The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-08-15
NOW GO ON wITH~THE STORY

NOW GO ON WITH"THE STORY
Armitage frowned.
You'll have to alter that, Hewitt
l should give him week in which
to improve and If by that time there's
no. sign of improvement-fir him
right away" 80.
Monica, catching the light in he,
brothers eye and seeming danger
chimed in quickly.
"Do you golf, Major Armitage ?"
"My dear Mrs. Whey, the man wht
carries out his duties thoroughly has
no time for games. Which bring
me back to my original subject.
want to get away as soon after lunch
as possible, Hewitt. shall need
some bearers, a weeks ratlons and ID
platoon or so of native infantry.
shall require also an Interpreter
with thorough knowledge of Chi
nese, Malay and English"
II see," said Hewitt. might ]
take the liberty of inquiring the ma
ture of the expedition you propos,
making into my country-and why
this tremendous haste 2"
The major hesitated and looked a
Monica, who had already risen from
her chair.
"I'll see if can hurry that boy
she said.
Major Armitage produced a ciga-
from an upper pocket of his tunic
bit off the end, and ignited it care
fully.
Presently the preposterous circle
of glass fixed itself upon Hewitt.
"Mrs. Whey mentioned the name
Of Pennington just now" he snapped
II suppose this fellows still on your
strength, wasting government money
and making an internal hash of this
Yellow Seven business?"
The Commissioner flushed.
"I'm afraid I must disagree with
you," he said. "Chinese> Pennington
is one of the most efficient men it's
ever been my luck to meet"
Armitage had knack OF hearing
only those people who agreed with
his views.
~ heard of this affair when /
passed through Singapore. 1t didn t
take me five minutes to see that the
thing had been hopelessly bungled.
The way that man was making our
status in the East look ridiculous
simply ate into my nerves. I could
see for myself that it wanted a SOL
der at the head of affairs. I offered
my services and the offer was ac-
cepted." ~ a.n
Captain John Hewitt gasped.
"They've sent you out here to rout
out Chat Hung?"
"Those are my instructions"
The Commissioners hand had
slipped suddenly across his mouth
and his shoulders heaved convulsive-
ly.
"Sorry!" he apologized presently.
:"Bit of 'bacca went the wrong way"
With an heroic effort he choked
down the mirth that consumed him.
$50 you're setting out this afternoon
with, let's see, weeks rations, a
platoon of native soldiers and some
bearers. Oh, was forgetting the
interpreter. You'll scour the coun-
try, of course, until you knock across
the bandit and. say, isn't a
weeks rations cutting it trifle
fine ?"
"When you know me better" re-
turned the other with dignity, "you'll
understand that when I'm on a job
I 60 straight at it."
"That's extremely comforting! I
only wondered if you quite realized
that the area Of Borneo is roughly
100000 square miles!"
Major Armitage waved his cigar
in the air.
Naturally I'm relying on you to
give me every possible assistance. I
have a letter in my dispatch-case to
that effect from Trevelyan. I shall
want pushing place, SO to
speak"
"Such as?"
"The exact spot where your pet
bandit was last located. A list of his
places of refuge would be of service
and rough memorandum as to his
appearance, personal habits, ETC."
"You can have a photograph, if
you like, together with copy of the
circular I sent round to all white
settlers. There's a slight amend
ment, by the way: Chai-Hung has
lost his left hand during the last few
days. This gentleman was once the
most respected Chinaman on the
island. He enjoyed liberties only ex-
tended to white people-and he
would still be enjoying them if it
hadn't been for young Pennington
Chai-Hung is big, fat Oriental,
speaking perfect English with a
fairly cultural accent. He is UNI
scrupulous, merciless and has a dis
tinct aversion to Britishers. His
sign is yellow Chinese playing-card
with seven black dots upon it and he
dishes these out as warning Of
death or an indication that the as
sassination of victim was carried
out by the Yellow Seven. With
scarcely single exception every
Chinaman on the archipelago is in
4 f..kft