Evening star., 1921-12-18

some trick here. some trap to en-
snare him. Still. what matter? That
| wax impression showed the name of
Ling tt in characters Enthusiastically
Han. and If Benson had secured the
thing Hanecy was perfectly willing
to match wits and take it>away from
him. Risk did not bother him appre-
ciably.
/ Where is your comrade now?" de-
manded Hanecy.
| Near the south gate. heavenborn." !"
! Very we'll"
! They walked on together, Hanecy a
, little in the lead. To the city gate
was a comfortable walk, although a
pleasant one-by the Lohan bridge
and the river road, past the ancient
temples. The afternoon was wearing
on. AS they passed the walled pre-
cincts of Chu-ko Liang's temple q
poor scholar came from the entrance
and plodded slowly after them, blink
ing dreamily through his spectacles.
his mind lost in contemplation Of the
noble maxims which Chu-ko- Ling had
transmitted to posterity.
| Hanecy. as he strode along. was
certain of crooked work somewhere.
This cicada had come from no fish
belly; it was the one lost by the
smallpox victim. How had the SOL
diers obtained it? Through Benson,
of course. It was the scented lure to
some fine trap.
| Good enough" thought Hanecy
confidently. If they want to set a
trap, I'll spring the trap and grab the
bait. And I only hope Benson shows
up in person"
| He was utterly wrong in his sus-
picions, of course. In this instance
he was being made the butt of fate
which was inexorable and insatiate.
iTHEY came to the gate, a narrow
entrance in the high walls. where
Autographed advertisements and ban
dit rewards were pasted on the stones
Many folk were going in and out
past the loafing guards. The soldier
glanced around. saw that his comrade
had not yet arrived with Benson. and
touched the arm Of Hanecy.
| "Heayenborn, come with me to a
place of waiting. Then 1 will return
and speak with my comrade. 1t is
| necessary to avoid suspicion from the
others
Every WELL" said Hanecy grimly
thinking of the trap.
He followed the soldier to house
a hundred yards distant. His pistol
ready. he entered and was guided to
a. vacant room. This was gambling
house. he perceived. His guide seemed
to he known here. Once in the room
the soldier asked bluntly what the
cicada was worth to Hanecy. The
American silently produced a hun
,dred taels in notes Of the local gov
ernment.
II will get the stone from my COM
.rade, heavenborn," eagerly said the
soldier, and departed. Hanecy sal
waiting, pistol in hand. but nothing
happened.
Meanwhile had come to the gate
the poor scholar. mumbling to him.
self the maxims Of Chu-ko Liang. Al
the gateway. he paused. glancing over
the papers posted on the wall. Among
them was news Of the murder Of the
prominent bookseller. Wang, whose
body had been found shortly after
noon in the Street Of Ten Thousand
Bright Flowers. There was q reward
for the murderer, offered by the fam.
! lily Of Wang, Of flve hundred silver
dollars-ta-yang-ch
The poor scholar read these notices
with gaping jaw. AL thought Of the
wise maxims was stricken from his
mind. He realized that Wang had
been murdered en- route home from
the temple. after buying that green
cicada from him. Aghast and incred'
ulous, the scholar stood there gaping
at the notices like man dazed, for
refful of all around him, His single.