Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-21

missionary. And her mother was only half
Chinese. You pretended to take an interest IN
the Mission school, didn't you? You had her
fooled. but not me, you-you-"
"Oh, shut up, Bruce"-the detectives voice
was hrusque-"we don't have to 60 into details;
We al know what's happened, and Tsen Lee
knows we have him dead to rights. Give her up
quietly, and I'll see that this doesn't get on
the blotter. Make trouble for me, and I'll have
Chinatown shot from under you'll"
Tsen Lees black, opaque eyes did not waver.
Beside him, on carven table that served for
. desk and Was aclutter with red papers, paint
brushes and newspapers q stick Of incense sud-
denly dropped thin gray streamer Of ash on
his hand. He brushed it OF absent-mindedly,
his eyes stin fixed on the face of the detective.
But his fingers continued to rub the smudge
OF the ashes across his yellow skin. Something
seemed to amuse him, for again he smiled
slightly.
TT pleases your honorable self to be q
comedian" he purred you are using that
which the men of your nation call bluffs 1t
not 10? Surely YOU do not think, Honorable
Chaser Of Man Who Do Wrong, that am
ignorant Of the fact that you and this other
are hege-alone? And you must know that
know why you ore here alone? This visit is
unofhcial, Is 3 not? I am honored; bow;
and It Is better 50, for, If you had come with
many, II the policeman had disturbed the peace
Of my Insignificant house, should have been
forced for my protection to send word that the
ghi should be Disqualification long journey"
RRucE NORTON leaned forward. trembling.
But again Usher's warning glance saved
him from violent action.
"You would send word, Tsen Lee? Then the
girl Is mot here In your house? You give me
your word up0n white eock?"
Upon o white cock" answered the other
AAtly. "And should the girls body be found
tomorrow, cut into very small pieces. it would
be 6imcult for you to attach the blame to me.
Honorable Usher, since it can be % easily
proven that L-as yet-haye not had her in my
possession"
Now It was the hand of the detective that
c]enehed. He was suffering in the close, intense
heat q the room, his eyes smarted from the
heavy fragrance Of the incense.
He had known the terrific element Of danger
involved. 30 had Norton. One chance to win
through IN the midst Of thousand chances Of
disaster. But It had to be taken. Usher had
not been on the Chinatown squad 20 years for
nothing. He knew that, at the FIRST concen-
txa*ed movement Of rescue, the first oficial
threat, the girl whose life was so precious
to his friend would be spirited away, hidden,
disguised-or, as had happened many times
before IN similar cases. would be found In the
river.
Act 6 natural as you can" he had told
Norton: IL We can put over bluff Of having
the cards oil stacked for us. instead OF against
us We may get BY with 1t. OF course, can
arrest Tsen Lee-but that won't get Loya back
alive. And don't stir him up unnecessarily
for he's deadly. He knows ali the tricks Of
the trade, and then some!"
He was thinking Of 1t now. Tsen Lee had
known all tbs tricks Of the trade. He had
called his bluG out into the open and named it.
But there was one card that he had counted
on. Tsen Lees power with his tong was grow
ing less. Chinatown had been In o turmoil
for years, and peace had been established only
o short while ago. The Mission had powerful
friends among the Kip Yungs, hereditary enc
ndes % the Yet Sings There would surely
be trouble II this kidnapping were dealt with
openly. The Kip Yungs would avenge 1t, and
the Yet Sings would be drawn into 1t. though
unWiihngly, since Il Is considered ignoble to
hight for the sake Of a mere woman.