Evening star., 1927-03-26

| the window in Chinese and English
announced that the place was occu
| pied by Peng Yuen, dealer in Oriental
goods. Once, years ago, while the
| district was ripped and rocked by one
of it's frequent tong wars, the Phan-
tom had CHANGED to do Peng Yuen
great favor, and the Chinaman had
sworn undying gratitude and promised
to show his appreciation in practical
way if the opportunity should ever
come. A strange friendship had de-
veloped, and Peng Yuen, though willy
and rascally in his dealings with
others. had impressed the Phantom as
man whom he could safely trust.
The front door of the store was
dark, but through an open door in the
rear came a shaft of light.
AS he waited the Phantom threw an
uneasy glance up and down the street.
Luck had been with him so far, but
the tension was beginning to tell on
his nerves.
A puny figure crossed the path of
light, then the door opened a few
inches and the two arrivals were
given a keen, slant-eyed scrutiny. The
Phantom knew a little Chinese, and
few words spoken in that tongue
had a magic effect on the man on the
inside. With curious obeisance he
drew back and motioned them to en-.
ter. The Phantom, pushing his
quarry ahead of him through the door.
spoke a few more words in Chinese,
and their host pointed invitingly to the
door in the rear.
The three entered, and Peng Yuen,
arrayed in straw-colored garments en-
broidered with black bats, shot the
bolt. His face was as impassive as
that of the image of Kuan-Yin pu TIE
which stood on shelf over lac
ouered teakwood cabinet, and he was
so slight of stature that it seemed as
though a puff of wind would have
blown him to the land of his ances-
tors. The air in the little den was
heavy with scents of the East.
The light, filtering through shades
OF green and rose, gave Granger his
first clear view of the Phantom's face,
With a start he fell back a step and
stared at his captor out Of gradually
widening eyes. The last signs of
stupor fed from his face, and a
startled cry rose in his throat as the
Phantom smilingly snatched the false
mustache from his lips
The Chinaman, standing with arms
folded across his chest, viewed the
scene with supreme indifference.
Granger slowly ran his hand across
hso IVA NakEdut dS H WOI10EIlnE5 WnGJnGT
MS senses were playing him tricks
His lips came apart, and a startled
gleam appeared In his bieary, heavy
Hdded eyes.
''The-the Gray Phantom, he NUT.
tered shakily, wefting his lips and
falling back another step.
The Phantom looked amused. Just
think what a scoop you've missed.
Granger" He turned to the China.
man. "Peng. you old heather, guess
you know they are accusing me of
murder"
&o?" said Peng Yuen in his slow.
Ese English "T did not know. I
read the newspapers
hen. OF course. you are not aware
the police are conducting lively
search for me?"
MY friend" said the Chinaman.
unimpressed. II have told YOU that /
do not read the papers
The Phantom searched the almond.
SNAPPED eyes for sign of a twinkle.
but found none
"Peng Yuen, you are lying like a
gentleman. 1t grieves me to shatter
such beautiful ignora nee. but It must
De done. i did not commit the mur-
der OF which l am accused. For rea.
sons OF my own / desire to find the
murderer and hand him over to the
police. am seriously handica pped
by the interest the authorities are
taking in me. which makes it unsafe
for me to move a single STEP / have
thought Of q ruse by which the oh.
stacle may be removed
The Chinaman lifted his brows in.
quiringly.
This gentleman" continued the
Phantom, indicating the inebriate, 'is
hr TbnFnna Cx~on
the Sphere. AS you may have no.
ticed. he looks something like me. The
police, deceived by the resemblance
took 1t into their heads to arrest him.
He was able to give a satisfactory ac.
count of himself, Of course, and his
fingerprints quickly convinced the au
thorities they had made a mistake.
They are not likely to make that kind
of mistake a second time. You follow
me. Peng Yuen?"
The ghost of a grin f1ickered across
the Chinaman's face. "Your words.
my friend, have their roots in eternal
wisdom"
Thanks for that kind thought.
Peng Yuen. / knew you would see
the point Granger has seen it. too.
though his mind is not functioning
with its usual brilliance tonight. He
has consented to disappear for a few
days and has agreed to let me borrow
his identity in the meantime. As the
Gray Phantom / can scarcely move a
step. In the role of Thomas Granger.
newspaper reporter, / shall be able TO
move about unmolested. What. Gran
ger-not backing out of the bargain.
] hope?''
A seemingly careless gesture with
the pistol, together with a warning
look, quickly silenced the protests on
Changers lips. After a few moments
OF fidgeting and indecision. he accent
cd the situation with a good. tured
grin, as If its humorous side had an
pealed TO him.
Excellent" drawled the Phantom.
Il knew you would be reasonable,
| Now we strip"
He handed the pistol to Peng Yuen.
placed his metal case on the table
and began to remove his clothes
Granger followed his example, and in
| a few minutes the two had exchanged
garments. The reporter was addicted
TO vivid hues and extreme designs. At
| iirst the Phantom felt q trifie uncon-
Portable in the strange garb, but he
knew IL was necessary to the role he
| was assuming. He studied the re.
! porter carefully while he took a mum.
Der OF tubes and vials from his case
Granger was a younger man, his eyes
were of a slightly different hue from
the Phantom's and there were other
/ differences, which were easily discern
| ible to the keen eye.
| The Phantom. viewing himself in a.
cheval glass, daubed q dark tint over
the gray at his temples With an