Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1929-10-10

Va Sh1oc4 " obVtih VIII II
Chicaso Tribune syndicate.)
IN TWO PARTS-PART TWO
GLADE came softly through the shad-
ows. SO softly that the native who
- drowsed against the bole of the palm
awakened to his presence only wher
Slade stood over him.
Man." Slade said in the native
tongue. slapping against his leg the
little stick he carried. lis it to sleep
your master pays you at the end OF
every moon?"
The brown man shuffled his feet
Lord, the sun was so hot!"
Slade tapped him on the chest with
the point of the little cane. And
your master is blind? Now listen
From this day you work as you are
or the rain cold, whether the wind
blows or the stars come out by day
For l am your masters eyes, and l
see everything, though you may not
see me. And I am your masters ears,
and I hear everything. even to the
talking of the ghosts. What is your
name?"
"Tembi, master"
CyCo WClC COld 10 uCtlll.
"Tembi, you will tell me where you
drink the smoke of the poppy, and
what man brings it to Alaoi."
But the man was sullen. Master, /
know nothing"
Slade smiled. And you will know
less; for l with my wonderful eyes
can see the little ghosts that crowd
your path, and know that soon they
will set a snare for your spirit"
He went his way, swinging the
little cane, leaving a man very badly
frightened but still communicative.
He went down to the house of Ii
Cheen, and the little yellow man
greeted him with a smile. In the old
days Lii Cheen had been cook aboard
the Shark, before Slade left him on
Alaoi to watch over the interests of
Marsh and the girl, his wife.
Lii Chem Slade said, you smoke
opium?"
Ii Cheen admitted it without shame.
"Alitle; for, as you know, excess in
anything is madness"
That is true" Slade nodded. Where
do you get it?"
1T is brought to me, SO many times
a year." Ii Cheen said with a little
smile.
If some were stolen, you would miss
it?"
Yes"
Then where do the natives get the
opium they smoker"
Il did not know of this" Lii Cheen
said, in some surprise. You are sure?"
Il don't talk to hear my voice."
Slade said, shortly. Keep your ears
open and see if you can find out where
that stuff is coming from. When you
do, let me know"
Slade, returning, met Marsh among
the avenues of trees.
Well" Marsh said, almost on the
defensive, "see anything wrong?"
Slade took his arm. Nothing, ex-
cept that your men are lazy. / sup
pose that's only natural, though. I'll
wake them up a bit"
Il want you to remember you're a
guest
Slade laughed. Come on down and
we'll go over the Shark"
Lii Cheen came to Slade that night
as shadows fitted down. BLAND has
the opium he said without preamble.
He sells it to the natives, threaten
ing to sell no more If they give away
his secret"
About that time Bland sat in a dark
room, facing Tembi, the native. Be-
tween them was a little lamp with a
naked flame that threw shadows into
the corners and behind the two men.
Tembi, squatted on his heels; Bland
leaned forward, elbows on knees, watch
ing him.
This you will do" Bland said, "or
this mans spirit will eat yours, and
you will wander always in darkness,
hearing nothing, seeing nothing, know
ing nothing"
The brown man shivered. Lord, I
am afraid"
Here is courage" said Bland.
Tembi held out his pipe. Bland
bowl, leaned back. Tembi drew the
black smoke into his lungs.
This man is afraid of you," Bland
said. THAT is why he will kill you
unless you kill him first"
Tembi nodded gravely.
"You will go to the house and watch
the room where he sleeps. When the
light has been out an hour, creep
through the window, and strike quick
ly. Only then will you be SAFE"
Tembis hand dropped to the knife
thrust through the string about his
middle. This I will do"
Tembi came like a shadow to the
house on the hill.
After some time he saw the window
glow to brightness. A curtain had been
drawn across, and on this a shadow
moved, passing back and forth.
Beneath the window, a dark, motion
less shape, he listened a long time.
The curtain drew aside with nc more
than the fainteSt whisper to tell of
its movement. Now the room lay be-
fore him, a cave of blackness into
which he peered with narrowed eyes.
He was not afraid-the smoke of the
poppy assured that. But he was eau
tiOuS,
He gripped the wood, drew himself
up without a sound. Then it was that
from behind two hands took him by
the elbows, wrenched him back. A
heave, and Tembi lay fiat in the grass,
staring up into the face of the man
he was to have killed.
Tembi, frightened now, lay still.