The Indianapolis times., 1923-07-30
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W AAe1I iAiOIC VI JO0 FdAAL.
Pennington dropped wearily into a
chair.
I'm not satisfied" he told him.
My contract was to get the bighter,
dead or alive. did neither. I couldn't.
I had a horde of his ruffians at my
heels and young Brabazon to get out
of the scrape into which he'd tum-
bled. Brabazon took my pistol and
kept them off, while I threw Chai-
Hung into the death chamber. 1t was
full of poisonous fumes, III admit,
and L doubt if fly could have lived
IN it; but I'd have given everything Il
possessed to see that villainous face
composed for its last sleep"
You ignore the Importance of cir
cumstantial evidence" said Hewitt.
That was a month ago. There hasn't
been a single outrage since. And
every Chinaman on the island want
into mourning. ! That's good enough
for me, and it ought to be good
enough for you
""Ahr@commented Chinese Penning-
ton, still unconvinced. Have you
any idea where they buried him."
The commissioner shook his head.
Have you?" +
No That's the devil Of 1t. I've
been wandering from place to place,
in my Usual elaborate disguise, try
ing to find out. Don't you see my
pointT'
Hewitt sat back in his chair.
IT'S deuced odd he admitted.
Look at it another way" pursued
Pennington. "Chai-Hung was a celeb
rity. He had an immense following.
Wouldn't you think they'd stick up
a monument over his last resting
place instead of keeping the whole
affair a dead secret?"
The commissioner brought both
hands on to the arms Of his chair.
'I don't quite know what to think, E"
he said slowly. IF Chai-Hung's dead.
as I honestly believe he Is, there's
precious little left to worry about.
On the other hasd, If he managed
somehow to get out of the death trap
he'd set for Brabazon-it's a damned
serious proposition" He rose to his
feet and began pacing the room. 1.-THE
responsibility of my position here at
this moments getting on my nerves, 4"
he complained presently. "I can't
help realizing that the safety of every
white man, woman and child depends
on the accuracy, of my deductions
with regard to these gang.murders. 4"
''In which case" put in Penning-
ton quietly, wouldn't it be better to
make sure?"
Hewitt swung round on his heel.
Howe he demanded
Get in touch with his ageut-Lien-
Yin. Tell him that at all costs he
must furnish you with every proof
that Chai-Hung is dead"
The Commissioner pressed the bell.
It's hell of nuisance" >he an.
nounced somewhat testily;"and I'm
only going through with it for your
sake-and Monica s."
Pennington closed the door after
him and strolled toward where Mrs.
Viney was sitting, the Siamese cat
curIed up fast asleep in her lap. A
chafr-a long cane affair, with cush.
ions in chintz covers-was drawn III
so closely that its protruding arm al.
most touched hers. The very prox.
unity of the thing thrilled him and
he accepted the invitation It offered.
You wanted to talk to me-" he
ventured at length.
The girl regarded him thoughtfullv
Yes, I" she admitted ST want YOU
to tell me what I ought to do. II
seems so dreadful not to have some
definite object in life. It's been borne
upon me rather forcibly lately that
I'm no real use to anybody. I'm SUD
! posed to be keeping house for my
brother. He looked after himself very
well before I came out. The truth
is-I'd nowhere else to go. I inter
fere with his work; he's perpetually
anxious for my safety, and he's seri
| ously exercised as to my future" She
| picked up her fan and yawned behind
1t. 'Things-can't go on Iike.this for
ever. can they?"
II suppose not" agreed Termination,
fnwardly cursing his luck that pre-
vented him voicing what to him, at
that moment, was an amazingly sim
PIE solution to the difficulty
There's only one thing for it" con
tinued Monica desperately. 1--WE got
to get married.
Pennington crimsoned to the roots
of his ruff1ed hair
Married. he echoed blankly.
'I suppose you're going to tell me
that I've had one husband already
band ought to be satisfied with that"
| 81 wasn't"
Swear to me that you didn't even
think it,
II swear" said Pennington, recover
ing himself somewhat. ITO tell the
unvarnished truth, was wonder
ing" rA
WHO the victim was to be- That's
just what I wanted to talk to you
about. I've received "a proposal of
marriagei"
She paused to observe the effect of
her statement upon her hearer, but
she could only see the few unruly
hairs that -sprouted up at the back
of his head, just where the irregular
parting ended
"Verbal?" he inquired with exag.
gerated disinterestedness.
mo, in writing. Would you like to
see it?"
Good Lord, no."
He turned toward her, his boyish
face twisted into an expression of
Mortified amazement
"Oh, 1 wouldn't have shown 1t to
any ordinary man. You see, don't
regard you as an ordinary being.N
Whats his name?" asked Penntne-