Evening star., 1940-09-01

warehouse and get Tom. Do you
know how you're gonna do it?"
"Yes-yes, I know" Les replied
absently. They rounded the corner
and pulled to the curb. Les started
to get out, then hesitated. II wish
I had a wrench or something" he
said, frowning. They'll probably
have a guard on duty, you know"
Jiggs snorted. I'll take care of
the guard with my bare hands"
I'm sure you would" Les re-
piled, "but you are not coming in.
You mustn't be seen with me; we
would Immediately arouse suspi-
cion." He climbed from the car
quickly, crossed the walk with long
strides and again disappeared
through the dark, narrow door of
the warehouse.
1t couldn't have been more than
10 minutes later, although to Jiggs
it seemed at least an hour, when
the warehouse door burst open and
an obviously frightened and COVER
ing Oriental stumbled across the
sidewalk, followed an instant later
by two tall young men, one of whom
limped and leaned heavily on a
cane.
Jiggs Is Overjoyed.
Jiggs was out of the car in a
single bound, pounding Tom joy
ously on the back and in general
putting on a demonstration that
Tom, much embarrassed, felt COM
PEELED to halt. Can that stuff,
Jiggs." he laughed. I'VE better get
away from here Come on, your'
He grabbed the sleeves of the
hunched, trembling old Chinese
Get in the back seat there. Jiggs,
you get back there with him, will
you? He's the old devil that came
into the store while Cranky was
there"
They were all in the car then, Les
driving and Tom sitting alongside,
and they were heading for Steve
Callahan's store. Tom laid his hand
on Les sleeve. Wait a minute
Les" he said. Don't forget I'm a
fugitive. l can't go near the store
in broad daylight"
I'm assuming that you didn't
murder Steve Les said sarcasti-
cally. so you should have nothing
to fear from the police
Jiggs, with one hand gripping the
old Chinaman's wrist, saw Toms
neck redden, saw his eyes narrow as
he looked at Les. Your sarcasm
has kept us at arms length all our
lives, Les he said. Aren't you
ever going to drop it?"
Les laughed shortly, I'll try, ole
boy" he said. But the important
thing now is: What happened to
Steve, and why are you being
framed, and by whom? Was there a
teakwood table near Steve when you
found his body?"
Never Sent Gable.
There was little table, black
and heavily carved, right at his
head" Tom replied. And when
went back there last night there
was panel open in the rear of it. ]
closed the darn thing and couldn't
open it again. You know anything
about what might have been in it?'
Les nodded. Il do, indeed. That's
why I came to Frisco. I'd have
cabled if I'd had any idea of what
Surf Lito had in mind"
Tom frowned. But you did cable
I saw Steves memo-have it right
here, in fact" He reached into his
pocket and pulled out the crumpled
paper. Most urgent" he read,
Push rose AX427 bring ming Hong
Kong 20 grand
"I never sent that cable, and the
only one who knew about the table
was Surf Lito. He sent that cable
or forged one so Steve would think
I Sent it."
"Who is Surf Iito?"
Hes a half-breed Japanese
shrewd as the devil, with a claim
of some kind that he's rightful heir
to the throne of Manchuria. I never
knew there ever was a throne in
Manchuria, but if Steve is dead and
something's missing from that teak
wood table, then Surf must be right.
"a half-breed japanese" Tom
murmured. Does he happen to have
long nail on the index finger OF
his right hand?"
"He does. And I think I know
where we can find him."
Toms Excitement Mounts.
Tom couldn't ctntrol his excite
ment. Where Is he? Good lord
Les, he's the one that struck Steve
with my cane-after Steve was al
ready dead. He and Cranky. the
doctor, are one and the same!"'
mo, they aren't" Jiggs interposed.
"I found out about that. Cranky is
okay but some one picked him up
before he got there and this other
guy-the Jap-came in his place"
Tom spun around and stared in sur
prise at Jiggs. How the devil --'
"It doesn't matter how he found
out" Les said quietly. But I guess
you're right; we better find Surf
first. He has the ming and he's at
the airport. Those two facts pro-
vide their own answer" At the
next corner he turned left and head
ed for the airport.
Fleetingly Jiggs thought Of ask
inc In ha let NIT at tha Wilhl1r HnfAl