The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-08-15
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Pennington's eyes blazed.
Sergeant Danudin, round up those
men and follow. Bring all the pro-
visions you can lay your hands on.
What direction are they taking,
Rabat?"
Due east, tuan. There are others
who came with me who could wait
at certain points until the soldiers
found the path
AS Pennington followed upon the
heels of Rabat-Pilai he found time
to be sorry for Maj, ]. Lacy Arni-
tage and the inevitable failure of his
expedition; he was sorry, too, that
the man who preached efficiency could
rot have been there at that moment
TO appreciate the caliber of the net
work he himself was fast drawing
round Chai-Hung; little. brown. incon-
spicuous mortals, each cherishing a
special hatred for their quarry and
assisted by a jungle telegraph coded
and adapted by Chinese Pennington.
At the bend in the track Ratbat-
Pilai touched Pennington gently.
They are not far ahead, tuan. They
are making for the house in the rocks
for Hung is tired-and his arm
pains him
They will not have killed the white
MANI"
Rabat-PiIai shook his head.
Not yet---or they would have left
his body for US to find"
The corners of Pennington's mouth
turned down and he examined the
clip of cartridges in his automatic
1.-THE Chinese, Major Armitage. are
inherent gamblers. There are few
among US, in fact. who would not
easily be tempted to hazard their
entire fortunes at game Of chance.
Chai-Hung sat bolt upright in his
high-backed chair and smiled.
80 I believe" returned the Eng
lshman coldly. Now that his limbs
were freed he was beginning to get
over that feeling Of injured dignity
that had accompanied his capture.
May I ask what you intend doing
with me?"
It was apparent that the bandit was
equally capable Of affecting deafness.
Hence the Yellow Seven" he con-
tinued at is I who decide upon our
victims, but the hand that carries
out the death penalty is rarely mine.
The matter is decided by form Of
lottery. The Yellow Seven is mixed
I'D with other cards and those who
at that moment form my bodyguard
draw for it in turn. The thing is
done quite openly and the sign of our
society left pinned to the victim"
The majors throat had gone sud
denly dry.
His glance dropped from the broad
yellow face to the black sling in
which the bandits arm reposed.
Chai-Hung began speaking again,
with cultural metallic harshness that
Jared on Armitage~
Whatever my enemies may have
told you. Major Arnlitage, I am at
heart a sportsman and, although /
must frankly confess the insult to
ny intelligence the nature Of your
expedition against me seemed to i'm
ply offended me deeply, there still
remains enough that is good in my
nature to appreciate your daring"
The eyes that fixed themselves upon
Armitage's monocled countenance
glowed like live Goals. 81 was sorely
tempted to return insult for insult
and let you go free; for do not fear
YOU. you poor fool nor-if this were
my only stronghold-would l be afraid
you could find your way here again.
/ was tempted, I repeat-until I re-
nembered my left hand. 1t was taken
from me. as you may have heard. by
one of your agents-one Rabat-Pilai.
You can hardly blame me, Major
Armitage, if I tell you I have sworn
an oath to sever the left hand from
any British agent who may fall into
my hands,
Armitage did not lack courage. He
returned the others gaze.
ct see" he said reflectfully. You
propose turning me adrift in unknown
territory-minus my hand, And you
claim to be a sportsman I tell you
what We'll do. Mr.. ChaiHung. MY
Chinese interpreter - SingHo - intro
duced me to a pleasant little game of
chance. which should not be unknown
of that cupboard where your man
deposited my effects. I'll play you for
my hand. Mr.. Chai-Hungl It is the
game of the little black and red cube
and the brass box The red shall sig
nifty my hand. May trouble you for
my pencil and one of those folded
sheets of paper I carried?"
The high hacked chair creal<od nc
Chai-Hung's back met IT.
You are a brave man, Major Ar
nitage. We will play this game"
He touched a brass gong at his side
and the attendant entered quietly.
Bring me the game that you took
from the English gentleman. the pen-
ell and his notebook"
Without a tremor Arrnitage set
the little brass box squarely in the
center Of the paper and drew lines
from each corner Of tha thing to the
corresponding corners of the sheet.
Round the box itself he marked a
square and lifted the lid to show the
cube resting firmly in IT'S slot in the
inner portion. He slid back the top
and turned the box over and over
between his fingers.
'The red will face this square," de-
clared Chai-Hung, indicating the Sec
ton with f1nger-nail of enormous
length.
Taking the cover between finger
ard thumb. Armitage lifted slowly. He
paused midway. conscious that the
man who sat opposite had turned