10 Short Novels Magazine — page 14: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

42 % % * Ten Short Novels Magazine — Uchida had whispered in his native tongue. The countess’s narrow eyes flicked their understanding. Then she turned to. smile at Dagmar and Hugh Allison. “Good evening, count,” Dagmar greet- ed him. “In Hongkong to see the fleets?” The little man bowed and glanced in Baron von Schlechtweg’s direction. “Have you met Mr. Allison?” Dagmar went on. “No, ver’ sorry, but—no.” “Then you must. This is Count Uchida and his countess,” Dagmar said to Hugh. “If you remember, Count Uchida was Admiral Yamamoto’s technical adviser on submarines during the London con- ference.” The little man’s eyes snapped angrily as Dagmar continued, but he bowed and extended a slender hand to the Amcrican. “Ver’ glad to meet,” he murmured. Allison glanced at Dagmar. The drama had taken a new turn. He had never met Count Uchida before, but he remem- bered a tale that had been whispered in the wake of the unhappy London confer- ence. The plans for a mysterious under- water boat projected by the British had been stolen during Uchida’s stay in London. The baron was an expert on sub- marines, and his name had been con- nected with the theft from the day of its discovery. However, all efforts by the British Intelligence Corps to confirm the suspicion had proved fruitless. “And have you met Baron von Sch- lechtweg?” Sir Hubert Chater was pre- senting his guests to each other. Count and Countess Uchida bobbed their heads, and the German clicked his heels. Hugh Allison watched the pan- tomime. He was certain that all these people had not only met before, but knew each other intimately. The dinner party was small, but rep- resentative of cosmopolitan Hongkong. Carlton Chumileigh had as his partner Lady Geraldine Manor, famous as an explorer in Tibet and Mongolia. A French colonel from Indo-China, Sir Robert Tze, a wealthy Chinese who had been knighted by the British crown, and his wife com- pleted the list of guests. The dining parlor was screened only from the grill room, off which it opened, and the music from the orchestra could be heard distinctly. Several of the guests arose t dance, among them Baron von Schlechtweg, who led Countess Uchida to the floor. Hugh heard the German ad- dress the countess in fluent, although rather guttural Japanese. “Do you tango?” Hugh asked Dag- mar, as the orchestra started another number. “Just a little.” “Let’s try it.” HE girl danced with amazing ease and grace. Hugh looked down into her face, and saw her dark eyes raised to his and felt the enormous appeal of her beauty. As Allison looked down into Dagmar’s face, he realized that in spite of her loveliness, this woman would destroy him if it fitted her strategy. More than that, he felt that she was part of a net of spies, closing in on him, seeking to checkmate his efforts. “TI wonder who the man back of it all is—von Schlechtweg or Uchida?” This question kept racing through Allison’s mind as they continued to dance. A few minutes later, he was convinced it was the Japanese. The little count took Dagmar as a dancing partner, while Alli- son led Betty to the floor. Hugh inten- tionally guided his partner to where Dagmar and Uchida were dancing. He followed their movements with half- veiled eyes. “What’s the show?” Betty asked, as she noted that Allison was watching them. “No show, but—” His words ended suddenly. He saw Uchida’s coat fold back as Dagmar’s fingers slipped along his polished shirt front. In another moment her hand reappeared, and in it was an envelope. “Did you see that?” Betty whispered, Allison nodded. “T think he knew she was taking it,” fhe girl murmured. “T wish I could be sure.” “A plot?” The girl’s eyes were eager. Allison’s lids blinked an affirmative. “Like to have that letter?” she asked. “Very much.” “T’ll have it for you before the party’s over.” “How i ih “Leave it to me.” ‘When the dance ended, they returned to the dining room. Hugh could see that cComicbook