The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-07-31

upon the figure of the orderly who
lurked inquiringly on the threshold.
1T is a lie, tuan," the servant pro-
tested sullenly, because there was
nobody in the shop when 1 went"
Hewitt turned abruptly to conceal
the smile that played at the corners
of his mouth.
Take him away" he commanded,
land don't let him out of your sight"
S$S
1t was on the evening Of the fourth
day after Pennington's departure that
the new boy-engaged in place of the
one who was under arrest-came in
with the announcement that q deputa-
ton was waiting in the garden.
The Commissioner and Mrs. Whey
were at dinner. Hewitt looked up.
who are they?"
The boy shook his head.
F'There are six of them. tuan, and
they have come a long distance"
The Commissioner shrugged his
shoulders.
He passed a hand through his hair
are vanished through the open door
way.
The night was unusually dark and
cool breeze met him as he reached
the open veranda. A broad rectangle
of light, coming from the house, fell
upon the soft earth at the foot of the
steps and, just beyond It, he saw
the forms of six men, their white
garments contrasting weirdly with
- III
uniformed figure, in a round hat and
bare feet, came smaruy to attention
as he approached.
well, what is it?' inquired Hewitt
Before the native non-commissioned
officer could reply, a tall Chinaman
pushed to the top Of the steps and
stood before the Commissioner.
Great tuan," he began, speaking
rapidly in Malay. 81 am Lien-Yin,
the agent of the great Chai-Hung-
who is dead.
Hewitt looked up sharply.
60 on" he commanded. Present
ly I shall have something to say to
you. Lien-Yin."
"Chai-Hung is dead pursued the
other, unperturbed.
so I believe" put in the English
man coldly He was gazing toward
dinly-outlined case suspended from
two poles the extremities Of which
rested on the shoulders of four men.
How exactly did Chai-Hung die?"
He was poisoned, tuan. I can not
tell you the manner of his death, be-
cause I was not there. You will un.
derstand that I was the agent of
Chai-Hung, paid to do his bidding. It
is to further carry out his wishes
that I have come to you tonight.
There is a boat leaving for. Singa-
pore tomorrow, tuan, and It is de.
side that the remains of my late
master should be conveyed in it to
the tomb of his ancestors"
The Commissioner gasped.
"The remains of Chai-Hung?" he
echoed.
Yah, tuan"
Where are they?"
There, tuan." He pointed long
! finger-nail toward the garden. indi.
eating the case Hewitt had already
seen.
The commissioner drummed on the
woodwork of the table with the tips
Of his fingers He found it difficult
| to reconcile the enormous figure Of
the Chinese bandit when alive-with
the ridiculous box that was supposed
to contain all that was left of him
when dead,
How do you mean-there?" he de-
manded presently. What does that
/ case contain?"
ut contains a bronze jar" said
Lien-Yin calmly. land in the jar are
/ the ashes Of Chai-Hung"
Hewitt sprang to his feet and be-
san pacing the veranda.
what nonsense is this?" he jerked
cut over his shoulder. Since when
have you commenced burning your
dead?"
For the first time Lien-Yin smiled.
His evil, pock-marked face puckered
UP into innumerable wrinkles and he
CROPPED in the depths of a voluminous
sleeve. He produced a yellow docu.
ment, wound on a rod Of black wood
with tassels Of red silk at either end.
''These are the last wishes Of the
great Chai-Hung," he said
state them briefly" commanded
Hewitt
THAT, because have lived both in
the West and in the East and have
seen customs that are bad and some
that are good would wish my body
! to be disposed Of in a manner that 1
! believe to be good. That, in the event
of my death in any place outside
the ashes placed in an urn made by
my people and suitably inscribed, and
shall be transported with as little de-
| lay as possible to the home of my
ancestors"
II see," broke in the commissioner,
taking the scroll from his hand. You
will come to me in the morning,
Lien-Yin, for my decision. In the
meantime both this and the package
must remain here. Do you under
stand?"
The Chinamah appeared to hesitate.
They are the ashes of the dead"
he reminded the commissioner.
Precisely" agreed Hewitt. But
you forget, Mr. Lien-Yin, that I still
hold a warrant for the arrest Of Chat
Hung-dead or alive!"
He stuck the thing on the top Of
the safe in his office.
Capt. John Hewitt had long ago
given up collecting curios. and yet