Evening star., 1935-12-15
A Letter from China
Magazine Section
Continued from page eleven

and eaCh nelQ, III d BlOVeu Hdnui d
weapon.
Forsyth sat up in bed, and he shiv-
cred. He was cold, for the windows
we're open, but also he was afraid. He
said, "Hullo! What's the matter?"
"Please," said one of the men pre-
cisely, I'VE have business with you"
"All fright" Forsyth assented, his
teeth chattering. What is it?" He
started to pull the blankets up around
him, but one of the men snatched them
away. Forsyth was left unprotected,
save by his pyjamas, from the cold.
Get up, please" said the spokes-
man.
'All right"
The other room. thank you. And
- speak softly!
Forsyth stepped toward the open
door. AS he did so, the lights were
turned on in the living room, and Miss
Lukens appeared with two more men,
likewise masked, just behind her. She
met his eyes and smiled, but Forsyth
did not smile; he gritted his teeth to
make them stop initiating castanets.
Also, he tried to thinkl Royce and
his men must have been overpowered,
or killed. Else these four could not
have entered the suite. But a moment
later he realized that this conclusion
was not necessarily sound; for there
was here window open, and knot
ted rope trailed in over the sill. The
roof of the hotel. he reflected, must be
only few feet above that open win
dow. The Grentham was an old hotel,
surrounded now by newer, crowding
buildings, towering above it, from
which access to the roof would not be
difficult.
So - Royce and the Others we're
presumably still in the hall. A shout
would bring them. But - the outer
door was locked, and he was not sure
Royce had a key. Also, there was an
intervening door. and this too was
closed. The men here might have
locked it. since their entrance. So
there was doubt whether Royce and
the Others could force an entrance in
time to be of service.
Forsyth had time for these con-
siderations. The men brought him
and Helen Lukens face to face. so
that they all stood in a close group
near the open window and at some
distance from the door.
And the man who had spoken before
now said: you will whisper. very
softly. Now Mr. Forsyth, please, give
me the letter"
Forsyth hesitated. looking at Helen.
Please" said the spokesman crisply,
II am in haste"
What letter." Helen Lukens
asked. in an ordinary tone. A hand
struck her across the mouth. silenced
her.
BE still" the spokesman warned.
Now. MIR. Forsyth"
Forsyth steadied his tones What
letter." he echoed, following her lead.
Il have no time" the other warned
him. He made sign to the other men.
They grasped Helen Lukens by the
arms. "Mr. Forsyth" said the
spokesman gently. "If you do not
speak at once, Miss Lukens will be
thrown from the window. You will
spend the rest of your life - if you
live - explaining why young lady
leaps from her window to her death,
while sharing hotel suite with you" !"
Forsyth shivered uncontrollably. Il
don't know what you're talking
about" he protested.
"You received a letter from China. !"
mo-" said Helen Lukens; and she
urged softly, Don't tell them any
thing! I'm not afraidv'
One of those who held her jammed
a waddcd handkerchief deep into her
mouth Forsyth's teeth were chat
tering. Say, I'm cold" he protested.
My ovcrcoat - 1t lay yonder by