Adventure, December 3, 1920 — page 152: what you’re looking at

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

142 “You slick devil, you! See if that chap on the bench is following us. One of the detectives at the house last night.” I could have sworn that Kilgore did not turn his head, and yet a moment later he made answer. “He’s lookin’ after us. Now he’s rising.” “Beat it into the hotel, then,” I responded quickly. ‘He recognized me but wasn’t quite sure. He’ll come in to see if any John Barsley is registered.” “My car’s by the Post Street entrance,”’ Kilgore. ‘“‘Cheerio!”’ We entered the hotel by the main entrance and a moment later came out the Post Street door. There was Sir Fandi Singh’s big car, with red-headed Mac at the helm. “Pull out!’ snapped Kilgore as we climbed into the tonneau. “Quick! Out Sutter, through the park and to the Esplanade.” The engine hummed and we went away in a hurry. When we were heading out Sutter and were safely away from any pursuit, I broke silence— “What’s this I saw in the paper about Sir Fandi Singh leaving today on the China Maru?” “He left,’ and Kilgore chuckled. ‘Said noth- ing of it last night? Just like the beggar! He’s gone to make arrangements for us. We've decided to go too, in a couple of weeks or so. We'll meet him in Pekin.” “Where’s Hat Shui?” ; “He’s put away under three foot o’ sand,” spoke up McAuliffe. I drew a breath of relief. “Good! Then I’ve nothing to fear. But I’ve certainly played with things this morning, boys. You'll not forgive me——” “Keep it until we can chin, ‘We need all three heads.” That was sound enough, so I kept silent. We droned along to Golden Gate Park, slowed down, and came at last to the far side. To the left we took the upper Esplanade drive, and Mac halted the car at a lonely spot along the ocean-shore. A fine crisp wind was breezing in and the surf booming grandly. Then Mac squared around and lighted a pipe, and we had it out. I told them all about meeting James Death and spared myself nothing. “No use hunting excuses,” I concluded. “It was a plain case of being a silly fool. Now the devil is at liberty, will be twice as cunning and slippery as before, and his brain will be clear enough to let him find some opium somewhere. ‘Then—look out!” “Aye,” said Mac softly. “Oh, aye! You’re richt. There’s somethin’ in that, as the thief said when he pit his haun’ in the slop-jar.”’ Kilgore said nothing for a moment, but sat looking at the sea, a slight frown to his brows. Then his face cleared and a smile came to his lips as he brought his eyes to mine. said ” said Kilgore. Adventure “Don’t blame yourself, old chap,” and the accent was on him now. “Little bit of a fluke, what? But no matter; carry on. Don’t get the wind up at this stage of the game, old boy, I say, Mac! Is that Scotch in the car?” “Aye! In the locker.” “Then suppose we forget the whole affair. Drive down the coast highway and we’ll lunch at one of those road-houses, then return to the bungalow. Excellent chance to talk, eh? Quite so. “Quite so, ye ruddy Britisher,” genially, and turned to his wheel. '“There’s nothing to do then at present?” I asked as we started forward. “Nothing,” said Kilgore. “We must settle with James Death before we can leave, that’s ssig Never fear. He'll waste no time jumping us! returned Mac WE HEADED south and were soon out of San Francisco. We halted at a roadside tavern, took a bottle of Scotch Cy with us and made an excellent luncheon. After a drink or so our tongues loosened up, and between them, Kilgore and McAuliffe gave me the whole story. Already I had learned enough to Jet me see through the chinks, but now I got it straight. This odd triumvirate was a result of the war, Mac, who was an American, had gone over with the Canadians and had run foul of Kilgore on the other side. Later they had encountered Sir Fandi Singh, who had Drought a contingent of his own, and after peace came, the three of them joined forces. Kilgore, I gathered, had no lack of money. Sir Fandi was of course rich—most native rajahs are millionaires several times over. Mc- Auliffe was a machinist, while Kilgore was an inventor of sorts. The three had drifted, and finally dropped in for, a visit at the lamasery of the Ten Dromedaries. They must have had an exciting time of it over there. I shall not detail their story, except as it bears upon the present action. lamasery, where the priests of the Ten lived, was some distance from the temple and the city of the whirling sands and the lake of legend; the three adventurers had come no closer than the lamasery. This was close enough, however. Kilgore assured me that legend had not lied. Each month ten virgins were brought from Urga to the lamasery. He told what became of them at the end of the month, but that is another story. There was a Russian girl, and then there was James Death. The Russian girl had been killed and Death had first joined the three, then had betrayed them. At all events, they had managed to get away from the lamasery with whole skins and a sack of loot and nothing more. James Death had got clear also, no doubt with his own loot. COPNIGLOOOKS The’ (E@)