The Daily Alaska empire., 1930-05-20

not know"
 Before I could reply slight noise fell on my ear and I swung around was just in time. Lusl We was hurting out of the door way, a butcher knife in his hand. His eyes were green and his ob- jective was F'lique's plump shoul- ders.
 I hit him on the chin with a powerful right drive and he drop ped at my feet. He was no bigger than boy.
 Thank you, my friend" Flique gasped. My little victory made me forget that he would come. It would have been most disagreeable, that knife"
 "Grainger must have told him, , I said.
 Did I not intend him to?" Flique inquired.
 You wanted him to commit him. self-is that it?" I exclaimed. Well, he's done so. Do you still believe he did not kill Parados?"
 And why should I change my mind?" Flique inquired, flinging out his hands. The murder was-um -premeditated. This would have been a crime of passion. There is a difference. But here is M Samuel"
 The deputy entered the room.
 What's all this?" he demanded
 Flique showed him the remains of the ancestral tablet and ex- plained what had happened.
 And so," Flique finished, had it not been for the good right arm Of M. rAntiquarie you would have had another trouble on your hand.
 T saw him streaking across the lawn with that knife" Samuels muttered. Get up!" He proddec Lum We in the ribs. The China man climbed slowly to his feet blinking in the sunlight.
 What have you got to say for yourself?" Samuels demanded. 1 Apparently Samuels was con- vlnced that Lum We had killed his master.
 Lim We bowed T am profound ly regretful, MT. Samuels," he said guileless of tone and expression |eI beseech the forgiveness of MT Tlique and to MT. Hunt I extend my admiration"
 Why did you attack Flique?"
 5"The hut of a poor man is the temple of his ancestors" he ex- lplained
 "You objected to him beins Ihere?"
 1 M. Flique perfumes the air witf I his goodness" Lum We continued and his eyes came to rest uneasill on the lacquer box, but the spirit of my father has walked on slen. der swords-and a devil invaded me"
 Who broke your ancestral tab let?" Samuels interrupted.
 MT. Palados," Lum We replied
 Because you burned incense t' your fathers spirit, when he hat forbidden you to do SOP" Lum We bowed. MT. Samuel has dipped his tongue in the oint. Iment of understanding" 50 you stole the phoenix?"
 Tt was his god" Lum We saic isimpIy, land he had polluted ths Espirit of my father"
 you broke 1t and returned it?' "de had extinguished the table of my fathers spirit" Samuels leaped forward are caught Lum We by the wrists.
 You stole the phoenix-yo, killed Parados; then you got scared and returned the phoenix broken You might as well come through. Metal flashed in the sunligh land Lum We was handcuffed. Eli. que was smiling ironically Lum We retained his composure MT. Samuels is perpetrating ar 1. error" he observed blandly. T dit fnot exterminate MT. Palados. HI put a devil in me, but I contentet it with breaking his god. Tha was enough" Lum We stated hi philosophy in those three words. Samuels had dragged the China man nearly to the door when Eli que spoke. F
 M. le Deputy, you are certain | this man killed monsieur?" you've heard his story haven you?" Samuels demanded wrathfui fly. "He tried to take your life ant . he's admitted that he stole afl' broke the phoenix. What more d 1 you want?" . Copyright. 1880, William Morrow and Company T Is Samuels right about Lum We? F1ique changes the dep