The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-12-08

He felt something against his
 Rex Mundy. This has gone | you as long as could"
 They were only my bodyguards." she said contemptuously.
 The words startled him.
 Your bodyguards?"
 of course" she said. He felt something hard against his ribs. Now put up your hands. Rex Mundy. This has gone far enough"
 Go ahead and shoot" he dared her. You'll only raise an alarm"
 Don't be fool. Any alarm I might raise would only bring my own men,"
 Mundy felt his arms going limp.
 Say, who are you, anyway"
 Daughter of Pirate
 T thought every one in China had heard of my father"
 You mean ." Strebor? That name had seemed unusually fa- miliar from the first. He tried to connect 1t with the fact that she was evidenly part American and part Russian. Your father isn't Mike Strebor. the pirate?"
 He is Michael Strebor," the girl said proudly. Some call him a pirate"
 "He isn't likely to be much of anything from now on," Mundy grunted. He felt an unsuitable de- sire to hurt her. That wasn't 50 smart when he got Marshall Fang against him. The last rumors heard was that some of Fang's men had him cornered up some river in North China"
 That's where I'm going now <. with ammunitionp
 He was watching her eyes.
 Its too bad we left 50 soon," he mentioned casually.
 What do you mean?"
 Al wasn't the only person I was awaiting in Shanghai. There was blonde by the name of Deborah; very lovely. too."
 DO you have to go into that?"
 Not necessarily" he smiled. The point of 1t is, I believe Deborah knew your pal, Marshall Fang, al- though she would never quite admit 1t. She left Shanghai rather sud- denly" He coughed. T have a hunch that she'll be back, though, when she learns I own certain bit of property that Fang had been CT wanting for some months"
 Say gold mine and be done with it," Jean Strebor said briefly. T know about you, Mundy. But what has this to do with me?"
 Somehow I feel that Deborah could have been persuaded to change sides. Gold is pretty precious stuff these days. I was hoping to get some inside dope on Fang's movements. You see, the estimable Marshall and aren't ex- actly friends. either"
 You're wasting my time"
 Deborah wouldn't say that" Mundy mocked.
 You'll soon sec how much of joke this isl"
 Don't slam the door," Mundy called after her. Remember I'm a sick man."
 The door closed with bang that jared the cabin. Mundy rolled over with every intention of springing to his feet. His head whirled as 8 result of the exertion. He fell back with a groan.
 He lay on his back for long time, thinking of how utterly fem mine Jean Strober had appeared when she came down those steps into the smoke -ladened atmosphere Of the cafe. of his present circum- stances az her prisoner. and of what the future promised. Finally. he fell asleep.
 Becalmed at Sea The engines, driven at top speed throughout the night, went dead the next morning. The ship rolled listlessly on a chalky green sea that was Shrouded by a pearly haze. Ac- tivity below decks and men hurry ing to and from the bridge where Jean Strebor and the smaller of the giant Russians studied charts. spoke of the frantic haste to get underway again.
 The few passengers that had been aboard when the ship was captured were allowed the freedom of the deck. Armed Chinese kept them under close surveillance.
 Mundy leaned against the rail. Around his forehead was Q bandage, white in contrast to his bone-deep tan. One arm was in a sling. Al Steger and Royce Gregory stood near him.
 Bteeger was Q small alert man, about 70 years old. with humorous gray eyes ret too closely together in his aaddle-colored face. Gregory was probably ten years younger. tall and heavily feshed. He was wearing white fiannels and blue coat. He had . soft voice that had the peculla trick at times of seem. Ing harder than Mundy's clipped syllables.
 "I wonder when they're going to get this confounded tub running again." oreggory muttered.
 "WoFFylng7" MuDdy asked.
 Naturally. I nm anxious" He glanced at Mundy and then stared at the nea. looked uD end away