The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-08-01
ey EOs1oNp SHELL,
hlosTR%IEp e>


we go to bed. Lien-Yin-s coming
round in the morning-and then we
shall know all about it,
She clutched at his sleeve.
Jack, I can't sleep here with that
thing in the house. I've been feeling
perfectly horrible ever since they
brought 1t here. You call 1t nerves,
know, but I've seen things at the
window"
What sort of things?"
Il can't quite explain. Just vague,
shadowy objects. That was what
made me come to you. I could have
sworn 1 heard them breathing, and
once-for a fraction of a second-two
hands-like claws-rested on the sill.
1 should have gone made if I had
stayed
In spite of himself, the Commits
sioner glanced at the wide open aper-
ture through which the cool night
air filtered. His keen gaze fell upon
nothing but the rectangular patch of
blackness he had expected to see He
walked deliberately to it and tossed
the end Of his cigar into the garden.
There is nothing there, you see, -
he declared. Il tell you what it is,
Monica You're worrying too much
about young Pennington, and you
want a holiday. If you take my ad-
vice, you'll get married as soon as
he comes back-and get him to take
you for a long sea trip"
Aren't you looking rather far
ahead?'' said Monica demurely. You
forget-he hasn't asked me YETI
The Commissioner tapped the
bronze jar with his finger nail mo,
but he will as soon as I show him
that He was only waiting for proof
that our enemy was dead"
She came slowly back toward the
urn.
Proof" she dechoed in a voice SO
low that it was scarcely audible. Il
wonder if this clumsy thing proves
anything. For all we know-it may
be empty"
In which case" smiled her
brother there's nothing on earth
to prevent us going to bed"
But Monica was not listening. She
was passing her fingers over the
metal surface.
II fancy that band has something
to do with Nt-the band with the
four little gold studs"
She held her thumb poised over
the nearest of the four gold knobs.
It lowered for a second-a bare half
inch from the metal. and then-a
form plunged wildly through the
open window. landed in a crouching
on the bare boards, and. ex-
tending a lean arm, thrust her bodily
into a corner.
The bronze jar toppled awkwardly
and rolled to the floor. where the
Siamese kitten fellupon It in a frenzy
Of delight Hewitt wrenched open
the drawer in which his automatic
lay, and Monica, her eyes wide open
with terror, leant helplessly against
the wall, gazing into the Scared
swart face of a Chinaman. The in
truder's greasy coat was torn and
weather-stained, his feet were swathed
in sandals of plated straw, and his
features wore an expression that she
did not altogether understand.
Put them up" said the commits
sicner coldly, and the celestial, com
plying readily, bestowed on the as
tonished Hewitt a broad. boyish grin.
Don't keep me like this for long. I"
came the familiar. measured drawl
of Chinese Pennington. I've got
Lien-Yin trussed like a chicken out
side, and I'm as hungry as hunter
The commissioner tossed his wea-
pom back into the drawer in disgust.
Look here, old son." he complained.
What the deuce d'you mean by CIV
ing US shocks like thls?"
The scarecrow produced a rubber
pouch and began rolling himself a
cigarette.
I'm sorry if hurt you. Mrs. Whey,
only didn't like to see you fidding
about with that jar"
- wanted TO see what was inside"
She had recovered from the surprise
his sudden entry had given her. Her
cheeks were flushed and the folds Of
the kimono at her bosom rose and fell
il tune with her quick breathing.
Pennington ran his lower lip along
the gummed edge of the paper and
looked across at the Commissioner.
What did you suppose was in
side?"
He flung out the words like a chal-
lenge.
1.-THE ashes of our deeply-lamented
friend-Chai-Hung.
The younger man surveyed him
pityling.
1.-The ashes of fiddlesticksl Chat
Hung-of all men-starting out on
a new nne-and arranging to be
cremated! Doesn't sound very prob
able, does it? And yet I suppose
even I might have been deceived by
the delightfully."- plausible story-if
they hadn't chosen me to be one of
the bearersp'
Good Lord!'
Hewitt passed a clammy hand over
his forehead.
Suddenly Monica uttered a little
scream and pointed wildly to the
floor. The Siamese kitten that had
been playing with the bronze urn
was lying on its back, kicking spas
medically. The movements ceased
abruptly and before the Commission
er could reach it, the wretched crea-
ture was dead. More amazing still,
the bronze jar lay open, its gaping
mouth, dark and hollow like a tun-
mel, displaying no sign of the re-
mains had expected to see.
Poisoned" said the Commission
er hoarsely. Poor little devil"
1T was playing with the ~gold
stud" declared the girl sorrowfully.
ssNTr PENNINGTON don't Won think"