The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-08-25
BY EDE4OND SNELL.
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Excellent. What happened to
the Tuan Van Daulen?"
He took the box to a hut by the
railway-line. 1t was dark when he
entered; after that there was light.
You looked in2"
The man nodded
He came out of the hut several
times, looking round everywhere.
The door was bolted presently from
the inside-and I looked through a
place where the boards had worked
apart. There was a tube in the
paCket-a tube with some dark liquid
inside
Footsteps were audible on the path
outside
THAT you, Van Daulen? I was
just saying 10 Rabat-Pilan I could
manage a cup Of tea at in the
morning. I suppose you'll Join me?
If I remember rightly, you can the
roll at $50"
The Dutchman came into the ra-
dius of the larnplight.
mot very often" he laughed easily
Whitaker is our orderly officer this
week. He rides round first thing to
see everythings up to the mark. Still
tea at 5, by all means"
breakfast about S?'
That's my usual arrangement"
"All right, Rabat; you can get to
bed-unless Mr.. Van Daulen wants
you"
A chair creaked as the other
dropped into it.
No thanks. You know where to
put my clothes for the morning.
like my boots hereby this chair. -
He turned to Pennington E'I roam
about in my slippers until my pony
comes round. you know. I md 1t
more comfortable"
Pennington waved his hand in the
air, implying dismissal.
Our boots on the veranda then.
Tabi -Rabat- Pilai!"
"Tabi. Tuan."
The customary salutation carried
the servant to the passage. He
glanced back once-then vanished al
together
Queer chap-your mani"
Rather weird. isn't he? He cut
off hai-Hung's left hand when last
they met and walks the world with
the step of a Teller who's managed To
pay off a fair proportion of a heavy
debt. He smoked the thing over the
fire and 1 fancy he carries it about
with him under his blouse"
Van Daulen suddered.
Pennington came languidly to his
feet.
Good night Van Daulen. Hope
we're both well enough to sit up and
enjoy that cup Of tea"
Rabat-Pilai was busting labor
iously when Pennington-in riding,
brooches and slippers-emerged on to
the veranda an easy first. Van Daulen
was splashing in his room. grunting
and spluttering with the glorious lack
of restraint of a rhinoceros.
The man with the Chinese eyes
kicked off his slippers.
His foot was on the point of enter.
ing the boot when Rabat dropped a
pile Of worn volumes.
Pennington started and looked up
The Ehglishman raised his brows,
took each heel gingerly between fin.
gers and thumb and from the left boot
shook what looked like a tin-tack
with an enormous head. He was stfll
staring at it when Rabat-Pilai picked
it up without turning a hair. He re-
treated with it to Van Daulen's chair.
grinning over the back of it at his
master.
Good Lord 1t was touch and &c
that time, with a vengeance The in.
human swinei Rabat. if I'd trodden
on that how long would I have been
in agony?''
Ten minutes. Tuan"
How did you know"
Il am my masters servant-and J
see everything"
All that was possible of the grir
vanished as Van Daulen appeared al
the head OF the passage.
Morning, Pennington. Hope
haven't kept you waiting?''
mot in the least. old bird I've
always cherished a sort of hszy no
ton you planters were early FOLK
Those my boots, Rabat?''
He pulled them on, one after the
other, fully aware ali the while that
the Dutchman's eyes were upon MIN
Suddenly he uttered a sharp exclama
ton and sat back in the chair. his
lips parted, his breath coming and
going in short gasps.
WHATS the matter, Penninston?'
Nothing. 'Rabat -Pilai, you idiot
why didn't you knock down TITS con
founded nail?" He fell forward. pury
Fing his face in his hands, then lurchet
to the floor. where he lay, Jerkins
spesmodically.
The native-comprehending nothing
-plucked long knife from his oelt
With wild cry he sprang at the
planter, who covered him with ar
automatic.
Stop where you are. Rabat- Pilai
III deal with you later. Pennington
can you hear me? In half ar, noul
from now it won't matter very much
whether your friend in Jesseltor
finds fifty finger-prints on those
brushes. I've a launch in the bay
and a tong-kong standing off ready
to take me to The Philippines. + killed
Domberg. We'd loathed one another
pretty heartily ever since we met and
Domberg stood in Chai-Hung's way
and mine. It was ai-Hung SEM
me to Jesselton-to get you here
Drop that knife, you black-skinneS
devil. and get over In the corner
where I can see you He reached
down for his boots He stamped his
feet home-and the corners of Rabat
Pilais enormous mouth twitcned.