Imperial Valley press., 1937-05-02
Death, An Idol
And Unseen
Enemy!

~ DERSON, late of the Intel
ligence Division of the A. f. F.
and more recently dividing his
time between golfing, hunting,
fishing and sleuthing. was having
severe attack of spring fever.
Even his jig-saw puzzles which
could be customarily depended
upon to furnish relaxation, lay
untouched on a bookshelf His
gaze wandered idly from the star
studded sky to the panoramic
view of the skyline with its
myriads of lighted windows and
its imposing skyscrapers standing
out in bold relief against a back
ground of riously sloping
streets. Through another of the
open French windows he glanced
at the magic ribbon of steel reach
ing from the city across the bay.
Look, David" he spoke, point
ing at the ceaseless parade of
headlights darting back and forth
across the bridge, they are all
going somewhere. Either home
or away for weekend of fun"
yes, SIR" the butler replied
difidently. Shall I pack your
bags, sir?"
AS if hypnotized by the very
sound of those words, Mat Hen
derson turned his back to the
scene of enchantment. Not a bad
idea, David" he said. But,
please, for the six thousand nine
hundred and fifty-eighth time, cut
out the sir 1t seems utterly pre-
posterous for two fellows who
went through the World War to-
gether, doing the same kind of
work, to be separated by a social
chasm. Blast it all, David, when
there are other people around, you
are my butler only because you
insist upon it. But when we are
alone or working on a case. you
are my friend and co-wofker be-
cause ! insist upon it. Do you
understand that, David"
Yes, sir-er-beg pardon, sir
er-1 mean. yes, Mat" the butler
replied. David Huxley, who had
met Mat Henderson in France
while attached to the latter's
headquarters as liaison officer for
the British Intelligence Service,
came from a splendid but impov-
erished English family. He was
a born actor and felt equally at
home in the kitchen preparing his
masters breakfast or at a social
function as Mats inseparable
companion.
The two men jerked around to
face the doorway and in the gath
ering dusk of the early March
evening discerned a smiling ORR
entail bowling apologetically, Da-
vid Huxley slid one hand toward
his hip pocket, but the Chinese
reassured them at once.
Excuse intelluption. please.
honolable gentlemen. My people
know gleat detective likes China
men. One of US needs you, hon.
olable sir"
How did you get in?" Mat
Henderson demanded.
Servants entrance. | found
penthouse door open. Velly solly,
honolable sir. Velly solly. l am
Chang Ling. Please observe. hon.
olable gentlemen. I come un-
aimed"
"All right" the detective spoke,
disturbed at the thought of his
plans for a weekend of outdoor
activity going awry.
''Velly solly. honolable gentle
men. But the house of Ling needs
gleat detective. My cousin, Lung
Woo, is servant for honolable Mis-
tel McElwain, plesident of Amel-
-Oliental Steamship Com
pany. This aftelnoon honolable
Mistel McElwain joined his hon
olable ancestors"
Whats that" Mat shouted.
Bob McElwain? Dead? How
did he die?"
Most mysterious cilcum-
stances" the Oriental replied.
My cousin, Lung Woo, is at my
house. He is aflaid police will
allest him. So, aftel te! j- .t
police, he come to my house. He
did not kill honolable Mistel Nc