The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-08-07
NEA Service. Inc. 1929

| NEA Service, Inc. 1928
This unusual series of stories deals
with the exploits Of "Chinese" Pen
nington, a detective sent by his gov
eminent to British North Borneo to
run to earth The Yellow Seven, a
gang of Chinese bandits.
A Chinaman leant warily on the
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 exerciyed q Bajou pony. The
| bridge that SPAWNED the swamp serv-
ed as link between the shore and
the mainland and from the inner ex-
tremity an ill-deffned path wound
through stunted forest-wastes. teem-
ing with clustering monkeys.
To the student of character, here
was the prosperous Chinese trader
come to keep an appointment he had
made with someone, possibly q
stranger to the district. He had Sc
iected an unmistakable landmark for
his rendezvous. He wore white
drill tunic, buttoned up to the neck;
wide-legged trousers Of rustling
black silk, and boots with elastic
sides. An umbrella of oiled paper
yellow inside and red without-was
tucked under one arm, and solar
topee Of surprising whiteness con-
trasted strangely with the swarthy
skin beneath.
The laundering Of a pony's hooves
died away into the distance, a sud
den, momentary silence fell upon the
hidden monkey colonies, and the
figure of white man appeared at
an opening between the trees. He
stood for moment gazing round
him. Presently his glance fell upon
the still form on the bridge. 1t was
perhaps strange that at the very mo-
ment 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 q couple of feet of
the Chinaman.
Morning, Hewitt" said the Celes.
tial in surprisingly good English
"Glad you managed to roll up"
The Commissioner of Police start
ed.
"Good Lord, Pennington! I didn't
know you"
"That's precisely as it should be-
returned the other. "I'm delighted 70
see you, because for one thing, !
know you'd like to be in at the death
and, for another, I've hazy notion
in the, back Of my mind that you
don't altogether agree with my
methods"
Captain John Hewitt raised his
helmet and mopped his forehead.
II don't say that" he returned,
"but l venture to contend that you
don't give yourself fair chance. It's
perfectly natural for you to want all
the kudos for the capture of Chat
Hung, but you ought to begin to
realize by this time that our murder
Gus friend is not likely to be caught
single-handed. Besides, this. affair."
gone on too long. Pm 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
frowned.
ave had the luck of the devil"
he admitted, "but I'd like to impress
on you that, but for me, nobody
would have identified Chai-Hung
with the gang at all. And" he added
defiantly, "there have been a lot less
gang murders on the island since
landed"
'"There'd be fewer still-if we
could bring Chat Hung to justice"
They left the bridge and, threading
their way through the trees, came
presently to solitary hut, raised
high on poles, bamboo ladder Civ
| ing access to a hole in the wood
work. It stood in a wide clearing
waist-high with lalang, and both men
held their hands above their heads
to avoid cutting them on the leaves
of the treacherous weeds.
| Hewitt followed Pennington ur
the ladder into the single apartment
of which the edifice boosted. Thu
latter pushed forward box and
squatting contentedly on the rough
flooring, felt behind him in some
mysterious RECESS for beer.
"And So" said the Commissioner
withdrawing his lips from the mouth
| of the bottle with resounding
smack, "I'm to be in at the death
am II" ...s
Chinese Pennington nodded.
"I'll admit I've been . long time
over this job" he said, "but Chat
lungs a genius. He had every
Chinaman on the island under his
thumb-once."
"Once ?" Hewitt echoed blankly.
Before I drove him to the black.
woods, bounded him 70 Island n.
and cut off his source Of supplies ef-
fectively.! No sort Of organization
can thrive on air!" I
He shifted his position on the bare
boards and felt for his pouch.
Flows Monica?" he inquired pres
did. in every squirrel hole and in