Adventure, November 1915 — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

44 whose waistcoat shone a similar emblem. “You, your flen’, Misteh Stevens, me— all same sabby,” went on Ah Sing with glit- tering eyes. ‘‘’Melican man he call Mason, Chinaman he speak otheh name. All same.” 3 | To the astonishment of the two men he swiftly produced a jade charm from beneath his blouse, suspended by a slight chain of gold, carved in practically the identical emblems worn by the two Americans; then rapidly, by signs and pigeon-English he demonstrated the close identity of the fra- ternal ritual, Occidental and Oriental. “Now you sabby, I flend, I speak tlue,”’ said Ah Sing. “I sabby you Misteh Steven flend, you both my blotheh, all ‘long this.” He showed the jade charm: before he tucked it underneath his blouse. ‘Suppose you in tlouble, I think I can help, mebbe. I no flend Tuan Yuck. Plenty Chinaman I know not his flend.”’ He thrust out his hand and exchanged a secret grip with both the men, then stood back, complacent, smiling. Addams looked at him with wondering assurance. Here was an unexpected ally. The coil might yet be undone. “Sit down,” he said to Ah Sing. ‘“‘Here’s the trouble. We are after buried treasure, Ah Sing. A man named Henley, a lame man who lived here once——” The Chinaman nodded comprehension. “T sabby him,” he said. “He smuggle opium, one time.” “Well, he-is trying to get there first. Tuan Yuck is helping him with money, I think.” Ah Sing grinned. His opinion of Henley’s judgment in selecting Tuan Yuck as busi- ness partner was evidently a depreciatory one. “They got us where you found us,” went on Addams hurriedly, ‘‘and tried to make us tell. They tied me up——” The .Chinaman made a comprehensive gesture. “My God, Archer!” exclaimed Winton “Do you mean the brutes tortured you?” “Never mind that,” said Addams, ‘TI wouldn’t tell them. So then they — hold of Miss Winton, your sister.” Winton sprang to his feet. “Peggy!” he cried. “I thought she was asleep in her room. Where’s Selim. What have they done with her?” “That’s what we’ve got to find out, ” an- Adventure swered Addams grimly. “They tricked them somehow as they tricked us. Look!’ He took out the lock of red-gold hair, Winton, his eyes blazing, took it in his hands, “Go on,” he said hoarsely. “They threatened things against her,” said Addams, “until I gave them the posi- tion. That’s how they knew about the figures in your coat, Jim. They promised to release us and her, wherever they’ve hid- den her, after they got clear with the treas- ure. We've got to find her.” Winton turned, his face twisted. “How?” he asked. “Archer, it’s my fault. Like the trifling idiot I'am, I wasted time yesterday with Miss Belmont. It was late when I got down to looking up these sailors, and when this chap Silva offered himself I fell right into the trap, like a blundering ass.” He wilted under the look in his friend’s eyes and sat heavily into a chair, his face in his hands. “Brace up!” snapped Addams. ‘This is no time for slumping. If your infernal phi- landering lost her, it won’t bring her back again. They may have taken her to the place Selim traced Henley to. But he’s missing, too. As it is——” He strode over to the wall-telephone. “What are you going to do?” asked Win- ton dejectedly. “Do! Everything that can be done. Call up the police for one thing. This is a civilized community. A Chinese tong leader is not running American territory. We know where they’ve gone, for one thing. We'll charter a tug, if the Government won’t, and bring them back.” “Then, at the best, we lose the gold, once it all gets out,” said Winton. Addams’s eyes blazed as he clicked the hook of the ’phone impatiently. “To Hades with the money!’ he cried, “What kind of a man are you, Jim?” Winton got up, a new determination im- printed on his features. “T didn’t mean anything like that, Ar- cher,” he said. “Don’t judge me too harshly. I was only blaming myself for everything.” “Time enough for that later,” said Ad- dams. “Hello! Is this the office? Connect me with——” The door from the veranda opened and Selim stood on the threshold, his dark eyes Eomichboo S (CO)