Adventure, July 1, 1928 — page 165: what you’re looking at

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

THE THRALDOM OF SINGAN some other motive at-the back of it? Eade, perplexed and baffled, reminded. himself that-he had but to wait a little longer. He was bound to learn the truth from Charles as soon as his cousin arrived. Suddenly, a new fear possessed him. The road to the estate led through the jungle. What, if Liu Tang attacked Charles Cartwright on his way home— lay in wait for him and took him by sur- prise? It was easy enough to knock a man off a bicycle. A stick thrust into the spokes was enough. Eade called the boy, whose name he had discovered to be Ah Yen. “Ts Mr. Cartwright ever late?’ he asked. “Always about same time,” said the Chinese. “Him come few minutes now. I catch his shaving water, and then lay table for tiffin. Master wantchee me lay two places?” he asked. “You may as well,” said Eade, “though I don’t feel inclined to eat much.” The boy went into the bedroom, and in less than a minute returned. So far as a Chinese’s face can express anything, he appeared to be more concerned than sur- prised. “Master got Mr. Cartwright’s razor?” he asked. *‘Razor!’’ Eade exclaimed. not. Why?” “No can find,” said the Chinese, with a conclusive shrug of the shoulders. Eade got to his feet. “You had better look for it,” said he. ‘What kind of a razor is it? A safety razor?” “No,” said the boy. ‘Mr. Cartwright use backward razor, all same number one size pocket knife.” “Well,” said Eade, ‘“‘he had it yester- day, I suppose?” “T see it last night, dinner time, on the dressing table,” said the Chinese. ““*Mfember very well, master. Mr. Cartwright go out to dinner, and I tidy up. Look see all belong proper.” Eade stared at the boy in astonish- ment. E *You’re dead sure you saw this razor last night?” he asked. “Of course 159 - “Certain sure, master.” “And it’s nowhere in the bungalow now?” “Make: look see everywhere,” said the boy. . “No can find.” Eade was silent a moment. - “My God!” he exclaimed, half under his breath. ‘Then somebody has been here just before or just.after sunrise!” When he tried to think, he realized that owing to a splitting headache, it was as much as he could do to arrive at the simplest logical deduction. If the razor had been stolen, it was more than prob- able that it had been stolen by Liu Tang. If Charles had been called by his servant at half.past four, and had left for the estate at about a quarter to five, then Liu Tang must have got to the bungalow somewhere between the latter hour and sunrise, which would be about six o’clock. It looked as if Liu Tang had taken the razor that he might use it as an effective weapon when an opportunity presented itself... And if that were so, where was Liu Tang now? He was not in the bungalow—that was a certainty. He must be hiding some- where in the jungle; and there was cer- tainly a chance that he might intend to attack Cartwright on his way home upon an unfrequented road. Eade’s nerves were all on edge. He felf the want of sleep; he had a touch of fever; the situation in which he found himself, besides being novel to his experience, was something in the nature of a climax. OFT, unsteady footsteps upon the steps that led to the veranda caused him to swing round in alarm, hold- ing his pistol ready to fire. For a second he was convinced that he was about to find himself face to face with Liu Tang, the would-be murderer of his cousin. The footsteps he had heard had been quick and shuffling—those of one who has bare feet, or who wears light, soft shoes. He beheld, instead, a sight that was at once amazing and pathetic. More than half way up the steps, clutching the rail comicloooks.com