| il of short. Some, one caught his
arm. He tore away. He was
trampling the body on the floor.
Twice the wooden sound Of blows
on a human body. Cries broke the
darkness like unseen flashes. Con
felt the smooth handle Of the an
against his cheek.
It was Morna's voice. close beside
him: Who's this? Ny God. what
mess"
Get back" Easped Lexington.
Then she moaned and fell against
him. The devil shadows also clos
ed upon him. A knife burned in his
side. Chez Ming's voice was sound
ing in native commands. There was
hurried passing in the hall Lew
ington was down. He tried to shield
the girl from their feet. Two blot
ted figures ran from the house, out
at the broken front door. Then ev-
lerything was silent, a heavy still
ness. Norma moved, and sighed.
He got up. and fumbled for
matches. His hands were wet and
shaking. his eyes stung from a blow
across the face. Certain ribs were
numb with a wound.
In the candlelight again, the
place. was empty. save for the fallen
body in the hall. 1t was one OF
Morna's hired men. who had bolted
for safety and caught the ak in his
face. The table was showed TO the
wall, Curtains had been 1erked
from the lofty couch A puddle OF
dark blood was slippery near the
hall door. From the smasheS lat
tice at the street entrance, LeVfnE-
ton saw but one watching figure in
a doorway. The Chez Ming party
had hastened away. victorious.
He found a cushion for Norma
Her white fingers trembled as she
pushed aside her dress at the
shoulder. A purplish welt ran across
! where q shotted blow had stopped