Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1935-05-03
CHAPTER III-Continued

-4H
1t had been removed that night I'M
der the very noses of the police and
was now safe from their curiosity!
In the luxuriously appointed little
cabin of the cruiser, Yuan drew from
the pocket Of his furlined coat string
of blazing fire opals, roughly threaded
on waXed silk. He threw them around
the long slender throat of his compan-
ion.
Tonight, can afford to be gener
ous," he said. "They suit you, Orange
Blossom, who are all fire and ice. :"
Dawson Haig pressed irritably again
and again upon the bell beside the
wicket gate of 10 Lungs warehouse
door. His light blue eyes sparkled
dangerously. Believing that the el,l-
sive Big Chief, having caused murder
to be committed upon the person of
Scotland Yard officer, was about to
elude him again, he was prepared to
stick at nothing
Then the wicket gate opened, and a
neatly groomed and imperturbable
Levantine stood before them, staring
with apparent surprise past Dawson
Haig and the detective sergeant to
where group of plain-clothes officers
and two uniformed men might be seen
in the narrow street.
"Good evening"" he said, smiling in
apparent confusion. I'm afraid you
have alarmed me-"
Indeed" said Haig. I'm sorry. I
am police officer, and I hold a war
rant to search these premises"
Really" the Greek exclaimed.
"But on what grounds have you OBJ
tanned this warrant?"
"Harboring man wanted for MUIR
der" was the grim reply. Come on,
Warrender."
Haig turned to a group of men who
had followed him in and:
Along the yard, ne ordered. Bear
to the left and you'll find door.
Through it and into the warehouse.
There are five small cases there, con-
Wallaroo to Sydney. When you find
them-let we know"
"One moment!" Polodos was the
speaker.
"Well?" Haig turned to him as two
men set off "What is it?"
"Only this" the Greek continued
smoothly: Your suspect cannot very
we'll be hidden in one of the small
cases you speak of! And the door in
question is permanently locked. The
warehouse beyond is leased by Messrs.
King. Are you sure, Inspector, that
your warrant extends to their prem
ises?"
Dawson Haig staredat the speaker.
That official red tape which trammels
the movements of an officer of the
Criminal Investigation department
danced before his eyes visibly, and he
stifled language unsuitable to the occa-
sion, as:
HI, Inspector" came hail from
the far end of the yard. There's a
door here, but it's locked. Are we to
smash it?"
mo" Haig shouted Come back. 1t
doesn't matter, anyway. They'll have
had the stuff out by now
In due course the search party
reached that business-like office up
stairs, and:
you see,' said Polodos, smiling and
pointing to a number of books open
on the desk, 81 was hard at work The
staff, of course, has been gone for
hours.
Dawson Haig stared into liquid dark
eyes, as unreadable as the riddle of the
Sphinx. A sudden wild urge rose to his
brain-to take this Shiny hypocrite by
the throat and to choke him until he
coughed up the truth. But:
'Pll just glance over your accounts,
Mr.. Polodos,' Haig said.
Outside in the Chinese quarter, at
four points unsupported by the police,
blue lights were burning, for no orders
had been given to eXtinguish them.
When, half an hour later, the search
party left the treasure house of 10
Lung. Dawson Haig drew Warrender
aside
Take charge, Warrender," he said,
land stand by. Wait for me here.
I've bungled this job badly"
He set off through deserted streets.
And presently he found himself In
mean little yard with three doors
opening upon 1t thai ward from