Adventure, July 1, 1928 — page 171: what you’re looking at

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

THE THRALDOM OF SINGAN chair. Neither the brisk walk in the hot sun nor Headley’s whisky pegs appeared to have done him any harm. On the con- trary, he had broken out into a mild perspiration—evidence that he had shaken off his chill and his temperature was down. For all that, he was as puzzled as ever. Though he had given his cousin the benefit of all the information he had, he had been told little or nothing in return. Never once had Charles mentioned Madame Scala, though he had evidenced the greatest anxiety in regard to her. The whole business was as great a mystery as ever. The only source of satisfaction Eade had was that he had found his cousin safe and well. Eade waited for more than an hour; and as his cousin had not by then re- turned, and he felt well nigh starved, he told Ah Yen that he would get ahead with what there was to eat. Having made his first introduction to Malay curry, he felt an irresistible desire to go to sleep; which was natural enough in the circumstances. The boy had made the bed in the spare room. Eade took off half his clothes, and flung himself down, and almost at once was fast asleep. E MUST have slept for more than four hours; for when he woke up the sun was low, its rays stream- ing through the open bungalow windows and the atmosphere was considerably cooler. Eade got up, explored the bungalow and found it empty. In the kitchen he discovered Ah Yen, who informed him that his master had not yet returned. The setting sun was like a great ball of fire, hanging low above the dark trees of the jungle up the river valley, when Charles Cartwright came tearing up the steps in as great haste as he had gone out. “Here’s the devil to pay!’’ he cried the moment he saw his cousin. “Eugene Pai has cut off. He left the place soon after midday. It has taken me the greater part of the afternoon to find out that. He has left his store in charge of the 165 Chinaman who helps him, and has gone downstream by himself in a canoe.” “IT .can’t see anything particularly alarming in that,” observed John Eade. ““Well,”’ said the other, “Pai wouldn’t leave} all his worldly belongings in charge of a Chink, if he hadn’t got some- thing urgent to do. But that’s not the worst of it. Quental got here at half past three. He managed to get the Chauve-Souris off the mud, and has anchored just above our jetties. I’ve been on board and seen him, and he gave me just about the worst news I ever want to hear.” “‘What’s that?” asked Eade. *“Scala’s on the river.” “You mean madame’s husband?” Eade exclaimed. “None other. Scala’s the nearest thing to the devil in all East Indies, and that’s no mean compliment, John. He has come over from Singan in a motor launch he’s got, a boat he uses for river and coastal work. There ’re plenty of places on the way where he could pick up petrol— Macassar, Surabaya, Batavia, Palembang and Singapore.” ‘“He’s after his wife?” suggested Eade. “Yes. And me. And for some reason or other he has brought poor old Le Camus with him.” *“Madame’s father, if Quental can be trusted,” said Eade. “Quental can’t be trusted, but that happens to be right. The old man’s the bait with which he hopes to catch his wife. He would never have kept that woman all these years, if it hadn’t been for the love she has for her father. He had the old man’s money long ago; that was all he wanted. He keeps Le Camus drugged with opium, a moral and physical wreck, a man who has lost all the will power he ever possessed. My God, he has just got him like a caged bird! It’s only pity for her father, and the knowledge that she can now and again do little things to help him, that has kept Madame Scala in Singan.” “She seems to have left the place on your account,” said Eade significantly. comicloooks.com