The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-04-11
Q SERIAL STORY
MEXICAN
MASQUERADE
CONTINUED from Page ~
ey CECIL CARkg

ing the border. Automatically.
he Strengthened and started TO
raise stiff fingers 10 the hrim
Of his panama: he caught back
the gesture and lifted his hat .
instead
Delighted 10 meet you. Senior
comandante he responded.
Nv name IA Allen Steele
United states citizen. native Of
Los Angeles. I am a photog-
rapher BY profession, attached
to the staff Of the Golden HON
Review. a magazine published
in San Francisco. NY editor
thought a series Of photographs
showing typical scenes Of Lower.
California might be interest
ing. 30 - here I am"
He told the lie smoothly, Sc
renely confident it WAS water
tight and fool-proof. The editor
Of the Golden Horn Review had
been discreetly coached on how
to reply to any inquiries: also.
photography happened to be AL
lan's one hobby, so he knew
the patter of the trade and
could CARRY off his part should
ne chance 10 meet some expert
He had even brought along two
valuable cameras for corroborst-
i've background.
The colonel bowed. He held
out a hand, slender and we'll
shaped but with hint Of iron
strength in its grip.
yours is pleasant profess
SION. senior, and I trust you will
find subjects to your taste
along the gulf" A bit discon-
certingly, he concluded: Never
theless, I think your editor must
be rather a cold blooded tyrant
TO send you you on such an as
signment - in JULY"
Allan drove slowly TO the Inn
Of one Thousand Delights. pom
dering the personality of the man
he Just left. The officer respon-
sible for the maintenance of law
and order in this district, by
godfrey Decidedly a pleasant
fellow, conceded Allan. but the
ugly word traitor" still rang
in his ears. The bearded brig
and who had shouted it had put
lot Of conviction into the
epithet
The lobby OF the inn was cool
and almost dark after the heat
and glare OF the sun-baked road.
Allan STROBE across the tiled floor
to where he discerned an i'm.
mensely fat Chinese who was
seated behind an orthodox hotel
desk and slowly tanning him.
self with a pslm-leaf fan. PERCH
ed on a stool, apparently chat
ting in an undertone with the
Chinese, was a short, stocky man
Of brownish complexion that
didn't seem just the right shade
for a Mexican. He slid from his
seat as the newcomer approach
ed and wet off through a door
way leading to the patio. As the
light from the courtyard revealed
him more clearly. Allan thought
he had rarely seen a face so low
ering, brutal and villainous.
Am. addressing Senior Sun
SUI" he asked in Spanish.
Entirely at your service,
senior. l am Sun Su."
Briefly. Allan studied the yell
low, full-moon countenance of the
one man in Lower California
whom he had been advised ne
could trust. He glanced about
him. There was nobody in sight
but himself. the proprietor. and
the squat, brownish fellow who
was now halfway across the
patio and safely beyond earshot.
He leaned across the desk.
The word" ne said softly,
SIS Confucius."
No muscle moved in the inn
passive face Of the Chinese. but
a flicker Of interest lighted his
almond-shaped eyes.
So you are Number Two" he
murmured I've been half ex-
pecting you, senior, sinee the
strange departure Of Number
One"
ITO Be Continued)