Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-01-08


livery"
Hanecy's eyes narrowed. and he
smiled angelically. Any one who knew
him well would have left hurriedly
about then. Benson did not know
him very well personally.
"So?" drawled Jim. Zone of your
Jap millionaire clients. Ell! I heard
that you got your start when you
sent the jade book of Shunchih to a
Jap collector"
Benson Redeemed under this savage
thrust That jade book is, among
those who know, fearfully delicate
subject When he responded there
was a vicious snap to his voice.
'Hanecy. I'll not only get the ring
TIL get you! II
$50 you've come out in the open at
last, eh?" interrupted Hanecy joy
fully.
He took three steps forward. Ben
son, who was a small man, knew
better than to reach for weapon.
Hanecy lifted him out Of the chair and
kicked him-hard.
You cur! I only wish you'd give
me an excuse to put a bullet into
you'll"
Benson, who never lost his head,
rose In silence and patted the dust
from his clothes. Hanecy turned In
disgust and strobe toward the city.
Benson looked after him. and one
hand slipped toward pocket-to
pause half way there, checked by an
inner warning. Men had tried be-
fore this to shoot Jim Hanecy in the
back.
Hanecy did not look around. Ben
son climbed into his chair and or
dered the bearers on.
That night Hanecy learned Of the
murder Of WI LANG.
TIM HANECY was stopping at the
} house of his friend Kiang, the
fur merchant, and had full details of
the murder from the number one boy.
Some time during the early evening
old WI LANG had been. hit on the
head and killed-brutally. Many of
his choicest treasures were missing.
No one knew who had committed the
crime. There was no clue Of any
sort.
Hanecy sent OF a note to Wu's Sec
rotary. and speedily learned that the
ambassadors ring was among the
missing objects. OF course, Hanecy
had no doubt that Benson instigated
the murder, but this was only the
starting point Of his troubles.
Unless he were to give up the ring
as lost, he found himself facing a very
stiff proposition. And Jim Hanecy
prided himself on finishing whatever
he started.
Under the new regime, each prov
ince of China is governed Jointly by
a civil magistrate and a military gov
ernor-in theory. In fact, the mill
tary mandarin maintains the army,
does the work. and is quite independ-
emit Of the feeble ceitral govern
ment. The mandarin at Cheng-tu
was me- only very friendly with Ben
son. but he was open to every graft
known. He had even invented few
new kinds of graft-quite feat in
China. Further, he was famous col
lector Of antiques on his own ac-
count, as are many high officials.
1.-THE civil magistrate here keeps out
of sight-no help from him." reflected
Hanecy. Benson is living at the
mandarin's yamen. If know what's
good for me. I'd better stay away
from there. Toptit's just left town,
confound him! May not be back for
a week. If could prove this murder
on Benson, I'd gladly shoot the dog,
but how the devil can prove It? I'm
no Sherlock Holmes. And I guess
old Sherlock himself would take a
shot in the arm and go to sleep over
any such job as this"
Toptit, Hanecy's partner, had just
left the city in pursuit Of another
relic Of antiquity. and Hanecy consid-
cred that he was facing pretty big
odds. But he had no intention Of
letting that ring go to Benson and =
Japanese collector.
Next morning he interviewed his
host, old Kiang, the merchant Of furs,
who knew all about the murder. He
told Kiang frankly Of his own inter-
est in the case, described the ring.
and asked for help. At hrst Kang
was not very responsive.
81 am a lonely old man and know
nothing"
"But you have tong brethren. and
the guilds are strong in Cheng-tu."
"Also. am sad. WI owed mo IN
account Of eight hundred lang for
furs, He has no heir, the state takes