The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-08-17
:5Ne yeGE0W SeVeN:'
y The Silver Hand 81
BY Edmund Smell.


hat and bare feet battered up the
steps and, saluting respectfully, pre-
scented the district officer with let
ter that had just arrived by native
runner.
"Dear Moorhouse." it ran. more
trouble for you, I'm afraid. The
Yellow Seven business has broken
out again and three planters have
been attacked, one of them fatally.
Chai-Hung-leadcr of the gang has
been traced to your area. Am send
ing reinforcements. Cooperate with
Dawson and do your best to round
up. Pennington will be with you al
most neutrality-suspicious."
He rose somewhat wcarily to his
feet and, crossing to the lamp, read
the missive again. Presently he
glanced up sharply.
"All right" ..
The orderly saluted and disap-
peared.
The magistrate stubbed his toe
against corner of the bookcase,
swore softly to himself and shouted
for his slippers. While awaiting the
advent of the boy, he dug out a
photograph of the bandit and sur
vcyed it curiously. He saw fat
Oriental, staring blandly from the
portrait through pair of horn
trimmed spectacles. At the time
when the picture was made, Chat
Hung had been the most respected
Celestial in the archipelago; today,
thanks to the efforts of Chinese Pen
nington, the robber-chicf stood re-
vealed in his true colors.
The boy shuffled in with the slip
pers, but still Moorhouse did not
stir. He was thinking of the Yellow
Seven and the resourcefulness of its
notorious leader. Hitherto his dis
trict had been mercifully free from
the unwelcome attentions of the
organization to which almost every
Chinaman on the island belonged;
but Dawson had had considerable
dealings with Chat Hung, and Moor
house was asked to cooperate with
Dawson.
1t was with mixed feelings that he
sat down to table and dissected
helping of buffalo-meat. He was in
the act of consigning Hewitt, Daw-
son, Chai-Hung and Pennington to
the deuce when the black chow shot.
barking, from the kitchen-quarters
on to the veranda. The magistrate,
gazing through the open doorway,
caught glimpse of a dark form
dimly outlined against the blackncss.
"Iuan, will you call your dog!"
The voice came from the stairs.
Moorhousc took the lamp from
the bracket and, holding it beyond
the wooden rail, peered over. Pres
emily he uttered a mufflcd exclama-
ton and replaced the lamp. He
whistled up the dog.
"Come here" he commanded-and
the girl obeyed.
"You are the girl who danced in
the Kampon."
"Yah, tuan."
She held herself very erect and
| Moorhouse noticed that the sarong
| Of shimmering green had given place
to one of terra-cotta. She leant al
most insolently against the ~aeanr!a-
rail and surveyed the Englishman
calmly. He passed her cigaret and
wondered where she had learnt to
light it over the chimney of lamp.
"What is your name?" he demand
ed presently.
Il have no name."
! Moorhouse moistencd his lips.
where do you come from?"
| II have no home"
The district officer frowned and
the girl laughed delightfully."- dis
arming laugh that almost made
Moorhouse forget the dignity that
his office demanded.
"You have come for your brace,
lett"
She shook her head and the lines
of her handsome face hardened.
II come not for the bracelet" she
told him, because l am child of
the forests, taking when l wish to
take and giving when l desire to
give-neither giving back nor TAX
ing back. I give to my friends and
take from my enemies"
The magistrates forehead wrin-
killed..
"Then why have you come to me ?"
he inquired bluntly.
"The Tuan-Hakim is WISE" she
murmured, gazing down at the
straw sandals that protected the
soles of her feet.
u Admitted" returned Moorhouse
cheerfully. "What them"
"When I heard the music of the
gongs and saw the smoke of the
fires rising above the tallest trees, a
voice whispered to me to go closer
!, and went. Presently, beyond the
smoke, saw the white coat of the
: Tuan Hakim. The beating of those
brass drums called me and danced
for you, because / said this. man is
he Who sits alone in the big house
among the cocopalms, who reads the
, evil that is in, mems hearts and
I knows the right from the wrong-the
, good from the bad You beat your
hands together, tuan, and was con-
tent" A dreamy note had come into
, her voice and it sounded in the D.
!, O.'s ears like the soothing sound OF
! wood-pigeon from her nest. "There
are times, oh white man, when it is
. good to have friend. am your
. friend" she concluded simply.
CONTINUED In Our Next lssue)