Evening star., 1934-06-24
By ETHEL BOCARDUS
illustrated By JOE KING

nearly 6. He would pick up Ruby as she came
from work.
A shadowy figure glided toward him. a
Chinese. in black robe.
"see Chinatown, mistah? Only bits" the
voice whned at his shoulder. Tod shook his
head impatiently. The figure continued to
shadow him.
RUBY say you come" the man whispered.
Tod halted So! The charming Ruby wished
to arrange their haison her own way Wen
perhaps it was the custom-Tod shrugged. No
one would know. 1t might be an amusing ad-
venture. 4ai.. ..
20. K. Where do go frst?" He turned
to his guide. The Chinese turned and glided
along Grant avenue toward Chinatown. For
several blocks Tod followed in silence This was
going to be fun! Secret passages. maybe-and
Ruby waiting for him in a room hung with
Oriental tapestries. His imagination pictured
bowls of incense, and joss sticks. soft lanterns,
and Ruby in Chinese costume.
His guide turned up side street, then down
an alley. Tod,s wrinkled at the smell of
drying fish and stale air. His guide vanished
in the shadow of a doorway. Tod followed.
The door swung noiselessy shut
single light burned at the end of a long
hall Then an abrupt turn and wooden stair
way leading down Another long corridor so
dark that Tod had to feel his way along damp
walls. The air was foul. -
Suddenly a light flashed in his face. He
was thrust into a room as brilliant as the cor
ridor had been dark For an instant he could
see nothing against the binding glare. He shut
his eyes against the shock of light Opening
them, he started back in horror.
Facing him in a sinister line were six
Chinese-mandarins Tod supposed, in the con-
fusion of his thoughts. Each wore long.
black embroidered silk robe and small black
skull cap Each had a narrow dropping mus
uache extending down each side Of his chin
half way to his waist. Before each man stood a
small teakwood table and on each table lay
cleaning, wicked-looking dagger!
TOR second Tod could only stare. Then
he took step forward. This couldn't be
real. A threatening murmur halted him. Each
man had made a warning move. He stopped.
Real terror seized him.
As if from a great distance. a voice sounded:
-Chinese-grl!' A pause. In
terror Tod looked around the room. half ex-
pecting to see Ruby bound for torture. The
voice commanded him:
Speak" His voice was unrecognizabe when
it came:
"Chinese girl-just friend" it trailed off
in sheer panic as he watched six clawlike hands
emerge slowly from six black sleeves and move
toward the daggers. The voice sounded Sepul-
chral; tss.
you swear never - see - Chinese girl
againl"
Il swear 1T swear it'll" Tod's words came
in a rush. He took one step forward and
stopped again as six hands closed on the hilts
of the daggers. "I swear it'll" There was
silence Then the voice thundered:
"Go!"
For an instant he leaned against the wall. A
voice whispered:
Follow"
BY superhuman effort he stumbled again in
the wake of his guide. One short corridor-a
half dozen steps-and he felt the rush OF fresh
air He was standing on the street. alone.
There was a taxi stand. Tod beckoned the
driver. .
In the basement room he had just left high
laughter sounded. Six hands plucked the long
mustaches from smooth-shaven faces as five
of the Chinese merchants congratulated the
sixth. .,.,,,
"A most clever play, Lee Foo. We congratu-
late you" ....
Highly amusing. indeed" Lee Foo smiled
complacently.
"I am deeply grateful to my friends for their
help" He bowed in acknowledgment of theiI
compliments and himself offered the cups oi
tea. e.,a
In the morning Ranleigh wakened with q
start of terror, then forced himself to relax
He lighted cigarette with fingers that were
barely steady and reflected moment.
Then he picked up the bedside phone anc
called the Swinging Lantern Tea Room.
"rd like to speak to Ruby Lee" His voict
him sweetly:
I'm sorry Miss Lee doesn't work here AM
more. You will find her at her fathers store
Lee Foo's on Grant avenue"