Evening star., 1922-01-01

MY mules are just outside the vii.
lage. There is no danger to then
their recks which keep off all ami
maly, excellency. II you will come
outside town with me, we can star,
this moment; that is. of course. after
the payment has been made.
Hanecy wondered if the fellow
meant to take his money and ther
desert him. Or, simpler still, to make
brazen effort at robbery. o,
whether the mules were but bait fol
some trap. Anything was possible
Why not? Benson was thick az
thieves with the local mandarin a,
Cheng-tu. and his influence reached
out to all kinds of grafters, snug.
glers and bad characters generally.
Still, what of it? Benson was useG
to running chances. The odds were
even that this Korean would take hin
If he got that far in safety. he nigh,
be assured that all was well. The
risk lay close to hand, and Hanecy
decided to take it. He lighted q
match to assist him in counting the
notes. ....
I'm warned" he thought grimly az
he reached for his money, 'and il
there's something phoney going on
let the other fellow look out! II
they can take my hide while my eyes
are open, let 'em go to it,"
He counted out 25 liang. which he
put in the hand Of the Korean.
"Come," he said briefly. I'm all
ready. Are these temple gates ever
closed?"
mot at this season of the year
heavenborn. You can return any time
tonight"
The Korean obeyed Hanecy's per-
emptory gesture and led the way
from the temple into the thick dark
ness.
The American followed him closely
sliding his pistol out into his hand in
readiness. However. rather to his
surprise. nothing happened. A little
way out Of the village the Korean
slipped into a copse Of dense bushes
Here, if anywhere, thought Hanecy
would come the trap-but there was
no trap.
The peddler. perhaps sensing the
feeling Of his companion. lighted
match. Two mules. with large
pack and the remnants Of the canvas
booth for the dancing birds were re-
vealed. The peddler saddled the
mules, wrapped a straw coat about
himself to guard against the cold, and
Hanecy followed him into the saddle.
A moment later they were out upon
the road.
It was a good enough road. as roads
went in these parts. It was not, like
the roads Of Shensi, worn down 90
to 100 feet between narrow walls, but
t. was worn down sufficiently by
countless centuries Of travel to give
Hanecy the sensation of riding in an
extremely narrow gulch up the valley
And still he found that nothing
happened. None the less, he held him
self under a constant strain OF tense
vigilance, ready at each twist In the
road for some treacherous surprise.
The Korean rode in silence-a good
sign. If the man had been a babbler
Hanecy would have been certain OF
treachery. AS 1t was. he remained
fully on guard.
EOR three miles they followed a road
which would have been impass-
able for horses It was steep and
rough and rocky. Indeed
Hanecy would much have preferred
to negotiate it on foot, except that
the mules were perfectly sure OF
despite the darkness. The
road was circuitous, and Hanecy re-
fiected that the distance was farther
than he had counted upon. The three
miles took them nearly an hour.
Hero they came to q fork in the
trail. The Korean halted his mules
and pointed to that which led to the
right.
'"This is the road, heavenborn. As
you can see, it is little used. It goes
only to the house Of. the Tuns
who live on temple ground
and farm 1t. The moon is already up
and in five minutes weswill be in an
open valley"
Hanecy nodded and motioned the
peddler to go on.
They turned into the right-hand
trail. As the Korean said, five min
utes took them out Of the gorgelike,
worn road into a path that wound
up q small. rocky valley. The moon
was up. and Hanecy began to feel
more convinced that his guide might
be trusted. 1t seemed silly to be car
rying a pistol in his hand, here in
the moonlight. and with grim smile
he replaced the weapon beneath his
armpit.
They came to an ancient entrance
ne which tttlN 1emainaA but stonea