Evening star., 1922-01-01

| carved with clouds and dragons
doubtless the symbols Of temple prop
erty. Here the Korean paused.
"Yonder is the house, heavenborn.
Let US leave the mules here. Let me
do the talking at first, for they will
| know my voice"
Hanecy looked at the building,
which stood out stark in the moon
! light. all trees cleared from around
it, 1t was a low house Of stone, and
| the house was darker than the night
| outside. Some one was at home, how
ever. The twanging Of a Lutte came
family as they listened.
Hanecy's last remnant Of suspicion
fed.
The two men crossed the open space
of moonlight ground afoot. AS they
did so the sound Of the plunking Lutte
ceased very suddenly.
The building was little mofe than a
rude shack of stone, built in older
days. Hanecy perceived that the door
fwas very large and heavy, massively
built. The Korean knocked upon 1t
loudly.
"Who is there?" demanded voice
from within, speaking a rude dialect
hardly ineligible to Hanecy.
1T is I-Yao-men, the peddler" re-
sponded the Korean. with me there
is a foreign devil. strange white
man, merchant. He was at the Lao
tau temple, and he paid me to guide
him here. He has come to buy some
thing
"Teng-iteng" growled second
voice. wait a little, son Of Korean
devils, until we see If it be you in
deed and not some mountain spirit
come to mock u.s."
To one side of the door a shutter
grated. Hanecy could well imagine
the fear and suspicion filling the eyes
Chinese legend is full of mountain
and river fairies who come by MOON
light, and Taoists are superstitious
above all others. The Chinese have
imagined more gruesome forms Of
vampires than any scenario writer
ever dared to pen.
TT is the peddler. brother" grunted
the first voice. land foreign devil
with him.
Perhaps they are spirits of
drowned men come to take our
bodies" said the second.
May, there is no water around here,
fool! Ho. peddler! Walk in circle!"
Chuckling. the Korean made a cir
Gle in the moonlight. and Hanecy fol-
lowed suit, thus apprising the breth-
rem that they were human and not
devils-for devils can move only in a
straight line. Hanecy, smiling, ad-
dressed the invisible brethren.
Fear not, my friends! I have
come here to see certain piece of
red amber which I heard that you
owned. I may wish to buy it. and I
may not"
I'VE do not wish to sell it," growled
one of the voices. 1T is only lump
of AMBER and it is not carven. The
priests will pay moro for it than will
foreign devils"
cat all events" said Hanecy. Sup
pose that we talk it over
THERE was . low mutter Of voices
l. as the two brethren doubtless con-
ferred. Then ono Of the brethren
came to the door and began to un-
fasten bolts and locks. The Korean
turned to Hanecy and gestured toward
the gate.
"Heavenborn. I will remain with
the mules until you return"
Hanecy nodded, and the Korean de-
parted, his thin straw sandals tapping
on the ground.
The massive door swung open. In
side appeared tho figure Of a tall. mus
cular yellow man holding aloft a
temple candle with a huge wick and
soft. red-painted body. It was one
of those candles whose cotton wick
burns red for twenty minutes after it
is extinguished.
"Come in," said the Chinese.
Hanecy's caution had prompted him
to leave his coat open, tho better to
reach his pistol. He saw no reason
for suspicion here. yet some intuition
warned him not to enter. Reason
laughed at the warning. He took q
step across the threshold. The China
man quickly pulled the door to and
swung a b"lt. Then
The candle was extinguished and
fell to the floor.
Out Of the darkness leaped Q thin
blade Of cold steel. It slithered
through the coat of Hanecy and quiv-
cred in the door behind. Only tho
Americans swift side-step had saved
him from that deadly thrust.
Pinned to the door by that slender
blade. Hanecy felt hands reaching at
his throat For the moment he had
been taken of guard. He vas unable
to get at his pistol. However, he
dung his knee sharply upward. fedt It