Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1920-08-20
''Nfe Sabe," He Replied

"Me Sabe," He Replied
s'1ie sabe," said the Chlnaman again.
Gall same velly glood guide"
He proved to be. Within half an
hour after landing Wallen had COM
pleted the purchase of an excellent au-
tomato pistol and ammunition, and
was following the Chinaman back
along dark street near the water
front. Another few minutes of twist
ings and turnings, and the Chinaman
had halted before an uninviting-look-
ing hostelry in an equally uninviting-
looking neighbOrhOod.
"Dlink-HOuse Sam's," announced the
guide. "Blim-bly you all same go back
ship? Me waltz"
NO." said Wallen, as he paid the
other. 'That's all. Goodnight, John! !"
The Chinaman disappeared.
Wallen surveyed the building be-
fore which he stood. 1t was one of
those Observation-Disclosures wooden
structures, two stories high, the front
rooms on the second story opening d.
rectly onto the veranda. With the gen.
eral air of being Nsreputably out at
elbows, it bore all the earmarks Of a
sailors boarding house Of the lowest
type.
Wallen stepped forward, pushed the
bar-room door open and entered.
A bar ran down one side; a score
of small tables occupied the main por-
ton of the room, and around these
We're clustered some twenty-five or
thirty rough-loOking hands, evidently
on shore leave from the harbor's ship
ping-and making the most of 1t.
Behind the bar were two men, one
Of whom Wallen made no doubt, was
Drink-House Sam, presumably, the
prOprietOr-a big man in shirt Sleeves
the sleeves rolled to the elbows over
puffed, blue-veined arms, man whose
face was ford and hard-lined, with
eyes close-set, and whose close-cropped
hair, with little white skin-spots show
ing where the clippers had done their
work too thoroughly, lent peculiarly
repellent aspect to his general appear
ance. A steel-like CLINT held for an in
slant in Wallen's eyes-and vanished |
Drink House Sam of Singapore!
Wallen crossed to the bar, and con-
fronted the big man in shirt sleeves.
"Are you the proprietor hereY he
asked. "The man the coolies call
Drink House Sam?"
The other eyed him furtively.
"That's me; Sam Marie, by rights"
he admitted CURLY. "What can I do
for you, mister?'
"Well," said Wallen, lowering his
voice, 'I'd like a few minutes of your
time, somewhere in private"
"What forY demanded Marie.
Wallen leaned across the bar.
"Its about the Upolo," he said con-
fidentially.
The man stared at him for mo-
ment a curiously mingled expression
of cunning and surprise creeping into
the small, black, redrimmed, shifty
eyes-then he stepped abruptly out
from behind the bar, led the way to
an empty table at the end Of the room
by the rear door, and flung himself
down into chair.
Wallen followed, but remained stand
ing on the opposite side of the table.
81 can't say call this very private"
he protested.
It'll do till know more of your
business % grunted Marie. "Take it or
leave it. I amt for sneakin' off with
the first stranger that comes in, and
havin' every last one of these swine
here get to figurin' I'm putin up some
sort of a deal to shanghai; his particu-
lar carcass. And sit down, mister
you're shown more'n is necessary Of
your good clothes"
It was true.
His standing there after the other
had seated himself only served TO at
tract further attention. A crowd at the
next table was already indulging soto
voce, in uncomplimentary and drunk
emily offensive remarks,
Snow shoot the works !" prompted
Drink-House Sam. "What about this
ere UpoloW
Wallen was casting about in his
mind for what to say now. Ii he could
play the man, arouse the others fear,
perhaps. or his curiosity that would be
backed by fear. or his cunning, or his
interest sufficiently to get him some
where alone without giving away his
own hand.
All! Yes, he had 1t now. Helen
MacKay had unwlttingly furnished
him the lead with her laughing refer
ence to putting his head into the lions
mouth. If he said innocently that Ting
Wah had sent him!'
Drink House Sam would naturally
conclude that the Chinese accomplish
was still playing into his hand, and
had sent him, Wallen, back into the
power Of this rat-eyed murderer with