Evening star., 1921-12-11

his angular face in a grimace. Then
| he laughed.
| We'll, Benson won't get in here!
The BONES wouldn't let him past the
| outside gate. Who put you on the
! track of the Ling tt treasurer
! I heard about It," Hanecy sat
down and produced his pipe. What
hit you?"
Toptit chuckled II don't know.
tell you. Somebody soaked me over
the head two nights ago and threw
/ me into the river. 1 crawled out
| over the promontory and had chat
with the boss priest here. I suspected
Benson wanted to get me out of the
way. since we had exchanged few
illnatured words. I've been here ever
since. writing sonnets, which the
priests admire vastly. and having a
| good time"
Hanecy grinned at this and began
to revise some Of his notions about
| Toptit.
you're not the fool you look" he
observed.
Thanks, sorrel-top. Same to you.
Is Benson on your trail?'
J Maybe. And maybe I'm on his
Hanecy's steely eyes glinted. you
! must have some information about
| that Ling II stuff, or Benson's friend
| wouldn't have jumped you"
| Toptit inspected him thoughtfully'
| 's1ve always heard" he satd' "that
: YOU met a chap on the level"
"And parted with him on the
| square," Hanecy grinned again
| well, shoot"
i ION a fifty-fifty basis"
! Hanecy nodded. Thus, in few
words, was the partnership arranged
It was almost the first personal meet
! ing of the two men, yet reputation
had preceded each Of them, and the
meeting clinched as truth what ru-
NOR had carried. Each man knew
that the other could be fully trusted.
I'm out of the game" Toptit
grimaced again as he sat down. and
he spoke soberIy. "At least, I'm out
! of it for a time. There's a nasty cut
under my shoulder"
81 thought they would have tried
to make certain" said Hanecy'
! knocking q white man on the head
and singing him into the river IL
rather dubious guarantee against his
talking. Especially thick-headed
white men. But 60 on"
"Spare the compliments" retorted
Toptit. Here's the real dope on that
guy from N"nan. He came hero with
tho stuff, but t..s -s%s had spread
pretty fast. When he got here the
mandarin tried to grab tho whole
business for himself. but the stub
born beggar refused to give 1t up
and he got away from the yamen with
1t. too. Tho mandarin sent soldiers
! after him. and they finally got him
put q bullet slap into him. Well. he
went into the river, and some Of the
loot went with him, and it's gone.
Six pieces Of it are left"
"Ahr' said Hanecy, biting on his
pipestem. where are the six?"
''Scattered between here and Chung
| king In pawnshops or other places.
I have the list"
"Good work! If Benson had IT,
HE has It," said Toptit calmly.
That's why sent word to the va
men-that message to you. Benson
knows that I have tho list. He won't
go after the stuH until he's got me
out Of the way. Savvy? He knows
now that I'm alive and kicking and
still dangerous"
Hanecy regarded his compatriot
with admiration.
y'Say, I've underestimated you, old
boss! You're a cool devil. What's to
hinder Benson going after. the stun
while you're laid up heref"
Local customs; Chungking is .
treaty spot, and he would have to
smugEls It through the customs
there He's afraid, II he gets II. TIL
lwarn the customs people. That stun