The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-08-02
:5NG NGGl@W SGVGM
y The Bronze Jar O.
BY Edmund Smell,


form plunged wildly through the
open window, landed in crouching
attitude on the bare boards, and, ex-
tending lean arm, thrust her bodi-
ly INTO corner.
The bronze jar toppled awkwardly\
and. rolled to the floor, where the
Samcse kitten fell upon it in 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 scarred!\
swart face of Chinaman. The in
truder's greasy coat was torn and
weather-staj ned, his feet were
swathed in sandals of plated straw,
and his features wore an expression
that she did not altogether under
stand.
"Put them up!" said the Commits
sioner coldly, and the celestial. COM
plying readily, bestowed, on the as
tonished Hewitt broad, boyish
grin.
Don't keep me like this for long,"
came the familiar, measured drawl
Lien-Yin trussed like chicken out
side, and I'm as hungry as hunt
er!" ~.
The Commissioner tossed his wea-
pom back into the drawer in disgust.
"Look here, .Dold son." he COM
planned. What the deuce d'you
mean by giving US shocks like this?'
The scarecrow produced rubber
pouch and began rolling himself
cigaret.
I'm sorry if I hurt you, Mrs.
Whey, only didn't like to see you
fiddling about with that jar" avn"
II wanted to see what was inside"
She has recovered from the sur
prise his sudden entry had given
her. Her cheeks were flushed ana
the folds of the kimono at her bosom
rose and fell in tune with her quckr
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 chal-
lenge.
"The ashes of our deeply-lam{nted~
Misunderstanding"
The younger man surveyed him
pityingly.
"The ashes of fiddle-sticks! Chat
Hung-of all men-starting out on
| new line-and arranging to be
cremated! Doesn't sound very prob
able, does it? And yet l suppose
even might have been deceived by
the delightfully."- plausible story-if
they hadn't chosen me to be one of
| the bearers!"
"Good Lord!"
Hewitt passed 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 spasmodi-
cally. The movements ceased abruptly
and before the Commissioner could
reach it, the wretched creature was
dead. More amazing still, the bronze
jar lay open, its. gaping mouth, dark
and hollow like a tunnel, displaying
no sign of the remains Hewitt had
expected to see.
Poisoned" said the Commission
er hoarsely. "Poor little devil!"
ut was playing with the gold
stud," declared the girl sorrowfully.
"Mr. Pennington, you don't Think"
II do! knew it before l came in.
1--we been hanging around here all
! evening, trying to give Lien-Yin the
slip and prevent you both making
fools Of yourselves"
| He turned the jar with his foot
and all three recoiled in horror.
There fluttered out on to the floor
a strip Of pasteboard. BY a freak Of
chance, it fell face-uppermost, show
ing seven black dots on a vivid yell
low ground-the dread sign of the
Yellow Seven!
The Commissioner was the first
/ to move.
"Look here, Pennington" he
shouted, where's this fellow lien
Yin?'
The other nodded toward the door.
"Your mans got himsout there.
D'you want to see him?"
II want to make certain he doesn't
get away"
He fumbled with something in the
drawer again and made for the We
randa. 'Wt tssq 7jt 7at 'ait
Monica looked up at Pennington,
and there were tears in her eyes.
I'm heart-broken about Peter"
she said softly, "but I'm awfully
grateful to you for, what you did"
my dear Mrs. Whey" protested
Pennington, screwing up his eyes,.
For the love of heaven, call her
'Monica!" bawled the Commissioner
over his shoulder. He went out,
slamming the door after him.
ISLAND NJ" the next episode of
this gripping series, will start in our