The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-08-07
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ahead or MIN rose a wall or rock,
sheer and frowning At the foot of
the rock nestled a broad, squat hut,
rooted with dried sago-leaYes. Sit
ting TRANQUILITY at his ease, his fat
fingers interlaced over an enormous
paunch that even fever had not sue
ceeded in reducing to any appreci-
able extent, was Chai-Hung. He sat
alone, wrapped in a blanket acquired
in one of his numerous raids, his
feet crossed in front of him, his back
resting against one of the poles that
supported the building.
For a matter of seconds the COM
missioner of police stared in mutA
fascination at this apparition: pro-
longed scrutiny left no doubt in his
mind as to the accuracy of Penning-
tons statement. Chai-Hung had beea
i'll. There were dark rings under his
eyes, his cheeks had fallen in, ana
the rolls of fat that hung from his
jowl were suspended like the shape
less lines of debating balloon.
The bandit rose to his feet with a
sudden effort, clutching at the pole
for support Presently = he steadied
himself and came slowly toward the
spot where Hewitt was hiding, his
beady eyes blazing with a light that
was almost supernatural. The com
missioner, fumbling for his hip
pocket. swayed sideways and broke
the spell that held him. Scarcely
conscious Of what he was doing, he
left the trees and, covering half the
distance that separated them. leveled
his automatic deliberately at Chai-
Hung.
The Oriental did not finch. He let
the blanket slip from his broad shout
ders and returned the others gaze
with a placid smile.
"You want to see me. Captain
HEWITT" he inquired with that oily
smoothness- he could pour over the,
habitual harshness of his information
when he choose.
az want you to put both your
hands above your head. Mr.. Char
Hung, and to come with me imme-
diately."
The bandit smiled again.
May I ask where you propose
taking me? It would be unkind per
haps to remind you that you have
lost your wayi"
He lifted both arms as he spoke.
apparently in accordance with
Hewitt's request, and at that mo-
ment the commissioner felt himself
pinioned securely from behind. So
suddenly and cleverly conceived
was the attack that the Englishman
was overpowered without a strug-
gle, bound hand and foot with leath-
ern thongs swiftly and securely
knotted. And, as he lay helpless at
the bandits feet, Chai-Hung sig
nailed for the stool of carved black
temporary residence.
! 'I am going to take you into my
confidence, - Mr.. Commissioner" he
said. Il am desperate man, driven
by your agents into a corner, forced
to suffer privations that do not al
together agree with a man Of my
habits. I am Ill, as you see. but I
am going to recover. My wings have
been clipped, but - they will grow
tain Hewitt is any-headed-and
each head has fang" The corners
of his evil mouth turned down.
Have you ever heard Of a sixth
sense?-a mysterious intuition that
indicates when one is being spied
upon?--I felt the promptings of that
sense-last night The man they
call He Who Sees in the Dark
came to my house and you Will
understand me fully when tell you
that I returned the call. The man
who brought this Pennington to me
I have dealt with I have put out
his eyes, so that he will never see
again; I have removed his fingers,
so that he may never point out the
way. There are only three people
in existence who stand between Chat
Hung and the freedom of movement
he desires. You know them all, Cap
tain Hewitt. There is Chinese PEN
nington, your sister-and yourself.
Now, observe how cleverly I have
separated them. You are already in
my power, Pennington Is awaiting for
nightfall-down by the >sago-swamp,
and Mrs. Whey is alone in Dawson's
bungalow-alone, because have ar
ranged that Dawson shall be kept
away until I think it fit for him to re-
turn" He paused for a moment
and a preposterously exaggerated
fnger-nail pointed toward the COM
missioner. Each shall perish in his
turn. and each in a different manner.
L am reserving you for the last. be-
cause should like you to live long
enough to ralize the power of Chat
Hung, the inevitable triumph of the
Yellow Seven. think I can safely
assure you that you will not have to
wait long,"
He reached for a branch and pull
ing himself to his feet, went slowly
back to the hut. a hunch-backed
coolie following him with the stool.
Hewitt, a prey to a host of un.
pleasant reflections, tore feebly at the
thongs that held him. A sudden
movement in his immediate vicinity
caused him to jerk his head painfully
round. He saw a short, thick-set
Oriental with a parange hung from
his waist. leaning truculently against
the jack-fruit tree.
You will remember me. oh Eng
lishman, said the sentry grimly. "T
am Lai-Ho, that was the servant of
Hyde. 1t would be better perhaps to
remain still
1t was more than~an hour before
Chai-Hung returned. He was superb
ly clad in a mandarin jacket of blue
embroidered with silver dragons and