The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-09-23
III. THE TRAP

in all India to LanEa poonh.
+ To ;tll appearances it made no
difference whether the little man
had sat down lCisu,sly or hurried
". He might have been Il thou
sand miles away for all the attcn-
ton no was accorded by the serv-
ant who had so Suddenly entered
the compartment. silently, with
bare feet. he moved about. With
&. small whiSk he cleaned every
inch OF floor upon his masters side
of the compartment and not an
inch did he touch upon the Stran-
GERS side. With mathematical
precision he adjusted Smiths ciga.
rettcs. matches and watch. which
lay upon the small table at his
head. This finished he withdrew
to his own compartment and closed
the door without the slightest
sound
FiN" minutes followed. during
which Smiths even breathing con-
tinued and the stranger read, but
failed to turn page Of his book.
At the end of that time the little
man dropped one hand into his
side pocket. No longer was he
looking at the boz. although 1t
was still held in his hand. His
eyes narrowed as they ga2ed hard
at the PROSTATE man whose steady
breathing showed no sign Of alter
ing. Little by little the right hand
came out Of the pocket and with it
merged black automatic. II vas
half out when Smith spoke.
"Pu: il on the seat beside you
and be careful not TO point the
muzzle this way"
Smiths eyes were open ard over
his leg was pointing the barrel OF
"a gun quite as black and tormid-
able as the strangers. Quickly
the little man oheyed and. drop
ping his book. sat motionless.
There was nothing else to do.
"Sahih CALI"
. The door Of the servants com
partment stood open and LanEa
Doonh regarded the scene AS II
automatic pistols were matters of
ordinary occurrence in his life.
Cigarette aur dyasali lao, "
drawled Smith.
Carefully the boy reached for
the cigarettes and matches. IN
tracing a single cigarette he
placed il in the disengagcd hand
OF his master and. lighting a
match. applied il to the cigarette
when Smith w&,S ready. Not once
did he come between the muz2lc
OF his masters gun and the man
opposite. For an instant he hest
tated, and then returned TO his
own compartment. closing the door
once more.
Why shouldn't 7 clean my pIs-
tol?" asked the stranger. who had
had time to think a little.
Because I got mine out first. '
snapped Smith. Pass yours over
with the muzzle toward yourself, =
The man shrugged his shoulders
and oheyed.
stand up. turn Your back and
grip the rack above your head with
both hands" ordered Smith.
Smith rose and searched the
man. but found nothing beyond a
railroad ticket to Calcutta and a
few rupee notes Of low denomina-
ton. He reached up and took one
of the mans hands of the rack in
order to examine a curious tur-
quoise ring. He slipped the ring
of the finger. but returned it upon
finding no initials upon the inside.
Showing the man down into his
seat in no gentle manner Smith
resumed his reclining position as
if the affair had lost interest for
him.
whats your name" he quer-
led inlifierent,y.
There was no answer from the
stranger, who remained inert and
crumplcd in the corner of his seat
whore he had been jammcd.
at doesn't matter. continued
Smith. Go TO your master and
tell him that the wholesale steal
ing OF Jewels in India for Srlc 10
tourists in CCylor must stop. He
knows that I caught his best agent
in Cevlon and that his business is
already crippled. Tell him that Il
will only be- q matter OF time be-
fore ! catch MIN. and that may
not bother to take him alive since
he has sent 80 many people to put
~ thn ,V1y -