The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-08-10
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* The Passing %2
M of Zara-khan q
By Edmund Smell.

BY Edmund Smell.
Chong-Hee returned. He stood on
the threshold, shivering like q man
with the ague, and Varney beckoned
him to approach.
II saw nobody, great tuan, but
heard the voice Of spirit"
The trader started,
"The voice of spirit!" he echoed
"Yah, tuan. 1t was powerful
spirit for its word rose above the
wind in the trees and the flowing of
the river"
"Ah!" The trader set his back
firmly against the wall and stuck
both hands into his pockets. "And
the spirit sald?"
Il have come with a message for
the white man who lives on the hill
and who-up to a points good"
Extremely kind of him, I'm sure!
Go on!"
"He spoke also of another white
man, tuan, one whom the natives
have called He Who Sees in the
Dark who is evil and the spirit
would seek to destroy. This is the
message the spirit gave to me; tell
the white lord that should he con-
tinue to live as he has lived-all will
be we'll; but should he receive this
other white man into his house or
seek to help him-all will be ill.,"
81 see," said Varney. "In other
words, your friend has pretty good
notion in his, head that this white
man Intends comingUhere and hopes,
# l agree to chase him back into the
open, to have a prolonged. opportun-
ity of Sitting his throat! Was that
all?"
"All, tuan." .
"Bi-la. Chong -Hee! Yop can clear
out" '''''
The dog growled agaix, then
dashed into the night, barking. For
reasons best known to himself, Var
ney did not attempt to stop it. He
turned in order to gauge more easily
what was going on outside-andN
Chong- Hee waited fearfully.
A quick step was audible along
the path and the dogs infuriated
baying had turned into a joyous
greeting. A tall, slim man took the
steps in couple of strides and halt
ed on the threshold. his solar topee
set at jaunty angle over eyes that
might have belonged to a Celestial,
had not the remainder of the new
comer's appearance been so obviously
British. =
Varney hurried forward.
"Pennington! Peter Pennington!
Man alive, I'm mighty glad to see
you'll"
Chong- Hee still remained at the
entrance to the passage-way. There
was recognition written clearly in
his half-closed eyes.
laughed Chinese Pennington, "and
made for it like shot. It missed
you then? ?"
"By the merest stroke of luck.
Beyond this. haven't building in
tact. One of my clerks got his leg
broken and couple of cooliesll have
to be buried in the morning. Chong-
Hee! Take Mr.. Pennington's cane
and hat and make it bath and dinner
for two. Tahu?"
Pennington's glance lit upon the
square bottle.
"Next to your admirable SELF" he
admitted, there's nothing on earth
l more wanted to see than that! I've
had the devils own time-and the
devils own luck"
"How's that" demanded the
other, pushing forward chair.
II haven't seen you for months,
Varney, so l expect you're wondering
what particular stunt is interesting
me at present" He lowered his.
voice. "I'm trying to tackle the
toughest proposition it's ever been
my luck to strike. Hewitt's got me
chasing round after Chai-Hung and
his Yellow Seven"
"Got your work. cut out! Here's
luck!"
"Cheerio! This afternoon-to get it
off my chest-I was on the verge of
bringing off the final coup. I'd had
the Commissioner down to see the
fun. He got collared by the Chinks!
Luckily had wind of that almost as
soon as it happened and laid my
plans accordingly. After that every
thing went we'll. Dawsonawas round
ing up the bunch, ia ChM- Hung in
the district Officers bungalow, neat
~ trapped in the act Of venting his
hatred of myself upon my fiancee-
Mrs. Whey. He had brought a. nasty
looking reptile ihs d. lChihese teapot
and I knocked 1t eihto his lap& cover
ing him at the same time with my
automatic. Believe me or not, old
son, but that COMPOUNDED cyclone ar
rived just in time to spoil anything.
1t smashed Dawson's place to match
wood. had my hands full saving
Mrs. Whey. It was an hour and
half before the Commissioner and
Dawson Joined us-and I packed
them all off to Jesselton before going
back to the ruins, Three Of my agents
and myself turned the bungalow in
side out. We found what was left of
Dawson's boy, but there wasn't
trace Of our friend Chat Hune-ex-
cept his red umbrella and a battered
metal teapot" $3.50
"Then you think he succeeded in
getting clear?"
police. According to a message re-
ceived here, heend two others escaped
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