The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-05-09


door. I'm show mademolseli In my.
sell. Mr.. Kcppel." she said--"and
show her out"
she closed the door very quietly.
CHAPTER III.
Seating himself at the writing
table. Stuart began mechanically TO
arange his papers. Yet he was
thinking Of Mile. porain.
Until he had met this bcwildering'
~ pretty woman he had thought that
his heart was forevermorc proof
against the glances of bright eyes.
lie had no idea who Mile. Dorain
was: he did not even know her exact
nationality. but he strongly suspect
ed that there was strain OF East.
ern blood In her veins Altho she
WAS quite young. apparently little
more than 20 years OF age. she
DRESSED like a woman OF unlimited
means. and aitho all her visits had
been at night he had had glimpses
Of the big car which had aroused
Mrs. McGrgor's dlsploasure.
There came a knock at the door.
"Come inr' snapped stuart irri.
tahiy. but the next moment he had
turned. eaEcr-eyed. 20 the servant
who had entered.
Inspector Dunbar has called.
sir
.'oh. All right said Stuart. re-
pressing another sigh. "show him In
here"
There entered. shortly. a man Of
unusual height a man gaunt and
square both OF fisurr and rAce.
Good evening. DOCTOR" he said
and hts voice was pleasant and un-
exp~ctcdiy light In tone. Hope
don't intr,ide."
'"Not at all. Inspector Stuart A.
sur~d him, make yourself comfort.
able In the armchair and fiu your
pipe
''Tnanks" said Dunbar. 81 viii"
He took out his pipe and reached
out long arm for the tobacco Jar.
II came 10 see u you could give me
a tip on a matter that has cropped
up
Something IN my iine- asked
Stuart. a keen professional look com.
Ing momentariiy into his eyes.
ITS supposed 10 lie a poison ca;s.
aitho I can't sce II myself" answered
tho detective-to whom keppel
stuart's unusual knowledge Of pois-
ons had been Of service In the past.
but II what I suspect Is true. us
a very big case all the same
''rell me what that L. doctor" he
said. ''and I shall be Obliged"
Stuart pcered closely AT an object
which Dunbar placed before him II
was n piece of curiously shaped
gold. cunninEiy engraved in a most
unusual way. Rather less than an
inch In length. II formed q crescent
made up Of SIX oval scEments join
ID one TO another. the sixth tersnin.
ating in a curled point Stuart look.
ed up. frowning In a puzzled way.
| at in q most curious fragment Of
jcwelry-poS<ibiy Of Indian origin.
he said.
But what does n repre~ntr'
Dunbar asked
s,oh. A. to that said . curious
fragment advisediy. because ! can
not imagine any woman wearing
such = beastiy thing II 10 the tail
LOT . scorpion"
~Ah-' cried Dunhar. The tawuy
eyes riittering with excitement
May ! ask where you obtained
the fragm~nt~
Tin here TO ten you. doctor. for
now that I know RS . scorpions
tail I know that I'm out OF my
depth as well. You've travelled In the
East and lived In the East--two very
different things. Nov. while you
were out there. IN India. China
Burma and 10 on. did you ever come
across q religion or a cult that wor.
SHIPPED scorpionsy'
The answer In no. ] am not &C.
auain,ed with any sect OF scorpion
worshipers, inspector. But I once
met with a curious experience Mt Su
Chow In China. which I have never
been able 10 explain. but which may
interest you. II wanted but . few
minutes to sunset. and I wa
anxious 20 get back 70 my quarters
Ihefore dusk fell. Therefore ! huf
ried UP my boy. who was drawing
the ricksbaw. telling him TO cross
the canal by the wu.Men bridge. He
ran flectiy In that direction. when
suddenly tho boy dropped the shafts
and fell down on his knees, hiding
his face tn his hands
"'shut your eyes tightly. masterr
he whispered. The Scorpion is com
lingA
II stared down at him IN amaze
ment. as was natural. and not III
tie angriiy: for his sudden action had
almost pitched me out on my head
But there he crouched. immovabie,
and staring up the slope I saw that
Il was entirely deserted except for
one strange figure mt that moment
crossing the crown of the bridge
and approaching. IL was the figure
Of a tall and dignified Chinaman. OF
Of one who wore the dress Of a
lChlnanan. For the extraordinary
thing about the strangers appear
ance was this. he also wore a thick
green veilr'
HIN" said Dunbar. ITS a queer
yarn. certainly. How long ago would
that be. doctor7"
"Roughiy--five years.
ut sounds as tho II might bclone
to the case. Some months back.
early In the winter. we received In,
structions at the Yard to look out
everywhere for any reference TO a
scorpion. Then. six weeks ago. Sir
Frank Narcornbe. the surgeon. fell
dead in the foyer Of a West End the
atre--you remember"
'perfectiy-an extraordinary case
There should have been an
autopsy"
ITS curious you should say so.
doctor, because we had the tip "a
press for one. but Sir Franks people
had big influence, and we lost. ] was
working day and night for n week
4 al