The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1936-12-15
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Noor. He was oiltng and as
hemhling q machine gun that lay
diSHuantled on Q taTpaulin. 1t was
late afternoon. A dank breeze was
rlStling the peonIes that bloomed
In the sort Of courtyard between
the two wings Of the main house
Of the mining camp.
The sky was turning a reddish
yellow. Staring at It as he Swabbed
the muzzle, Steeger thought Of how
significant those two c0lors were In
the life Of China One symbolic
Of the blood spilled by pirates,
bandits, communistic uprisings, I'M
per:alistic tnvasions, and the daily
struggle for existence: the other,
the hue of the soil, the rivers that
were this country's main means OF
transportation, and the skins Of
300. 000, 900 people.
Mundy strobe In from outside.
The black revolver was still
strapped TO his thigh. He pushed
back his crisp dark hair that the
breeze had blown down on his
tanned forehead.
"Another dust storm Is blowing
up," he grunted. "How's everything
with you, Al? Nothing's wrong with
chat gun, Is there?"
II Just saw little rust on 1t.
that's all chief"
I'm glad you're seeing to 1t, any
way. This district Is teeming with
trouble. That electricized fence Is
all that's keeping us from being
bothered. We may have to use that
baby plenty. and not so far distant
from now"
Distant Gun Fire
A door creaked behind him. Jean
Strebor appeared.
The breeze had flushed her
cheeks, giving more sturdy tone
TO the aristocratic beauty OF her
face. Her 1.-the body did not need
anything TO enhance 1t, but her
face was tired. Her blue eyes we're
as cold as a Monaghan Winter
She stal ed across the room with
out saying word.
MlSS 6CTeDOE
She turned coldly toward Mundy,
''Well?"
Listen"
She listened. She heard what she
had been hearing ever since that
morning when they had been
rescued from the river. 1t was a
strangely disquieting sound. like
the remote swapping Of flrecrack-
ers or the hoarse warning OF a rat
tlesnake. 1t was more sinister than
either OF those. 1t was distant
gtnshots.
~Thats Mike Strebor and Mar
shall Fang" Muddy said unneces-
sarily. 80 long as that firing Keeps
up, you'll know everything Is all
right. IT will mean that your
father Is still holding out
Don't you suppose l knoW?'
1Aundy took several impulsive
steps toward her.
Mundy Explains
Wait" When she did stop and
looked at him again. he had to
pause to gather his words" I just
don't want you to misunderstand
why I don't 60 to his aid or try TO
sand help" He added. lest there
should be some mistake: I'm not
saying that there Is any reason I
should mix in politics. I just don'y
want you to misunderstood why I'm
not"
Haven't you already explained
yourself very clearly. Mr.. Mundy?'
she asked. You haven't any am
munition TO spare. Your motor
boat is too slow and unreliable.
And Fang Is keeping too close a
watch on this camp.
Zone thing more" He felt that
now was the time TO get this bust
pSss of hts chest. II hope you
won't misunderstood me, either,
when advise you not to put
too much confidence In Royce
Gregory. Oh, haven't anything
definite against him. I'm Just ad-
vising you. that's all"
She stood there, regarding him.
Her expression had not changed
Mundy could not tell how she had
taken what he had Just told her.
He was used TO dealing with real
ties. Intangibles, such as this,
made him uneasy.
We'll, that's that's all,
guess. I just hope you won't mis-
understand"
81 won't" she said.
Mundy's Past
The wind was blowing harder.
The air had turned a hazy lemon
color. Steeger reached up and closed
the window: a glass window, some
thing unusual In this part Of China,
where panes Of rice paper. admit
ting light but not allowing vision,
except in the form Of silhouettes,
were the rule.
Not even closing the window
could shut out the fine. swirling
dust. Steeger couRhed. His Throat