The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-07-19

She shuddered and Chai-Hung rose
| to his feet.
"A distinctly unpleasant expert
ence,'' he commented suavely. And
| the piece of card-what was it like,
Mrs. Viney?"
at was as long as my index
| finger" broke in the commissioner,
with rounded corners. On one side
it was black, on the other yellow
with seven black dots, four of them
above a faint dividing line that ran
halfway-and three below"
Monica, leaning over the arm of her
| chair, wrinkled her forehead. She
| could have sworn that the habitually
unruffled Chai-Hung had started
violently.
IAN ordinary Chinese playing
card" he suggested.
The commissioner shook his head.
at was possibly intended to look
Like one, but the coloring was differ
cnt. The background is, I believe,
/ invariably white This was yellow.
I am inclined to attach a good deal
Of Importance to this card, Mr.. Chat
Hung. I fancy this theft was no
common theft. the perpetrator no
ordinary thief"
Chai-Hung regarded his watch.
What is your theory, Captain Hew-
lit, if I may ask?"
IT believe that this affair is not
wholly unconnected with the present
wave of anti-British feeling that pre-
walls everywhere. 1 look at it as a
carefully calculated plan to cause
| considerable annoyance to promi-
1,ent Englishman; the work, in fact,
of a secret society. Be that as 1t
may" he concluded abruptly, I'm
m about the biggest hole I've dropped
into during the whole Of my official
career"
Has it ever occurred TO you."
asked the oriental blandly. that a
secret society in the east is very
much the same as a trade union in
the West?"
Then you don't agree with me?'
Hardly"
But" cried Monica excitedly,
"how do you account for the yellow
severn"
Chai-Hung leaped to his feet and
stood glazing at her. his fists clench-
ing and uncleanching in his efforts to
choke down the fury that consumed
him.
What do you know of the<Yellow
! Severn" he demande dfiercely.
She regarded him in amazement.
Why" she retorted innoeently, cit
was yellowZzand there were seven
dots
"Of course. I was forgetting" he
admitted. half to himself. III do
! everything possible, Captain Hewitt. d"
/ At the entrance he turned.
Good afternoon, Captain Hewitt
Good-day, Mrs. Whey"
! He was off at a rapid pace and the
commissioner watched his red paper
umbrella until it was out of sight
He turned to find Pennington at
his elbow.
Good Lord, man! Howl did you
get here?"
] The other grinned. The only thing
, that was remarkable about Peter
/ Pennington was the angle at which
/ his eyes were set on an otherwise
youthful countenance. They ran
obliquely and were as celestial in
appearance as those of the great
/ Chai-Hung.
Game as far as the sun blinds"
Pennington explained. Heard the
sound Of voices-and retreated to the
kitchen entrance. Found your office
a damn sight cooler than the outer
atmosphere.
The commissioner survey him
doubtfully
you've been listening"
| II always listen" admitted the
newcomer unabashed. Its my Job. ;"
II suppose you gathered that our
oriental acquaintance is a washout as
far as this affair is concerned" said
Hewitt gloomily.
The younger man leant against the
wall and began rolloing a cigaret.
Afternoon, Mrs. Whey! Hot, isn't
it?"
"Frightfully. Mr. Pennington. you
don't really think Mr. Chai-Hung
will help Jack, do you? I think he's
a horrible man.
Know anything about Chat
/ L
Hewitt started.
Hes a prosperous Chinese mer-
chant. He plants rubber as a sort Of
profitable hobby. Chai-Hung's as
white as they make 'em, for all his
yello Wilde"
And yet he refuses to help your"
Not at all. He promised to do
his best. I hardly expected him to
send the damned pendant to me by
this evening""
Pennington tourned and gazed
thoughtfully toward a sea of infinite
| blue.
Thanks" he murmured driIy. ct
take it then that you place absolute
confidence in our friend?"
Certainly. I've no reason to do
otherwise"
The younger man swung slowly
round on his heel. He walked down
toward the kitchen quarters, then
came back and stood in front Of the
commissioners chair
IF Chai-Hung knows as much Of
/ the manners and customs of his
people as you are inclined to imagine,
he could have told you one thing at
least-if he had chosen. He could
have explained to you that the re-
covery Of the lost diamonds is every
moment becoming more difficult-be-
CO use 1t is changing hands with in
credible rapidity"
(COntinued i'm Our Next Tssual