Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-15
By 81
e. PHILLIPS
OPPENF1EIM
. copyyisht, lsas, hs North Amer.
~ SewspaneF Alliance and
fesrseelitan Newseassf esss.

between me and my special opponent.
and then, with o thrill of horror !
remembered the third man, who had
disappeared Almost as swung round
to look for him, I fell. arms encircling
my neck. A blow upon my wrist sent
my revolver Gathering to the ground.
and the fingers OF long, cruel hand
searched. for my windpipe.
struggled like o mailman. but. IN
the midst of my agonizsd efforts, saw
the man who had been at my mercy
run forward with a yell of triumph,
pick up his knife, and move towards
me-. was holding my own against
the fierce grip of that third man, but
I could do no more than that, for the
moment. was helpless against the
uplifted knife Of the man lowering over
me. That single seconds forgetfulness
seemed to have brought me death.
My last effort, made with all the
strength possessed, freed me from the
but left me powerless against that
knife glittering within few feet OF
my chest. Death seemed very close at
that moment. and death 1t must have
been, save for what certainly was q
most amazing happening. felt a
+ scorching on the cheek, the warm
blood rolling down my neck, but a
miracle had occurred. The man In
'front.'. In the act of striking, his knife
poised, the lust Of murder in his eyes.
went backward like q. log, with
Q small hole in his forehead: I stag
geFed. around. Mr.. Tul-Kak was
standing behind me, one barrel of his
ponderous, old-fashioned revolver Sr1ok-
Ing. He was pointing 1t at the man
who had been holding me from behind,
as though uncertain whether or not to
deal with him In the same manner.
The adventure was over, however.
The Chinaman came smiling up the
stairs, wiping his knife upon the In
side OF his robe and leaving behind
him o crumpled form upon landing.
The only one Of our assailants who
was comparatively unhurt was the man
who had nearly throttled me, and I
believe that Tul-Kak would have shot
the help of which brief respite the man
took flying leap down the stairs and
disappeared.
You saved my life, sir" told Tul-
Kak. don't want to shoot that man
like rabbit. He'll be hung some day
much better end for him. Therel
be trouble enough, as 1t Is"
II am happy to have been Of service, "
Tul-Kak said politely. "A bullet would
have been well placed In the body Of
that rufaan. but I obey your wishes.
Isaacs. the dealer, waits for you by the
lift. He has gone the other way round.
Place the Golfer In the safe Of the
hotel Your august friend has paid
me for my Buddha the price of a
prince in the manner Of o prince, and
desire him to have 1t.
- / saw the common sense Of Mr..
Tul-Kak's arguments, and, without
further hesitation, I prepared to depart.
had no occasion to ring for the
lift, for, when I reached its starting
place, found 1t, already there, the
gates open. Mr.. ISaacs upon the seat,
muttering excitedly to himself, and the
pale-faced attendant peering through
the grille and listening to the sounds
| below.
'"You have held the treasure, young
man?" Mr.. Isaacs gasped.
IT have held 1t all right Why don't
we start?"
There has been bloodshed!"' Isaacs
| sroaned.
| Lots Of It," I answered and there