The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-08-04
~ EpstoNp SHELL.
Ml0sTRAIEn ~
R.MSAruERFiElD

something she had lost. It's a queer
business altogether" he added help
lessly. The Waterman told me she
had both arms. outstretched in front Of
her, and that She chose path Of her
own between the trees"
Yes" broke in Hyde impatiently.
What then?"
Il found a hurricane lamp and
started off in the direction he indi-
Gated. At first her footsteps were
pretty clearly marked, but after a
hundred yards or so they petered out
altogether. 1t seemed as II the earth
had been freshly raked over for an
appreciable distance, and then I ran
across other tracks which, when fol
lowed. only brought me back to the
spot from which I'd, started" He
shuddered Involuntary. Pennington,
what on earth does it all mean?"
at means that your wife has been
kidnapped by the Yellow Seven and
that there's no sleep for any Of us
until we get her back You found
nothing on the path, nothing that
could be Of assistance?"
Bateson shook his head. lie dived
a hand into a side pocket and pro-
duced a crumpled mass of cane AMI
cloth.
Nothing at all-except this. 1t
was partly imbedded in the soil and
I chung to it in sheer desperation"
Fennington's hand shot out and took
1t from him. He spread 1t out on
the saddle Of the assistants pony that
stood quietly grazing. Hyde peered
over his shoulder.
What is it?' he inquired huslily.
II can't answer you yet. daren't.
It's nothing-or everything. Strike
light one Of YOU"
II can tell you what's on It," jerked
out Bateson suddenly. Its a Japa-
'nese fan--the thing, imagine. that
Dora was bringing to you. There's
a photograph on tor Island N.
That's ALL
Pennington gave a wild cry.
Hyde" he shouted, muster every
Waterman you've got; send out an
urgent S o S to your assistants.
Don't trust a soul that you have not
the utmost confidence IN Or we're lost.
There's a score of native fishermen at
the waters edge. Commander their
canoes and get across to the island
as soon as you can. Then take cover
AS soon as you hear me fire, come. Is
that quite clear?"
Perfectly. What about you? How
are you going to get, across?"
That's my affair. But when you
come, don't look for Chinese Pen
nington. Search around for He Who
Sees in the Dark the Chinaman With
the SCARED face whom think you
have already met"
He grinned broadly-and was gone.
sss
The oil lamp fared up suddenly
and Dora Bateson, crouching in a
corner of the nut, saw the ponderous
form Of Chai-H Hung creeping through
the narrow aperture. He rose pres
emily to his feet and sat heavily upon
a black-wood stool that. was the only
piece of furniture of watch the howell
boosted.
Good evening. Mrs. Bateson," he
began in a grating voice. You are
wondering no doubt why have
brought you here, and what I am
I'm not the least bit afraid of you,
Mr.. Chain-Hung." retorted the girl
steadily She shifted into a more COM
Portable position on the rotting boards
and, looking upward. caught a glimpse
Of a star-llt heaven through a spot
IN the roof where the steps had fallen
away.
Dora Bateson was afraid of shad-
ows, but the substance held no ter
rors fer her. The harsh voice of the
notorious bandit. the trick he had of
contracting his pupils until they be-
came like points of flre-inspired her
with certain inexplicable fear; but
she was by no means afraid of Chat
Hung himself.
How did you get me here?" she
demanded presently.
Chai-Hung smiled blandly
1T was exceedingly SINE Mrs.
Bateson. If you are able to remember
anything, you will admit that you
started out apparently of your own
accord. That is what we term-The
Fan Trick"
Dora's brow wrinkled. ~
| 1.-The Fan Trick Her eyes spar.
killed. with the light Of sudden knowl.
| edge. Then I'm on Island Np' she
exclaimed Aren't you a tribe un-
wise, Mr.. Chai-Hung, in selecting a
| hiding place so near to the mainland?"
Chai-Hung positively beamed.
| Not in the least, my dear lacy
OF all my enemies, there is only one
that I have any cause to fear. They
call him He Who Sees in the Dark,
but you would recognize him more
readily under his real name-Chinese
Pennington He paused to observe
The effect Of his words, but the girl
controlled her features admirably
Pennington bounded me from Jes.
selton and drove me, as he still per-
sists in believing. into the backwoods.
He succeeded in one respect. He
made it necessary for me to resort
to strange expedients to obtain money.
That is precisely why you are here to
night, Mrs Bateson."
He gazed at her through half closed
AZ shall send a messenger to your
husband-for money" rasped Chat
Hung between his teeth. IF the mes
senger does not return, shall send
another and still another-for messen-
gers are cheap and the lips Of the
Yellow Seven are sealed. shall ask
for 0.000-one for each Of your beau
| tiful fingers. But, with each further
messenger I shall send a finger"
The girl had risen>to her feet, her
eyes blazing with fury.
"You-devili'
The great Chai-Hung backed toward
the opening. bowling as he did so.