By LINTON WELLS and NSL3 LEROY JORGENSEN
16
11c glanced at iiis wateii. JJie
train she had just left was the
*ne with which he would have
connected had lie continued on
to Yokohama. By tiding his
oirplanc. Rogers had managed
to or- rtalce a previous train.
It was nearly 10 o’clock. A
Hidden rush of steam from be
hind him warned him that his
train was about to start.
V ; Yet there was something
that, intrigued him about the
{'voman who approached. Snmc
hing in her carriage spoke of
nn innate courage and daring
ilint would scorn whatever
dangers thee were here; it
tlvas sr> evident to him lhat lie
jrprevsed his first intention of
(peaking to her and offering
Jjis es' ort.
I “I wonder if she’d think I
yvas rude—”
I lie broke off suddenly, with
n sharp gasp of surprise and
{’onsternation. Without warri
ng, there had sprung from out
jof the dark behind her five
i'rined men—Chinese! He saw
n knife flash against the dis
mal platform light- and a long
Ions I, sarong uncoiled as one of j
the men started toward her.
1 Forgetful of Hie waiting
|rain -of everything—Jimmy
propped his hag and darted
forward. A lit I It* < rv of warn
ing from his lips Was echoed
py her, just, ns she turned and
perceived the thugs. She dart
ed hack. Jimmy, as he rushed
forward, noted, without even
pausing to classify the impres
sion, that she did not scream.
There were no weapons
among the Chinese besides the
tong knives they carried. A
pistol, Jimmy realized, would
finish him off before he could
reach them. Yet, even in the
brief seconds which intervened
as he got across the few yards
separating him from the scene,
it was the woman who held his
eyes.
There was something thrill
Ingly courageous about the
way she fought, with nil the
fury of a tigress, against the
pian who had attacked her
from behind, and who was now
Attempting to twist the sarong
in a knot behind her head and
over her face—fought so wild
ly that a second man was
forced to the aid of the first.
A lotv voiced order came
Tram the thick lips of a squat
burly Mongolian, just as Jim
my reached (he spot. The speed
Inf hin arrival carried forward
|he fierce, straight arm blow
(which he started from the
shoulder in the same second,
llis right fist struck the squat
Individual squarely in the face
•>n<l carried him tumbling
backward.
| There was something dan
perous in Jimmy’s eves; with
|he very prospect of the fight*
n tiny greenish flame had
lighted far in their depths. He
twr.s suddenly a creature of un
leashed* unutterable fury; the
tight of the slim, gallant fig- i
lire of this lonely woman in
)the hands of these men had j
get off Rome primordial spark
Inside him.
There had. been a terrific
iernek as his right fist struck.
Now, n the same motion which
bad lent him upon the leader
•inf the thugs* lie half whirled,
sidewise, and the edge of his
doubled left hand met the jaw
of a second man. A knife went
blattering to t It e ground.
3’licrr was a wild, high voiced
cry. Jimmy whirled again as
his svund victim staggered to
liw feet whirled to meet the
rush of the three others.
lie heard a low voiced, thrill
ing plea that was lost in the
fury of the moment, hut lie
knew lie should know the worn
;ten’s voice again—anywhere.
tHien the nil i ,l;. in all its fury.
■ I I ■■ — .—.— ——--,
^ Pacifist l*l<*a antrv.
W ** * am Iowa lesion* ;e
W'A e-iorr of years ago lh? old red
sight districts lud many apotoxist*
hTi-e are today a considerably
larr *r number ol viohgi. for tan
military eatabl* .ht.i-nh* There la a
Virany similarity of notr* in th? ar
gninrn’ji advanced for bath the U
cmatri knlinx of war and the II
icttHsI prostitution of the eld time
#i*d Djtht dutricta, And in both the
aptrrsae “human nature ha* i»ot
rhaijt d’ appears frequently,”—De*
(don* Roialtr.
Hrw'n that for nice xentrel. adv
ice * cumenty heave it to a theor
Wtjeal parlftat to keep dlacuffion on
• tv*h plane If,* never calls any
turned rrom ner to vein it.scu
upon him.
Jimmy had a swift vision of
a long, wieked knife gleaming
with a yellow flame along its
edge in the light from the dim
lamps along the platform. It
des -ended, just as lie leapt
sidewise, avoiding it by scarce
ly an inch. The flat of his
palm caught the man who held
it and sent him backward* just
as the latter’s two companions
leapt upon him.
These, apparently, had no
Icnivop* but their wriggling*
squirming bodies wore like a
mess of eels, he thought. He
caught the throat of one man
who had clamped on him from
behind—buried his fingers deep
in the hard flesh. With his
feet be kicked out desperately,
glimpsing, with wide, burning
eyes, the leader of the cut
throats staggering doubtfully
1o his feet.
The girl cried out again—
then she was lost in the haze
of moving figures and dizzy
lights. But this time she had
cried for aid for him !
“Bun!” lie cried. “Get go
ing—I’ll hold Vm!”
Whether she obeyed or not,
lie could not tell. He bad for
gotten the necessity there was
for him to board the Moscow
train : in bis anger and the beat
of the battle, he had forgotten
everything but the woman.
Something had happened in
side him; merely bis single
glimpse of her bad made her
safety paramount.
But lie was reeling now.
Something heavy glanced off
his head. He ducked instinc
tively and put ii]) a feeble arm
to ward off a knife thrust. He
had no way of knowing how
many men were on him; but lie
felt himself being borne down
to the ground.
He was making a terrific ef
fort. to hold on to his senses,
while a spurt of blood from a
wound over bis eye blinded him
momentarily, and be was sen
sible that every muscle in his
body was numbed from the
blows he had received, when,
suddenly, an English voice
broke into his consciousness:
“Hold on, Jimmy!”
He gasped. “Saunders—
help!”
There was a rush of feet—a
curse in the Manclm dialect.
He felt one of the winding
arms loosed from around his
throat and lashed out wildly
with both fists- doubling up and
hurling himself at the figure
of a man with a knife. There
was a crash; Jimmy groped
through a thick fog to come to
grips with one of his antagon
ists who seemed eluding him.
Then that cheering voice
again:
“Here we are—steady, son!”
There was the eraelc of a pis
tol—a wild cry. Through a
haze that enveloped his mental
and physical vision, he heard
flic spurt of steam from the
head of the Moscow train.
Arms wore about him—friend
ly arms- this time- and lie felt
himself swaying as they held
him. He heard Saunder's cool
voice above him.
“You’ve got them all. hoys.
No more shooting—might hit
someone else.”
Jimmy tried to straighten,
lie dashed a hand across his
eyes, and looking up, saw that
his palm was covered with
blood. Saunders was smiling
cheerily.
“Not hurt, are you!”
“T—think not.” Jimmy
gazed about li i m wildly.
“Where has she—T”
“She!” Saunders cocked a
questioning eyebrow.
Without replying, Jimmy
swept the strange station with
a startled, disbelieving stare.
Is'iunders was beside him, the
Englishman’s arm lightly about
one who disagrees with him anv
! thing that won't violate the postal
lawa. Now that we might see where
we stand in the Register's opinion
we should like a clear statement of
what tt calls a large military es
tablishment Since we strongly fav
or keeping what we have and other
Am. t 'an Legtonairrs. Auxiliary
i .n ; Pi- ti nt Coolldge and
many more poor, misguided, vicious
KtSUktUik *•» tear we may have a
mind like that of persons who fav
or 1‘r-nfd prostitution. Of course,
pros'.itu'ion sue national defense
are exactly alike, objections to one
could be used perfectly on the
other.
i The Register rarelv if ever aavs
i ft!* shoulders. A few r^et
| away, two of the Chinese lay
stretched on the ground mi
moving. A third stood with
Ids hands bound cruelly up be
tween his shoulder blades,
while four of Sounder's men
were grouped about. The oth
er Chinese had vanished.
But along the whole length
of the dimly lighted, still lone
ly platform, at the farther end
of which the Moscow train
chugged a last warning, there
was no other sign of life. The
woman in black whom he had
risked his life to save from the
thugs had completely van
ished.
CHAPTER XIV
J i m m v felt unspeakably
weak and dizzy. For a mo
ment, with 1 ho realization that
the woman was not in sight*
the past few moments seemed
like some nightmare; only his
aching muscles and the blood
which Saunders was wiping
out of his eye, assured him
that it was all real—these
things and the sight of Ihe mo
tionless Chinese, with Saund
ers’ men.
He shook his head feeling
faint.
Did you say she? Ins
rescuer demanded.
“I did. Do you mean you
didn’t see a woman here when
you came up?” Jimmy asked
feebly. He felt a decided un
willingness to talk, a weakness
that flooded his entire being,
yet the mystery held him erect.
“No—nor pink elephants,”
Saunders assured him. “They
must’ve hurt you more than I
thought.”
“No, no!” Jimmy grasped at
his friend’s coat lapels fierce
ly. “I tell you, 1 mean it,
Tommy—there was a woman—
a white woman. She got off
the train from Fusan, the one
I would have been on had I
crossed Japan. T was at the
other end of this platform,
when these five Chinos jumped
out of the dark and tried to
kidnap her.”
Saunders stared at him, his
brow wrinkled. “I’m not sure,
Jimmy, hut that—”
He broke off at Jimmy Bran
don’s sudden exultant cry. The
latter tried to leap forward;
instead, he swayed as he start
ed, and fell to his hands from
weakness. Saunders caught
him and then watched with
surprise as the American
gained his feet, clutching a
stained, heel marked strip of
fragile lace in his fingers.
“Here it is—hers!”
Jimmy carried the once
dainty thing to his face, and
his eyes half closed with the
faint, delicate scent he caught.
“Black narcissus.” Saunders
grunted. “Jimmy, is all this
straight?”
“Doesn't this prove it? I’ve
told you the facts, Tommy. The
question now is, where did she
iro?”
Saunders frowned at t lie
lengthy string of dark coaches.
“I know there wasn’t a sign of
her when l came up. She must
be in her ear, but Heavens
knows which one it d be. lie
turned back. “We ve got to
put you aboard. It was just
chance that brought me here,
this way.”
“What way?”
Saunders gestured toward
the men with him. “Three of
those are local police.’ he ex
plained. “Didn’t Welker tell
you*I was dining with the rail
head?”
“Yes, of course.” .Timmy’s
legs were unsteady as he start
l'd forward, aided by Saunders
hand under bis arm. Said
you’d try to make it to say
cheerio. But why the police?
—How did you know?”
“That’s just it.” Saunders
frowned. ”1 was in rather a
pickle—saw no way of leaving
there in time. Until, just be
fore 1 diil leave, news came
that an American was going to
be attacked as he left the Fu
san train. How the authorities
got hold of it, l don’t know.
But anyhow, I announced it
was my friend, took my two
j boys ami aibb'd I lit* Olliers,
nnd dashed right down here.
anything good about our military
Every time an American uniformed
i man appear* to make a mint nice the
Register gleefully seises upon It to
substantiate Its poaitton. whatever
Its position is. The Register consist
ently oppose* every move to increase
our defense Irrespective of what
1 other nations mav do. let the Unit
ed States even think of adding any
thing to win and the Register
screams militarism Time and avatn
In the past the Register has vig
orously surperted movements to
cut down what defense we had.
contending we had so much we ar>
| pea red thirsty to the rest of in?
| world.
i Under existing condi isms, dues
It s 'omof! quite logical when
I aw you in the midst of that
mess. ”
“But they didn’t attack
me!” Jimmy exclaimed.
“They attacked an Ameri
can,” Saunders retorted.
“Naturally, I assumed il
would be a male American
but after all, that’s only an
assumption.”
Jimmy halted before the
steps to his car. Ahead, the
train was jerking up ready to
start. A guard waved to him to
enter, lie felt very weak. Yet
]) is eves, suddenly, had re
gained their fire.
“It’s beginning to be under
standable,” be said slowly, “1
was supposed to be on that
train—only I wasn’t. It was
intended that it should be me
all right.” He swayed. “You’ll
have to help me a bit, old mail,
didn’t realize I was so done
in.”
The blood had clotted over 1
his eye, destroying his vision
The train gave a last jerk
which threw him into Sana
dt r’s arms. Tenderly, the lat
ter helped him inside the ear
and to his compartment. Jim
my made a last effort to smile
as lie realized Ihe train was
pulling away, and that the
Englishman was walking a
long beside the open window
of the compartment
1 11 never be able to tuanu
you. Tommy,” he managed,
and put out his hand feebly.
“Forget it,” Saunders
grinned. “Wish T could stick
with you. You’ll be needing at
tention. But if you want to
thank me at all go on ahead
and win! I've bet my next
vear’s income on you, and
everybody in the club has done
the same.”
“Righto!” Jimmy grinned
in a fashion that was almost
like his old self, though his
weakness was overcoming him
too swiftly for comfort. “I
don’t like the rules of this
game, but I’ll win. I promise.’
“LuckSaunders'
cheery voice floated into the
night.
The train picked tip speed
and bore on toward Manehou
li and Moscow. Jimmy tried to
rouse himself to look out of
the window and wave a final
good-bye, but the effort was
too much. His head swam diz
zily through misty globules of
light that floated about; he re
laxed, settling back against
the cushions of his seat with a
feeling that he was sinking in
to oblivion. He put out his foot
and touched the leather bag
that Saunders had not forgot
ten to throw in.
With a sigh, now that the
last responsibility was attend
ed to, he slipped into uncon
sciousness. The last he remem
bered were the blinking, lone
ly lights of the outskirts of
Harbin and the black, impene
trable pal 1 into which the train
was rushing as they bore on.
Unconsciousness. Yet
there were dreams. Upon
awakening, they seemed cnmz
inglv fragile and elusive. But
something must have existed
that was real, amid it all. He
clenched his hand; the hand
kerchief he had picked up on
the Harbin platform was gone
He swore softly, and slowly
his eyes opened. It was gone
Not even on the floor. And he
remembered, suddenly, that it
had been initialled; lie mighl
have discovered, had he re
tnined a hold on himself, the
identity of the woman in
black.
Thinking of her, he jerked
up his head at something fa
miliar, and then gave a soft
little exclamation.
“Narcisse noir!”
Faint, elusive, delicately
palpable in spit** of all, his
compartment held a trace of
the same fragrance that he re
membered ou the handker
chief.
(TO B». CONTINUED)
NOTHING ‘JUST AS GOOD"
From the Cincinnati Enquirer
Customer- Have you any varnish
remover?
Druggist No. we sell only soft
drinks, but you might try the speak
easy In the next block.
the Register favor the United States
completely abolishing our defenses?
The Register, to our knowledge, ha*
never gone quite that far. but a
concrete expression of Jiut what It
thinks wo should have would tx
moat comforting, for then we eould
know who In it* eyes are In th*
rla-v* of prostitution supporters and
who are not. That would slmnt'f)
the debate in Iowa considerably.
Farewrll In Thee.
From Tlt-BiU.
"Dear, If you'd only grow youi
hair longer l‘d marry you.
"Thanks; I prefer to remap*
single "
\
To break a cold harmlessly and in a hurry try a Bayer Aspirin
tablet. And for headache. The action of Aspirin is very efficient,
too,in cases of neuralgia, neuritis, even rheumatism and lumbago!
And there's no after effect; doctors give Aspirin to children—
often infants. Whenever there’s pain, think of Aspirin. The
genuine Bayer Aspirin has Bayer on the box and on every tablet
All druggists, with proven directions.
Physicians prescribe Bayer Aspirin;
it does NOT affect the heart
Arplrin l* tho trade mark of Barer Manufacture of Monoaoetlcacldester of Eallcylicecld
Goblet of Friendship
Never Yet Exhausted
I have drained the sparkling beak
er of the magical brew of Youth and
been thrilled with the wild tumult of
Its impetuous urge coursing through
my vcius.
I have pledged my happiness with
t he blood-red goblet of Love and
drank deeply of its sacred and intox
icating contents.
I have toyed with the tempting opal
howl of Ambition, but its dregs are
hitter and may only be sweetened by
libations from the crystal cup of
Service to Man.
Then it was revealed to me that no
one yet has drunk too deeply of the
sacrament in the golden chalice of
Friendship, without which even
Youth and Love would lose their
deepest meaning.—Dan Beard in the
Pictorial Review.
Increased Their Thirst
Wife (seeing husband attacked by
bees)—Run, honey, run!
Husband—Don't call me honey, for
heaven’s sake! You’re making them
despera t e.—I’ea rson’s.
Not Too Excluiive
“I hear she is very exclusive.”
•‘Well, I don’t know. Site associates
with other people sometimes.”
PAIN IN THE STOMACH
is not a pleasant feeling nor are head*
aches, gas, heartburn, feeling of fullness
or that tired feeling after meals which
are the stomach’s signals that it cannot do
its work and needs help. If your's is
signaling you in any of these ways write
H. Cole Watkins, Box 298, Scranton, Pa.,
for information about a formula worked
out by a chemist and used for 17 years
with amazing success in such cases.
Fooled the Monk
Somebody’s monkey was running
around loose at Los Angeles and a
policeman was delegated to catch it.
He tried various traps and lures, hut
the monkey would not remain within
arms’ reach long enough to be cap
tured. Then thinking of the old say
ing, "monkey see monkey do,” ho
made a noose, thrust his head
through the noose several times and
then extended the trap gently toward
the animal. The monkey put his head
right through the noose and lost hi*
liberty.
Leave It to Her
Jim—You'll keep our engagement
dark secret, won’t you Nellie?
Nellie—I’ll tell the world.
Daughter of Mr*. Catherine Lamuth
Box 72, Mohawk, Michigan
•‘After my daughter grew
into womanhood she began to
feel rundown and weak and a
friend asked me to get her
your medicine. She took Lydia
E. Pinkham’s Vegetable Com
pound and Lydia E. Pink
ham’s Herb Medicine* Her
nerves are better, her appetite
is good, she is in good spirits
and able to work every day.
We recommend the Vegetable
Compound to other girls and
to their mothers.”—Mrs. Cath
erine Lamuthi
Daughter of Mr*. Ev* Wood How0
1006 South H. Street, Danville, ill.
‘‘I praise Lydia E. Pinkham’s
VegetableCompound for what
it has done for my fourteen
year-old daughter as well as for
me. It has helped her growth
and her nerves and she has a
good appetite now and sleeps
wetL She has gone to school
every day since beginning the
medicine, I will continue to
give it to her at regular in
tervals and will recommend it
to other mothers who have
daughters with similar trou
bles.”—Mr,. Eva Wood Howe,
(illT HID OF DANDRUFF
kv
C'uticiira Soap
ASIISTKD ItV M
Cuticiini Oiiilmenl
•oni rnnwiKRR
Six* JU. Olwm IV. «J tOc. TaKu«i IV. S*mpU amk f*m
^aar. >> “faiVUi1' *•*«• •*. Ral4ia, Nawarkawlli
