Evening star., 1921-12-11


smile.
$50. my friend! Now tell me the
truth. You were informed that the
jade tablet would be in my posses
sion. Is 1t not so? Your men were
waiting hero for me?"
The officer stammered. "Yes, excel
lency-and the opium also"
Hanecy's eyes glittered. II don't
forget Ne opium" he said crisply.
How much Of 1t was stolen from the
shop Of Ten Chingr'
-Four ten-tael tins. excellency. Yen
Ching was found dead. clasping the
smugglsd case in his hands. Those
who found him looked at once for the
Jade tablet. which was his most valu-
able possession-'
~ see." said Hanecy. Somebody
came to get the jade. and, seeing the
opium, decided to take that as well.
eh? suppose that may pass by?'
The official bowed in some confu-
sion.
Jim Hanecy passed him. passed the
soldiers. who were staring at MIN
open-mouthed. It was evident that
they had all been waiting there Tor
Hanecy; that their stoppaEe OF other
persons was all q blind. Hanecy per-
ceived the trap quite clearly.
AS Hanecy came to the little crowo
Of people waiting he whirled sud-
denly. paused and turned upon them.
There was a swift scattering. oleat
of terror; they knew. these yeilo"
folk, when death was looking out OF
the eyes OF a man!
The hand Of Jim Hanecy slipped 10
his armpit. There was q sharp crack.
He stood with a little curl OF vapor
rising from the tip Of his pistol. then
he showed the weapon away. Ono OF
the crowd, a man who had been slink-
ing back out of sight. lay outstretched
and motionless.
The soldiers ran in. shouting TO
surround Hanecy. He did not move
until the officer came up. then ne
turned and smiled grimly.
THAT man." and he gestured to-
ward the body. "is the one who muir
dered Yen Ching. Let search be made
and the opium will be found upon
him"
"rhat one" cried the of,cer. taken
aback. why, that is the one
who" He checked himself sud
cency. Hanecy finished the sentence
for him.
"rhat Is the ono who bore word to
IN. yamen that I was guilty. Yes. 1
know it. Let tho search be made
quickly. have no more time to
waste"
The ofncer approached the body.
Tho soldiers and yellow folk stared
in dumb astonishment at tho scene
Tho oficer knelt and searched inc
body Of the dead nan-the man VINO
wore a black cap. a fur-trimmed
blouse and quilted trousers. When
tho officer rose he held four tins OF
opium.
Justice" said Hanecy drily. is
the rarest and most admirable Of vir-
tues. Return to the yamen with news
of what has been done here. If my
presence Is desired, shall be at the
-kung-tsz yonder."
The officer bowed, speechless, and
motioned his men to fall away from
Hanecy.
The American passed on without
looking back at the scene. When he
had left the bridge behind and was
out Of sight he removed his hat and
wiped the sweat from his brow. A
dry laugh was on his lips.
"Justice!" he said. well, that's
the sort Of abstract justice these yell
low men adore: the kind they under.
stand. BY tomorrow I'll be hailed far
and wide as the light Of Asia OF
something, eh: I sure hope tina,
coolie shows up with the tenth
tsblet!"
I1E wended his way to the temple
IL where Toptit awaited him. He
found Toptit In one Of tho arbors
busily inscribing verses upon shee,
Of red paper.
| Hanecy told his partner exactly
what had transpired. Toptit listened
| In silence, made one or two correc.
tioris in his last verse, and then broke
| the silence.
You are cursed reckless, Hanecy.'
he said. How did you know that the
man was the murderer"
II didn't" and Hanecy chuckled
That was the gamble. 1t looked al
| though whoever stole the Jade haf
caught Yen Ching with some opium
and had hooked tho opium Of his OWL
account. Then, OF course, Benson had
kept him busy ever since laying thai
trap for me. I gambled that the
opium was on him-and It was"
But the jade?" exclaimed Toptit
"You calmly handed 1t over to thai
coolie-'
Sure" Hanccy lighted his pips
and relaxed comfortably. ''Old kianG
had sent the coolie to me, savvy;
Sent him to catch me with word thai
! there was some sort Of q trap II
prospect. So handed over tho Jade
tablet. He promised to bring It here
"A coolies promise" grunted Top.
tit. .
"wel. told you the fellow had q
white mourning rag on, didn't ~
Hanecy expelled a whin Of smoke
HE was Yen ching's brother-and
here he is now"
before the arbor, accompanied by one