New Britain herald., 1923-08-06

-H.hstoii, q uctcctiNe Scllt Dy ms gov
 ernment to British North Borneo t.
 run to earth The Yellow Seven,
 gang of Chinese bandits)
 A Chinaman leaned warily on tn,
 rail of bamboo bridge, gazing down.
 ward at an oozing sea of black mud
 Beyond the narrow barrier of coco
 palms, an ocean of azure was reced.
 ing, leaving an overwhelming stretch
 of glittering sand where turbaned
 syce exercised a Bajou pony The
 bridge that spanned the swamp served
 as link between the shore and the mainland and from the inner extrem ity an ill-defined path wound through stunted forest wastes, teeming with chattering monkeys.
 To the student of character here was the prosperous Chinese trader come to keep an appointment he had made with someone, possibly a stranger to the district. He had se- lected an unmistakable landmark for his rendezvous. He wore a white drill turic. buttoned up to the neck i; Wide-legged trousers of rustling black silk, and boots with elastic sides. An umbrella of oiled paper-yellow in side the red without--was tucked under one arm, and solar topee of surprising whiteness contrasted strangely with the swarthy skin be- heath.
 The laundering of pony's hooves died away into the distance, sudden, momentary silence fell upon the hid den monkey-colonies, and the figure of a white man appeared at an open ing between the trees. He stood for moment gazing about him. Present. ly his glance fell upon the still form on the bridge. It was perhaps strange that at the very moment the Englishman's eyes were turned in his direction, the Oriental should become aware of the piercing rays Of tropic sun-and open the umbrella for which he had hitherto found no use!
 The newcomer started visibly and came forward with swift strides until he halted within a couple of feet of the Chinaman. .
 Morning, Hewitt" said the Cees- tial in surprisingly good English. Glad you managed to roll up."
 The Commissioner of Police started.
 Good Lord, Pennington! I didn't know you"
 @That's precisely as it should be-" returned the other. I'm delighted to sec you, because, for one thing, I know you'd like to be in at the death and, for another, I've hay notion in the back of my mind that you don't altogether agree with my methods"
 Captain John Hewitt raised his hel- met and mopped his forehead.
 T don't say that" he returned, .but l venture to contend that you don't give yourself g fair chance, It's perfectly natural for you to want all the kudos for the capture of Chai- Hung. but you ought to begin to realize by this time that our murder ous friend is not likely to be caught single handed Besides. this affairs zone on too long. I'm getting chits almost every day from the Governor asking when the Yellow Seven gang is likely to be run to earth. You've had two chances already. you must remember"
 The man with the Chinese eyes drowned. ~ i've had the luck of the devil he admitted, but Id like to impress on you that, but for me, nobody would have identified Chai- Hung with the gang at all. And" he added defantly -sthere have been lot less gang mur- ] ders on the island since I landed"
 aThere'd be fewer still--if we could 1 bring Chai-Hung to justice"
 They left the bridge and, threading i their way through the trees, came i; presently to a solitary hut raised high 1 on poles, bamboo ladder giving ac- | cess to a hole in the woodwork. It 1 stood in a wide clearing, waist-high i with lalang and both men held their 1 hands above their heads to avoid cut ting them on the leaves of the treach erous weeds.
 ] Hewitt followed Pennington up the ladder into the single apartment of which the ediiice boasted. The lat ter pushed forward a box and, squat ting contentedly on the rough floor ing. felt behind him in some mys- terious recess for beer.
 And so." said the Commissioner, his lips from the mouth Of the bottle with a resounding smack. I'm to be in at the death, am I. 2"
 Chinese Pennington nodded.
 I'll admit I've been long time over this job" he said, but Chai- Hung's a genius. He had every Chinaman on the island under his 
 "Once?" Hewitt echoed blankly.
 Before I drove him into the back woods, bounded him to Island N, and cut off his source of supplies effec- lively. No sort of organization can thrive on air!"