Anthony M. Rud

“ Every revolver in the crowd came out at the same moment, and a volley went through the wall that would have dismayed a regiment.
I picked up our hoarse-voiced guide. but life was ebbing fast. “It's right there,” he groaned, waving his hand feebly at the wall which now our axes were attacking. “The door to Chinatown. I saw the ground was worn down hard.” He gulped, and my arms held a corpse.
I laid him down reverently and then ran to the wall, where a panel already had been broken in. One idea obsessed me: somewhere back in that smelly place that lay beyond, Masters was a captive. ”

“ A Chinaman would rather hear his foe scream than save his own life.”
At that moment a contingent of the plain-clothes force burst in upon us. Seeing Masters and myself unharmed, they shouted in triumph.
“We've cleaned them out!” yelled one enthusiast. “Oh, look here!” They dragged in the unconscious Chinaman whom I had knocked out after he had guided me to the chamber. “Charley Sing!”
“Is he dead?” I inquired with a strange sense of detachment from it all.
“No, he'll live to go to the chair! The others picked up my victim, but Masters stopped them. ”

“ Masters nodded gravely. “Frankly, it is a chance I do not like to take,” he admitted, “but I can see no other way. Charley Sing has baffled all the cleverest men in the country; he can do it, for his subordinates are all Chinese. Every one is loyal to him, for every Chinaman knows the long arm of the tong.” ”

“ Masters smiled wryly. “Yes, but Chief Bennett and I knew at the time that the opium-smuggling was only a symptom. As chief of police he is utterly unable to get at the real trouble, and he looks to me for aid in cleaning up one of the most dangerous organizations in the world!”
“What is that?” I gasped. “A Chinese crime-ring?”
“Worse than that! It is an international organization—the Wah Fu Tong, as it is called. Every one of those smugglers was a member. ”

“ FIFTY feet farther on, in a tunnel like passageway, three more of the Orientals stood. As we sprawled heels over-head down the stairs, they opened fire. I saw one of my companions jump as a bullet struck him, and then the onrush of the others began. Seizing the small lantern that lighted the passage, they made for the little group of defenders. ”

“ I interrupted uncomfortably. “Are you taking any measures of precaution?”
“None at all—that is, unless talking over the matter with you and Chief Bennett is a precaution; and of course it is, of a certain kind. I am taking none of the kind you mean, though.”
“But aren't you afraid they'll shoot you or knock you on the head?”
“No indeed!” Masters shook his head decidedly. “Chinks don't work that way. They are probably the most finished criminals in the world when it comes to doing away with a man they hate. ”

“ No living being could survive the atmosphere of this studio for long and still feel like purchasing. What is the horrid stuff—asafetida?”
Masters grinned evasively. “I know your studio rule,” he answered. “You're not likely to have any buyers here early. The visitors who do come wont mind the smell.” ”

“ Masters shrugged his shoulders expressively. “If I tried to catalogue the activities of those Chinese criminals, my enumeration would take an hour. A few of the most ordinary are murder, rape, kidnaping, arson, blackmail and thievery. The tong has been in existence for centuries. ”

“ There are no Chinese beggars in New York. I know that.” Masters drew me from the window. “Therefore when one turns up, and acts as though he cared more about this alcove window than any coins he might pick up, I start wondering myself—particularly, when we suddenly are besieged by King Chow Lee. ”

“ When actual physical danger presents itself, I am able to take care of myself at least as well as the next man, but this unintelligible threat made me shiver. “What does the character stand for?” I asked. ”

“ Bennett left his chair and placed one of his big hands on my shoulders. “Masters is taking a desperate chance, I'll admit. There is not another detective, either in this city or in any other, that I would ask to do what he is doing, although I am giving him every protection in my power. ”

“ Fifty plain-clothes must follow, though. —J. M.” was what I got out of it. Masters evidently wanted to be sure that ample strength was in that rescue party!
“Allee right! I go with you,” I said to the expectant Lee. He bowed and grinned more widely than ever. Then, adjusting the sack of laundry over his shoulder, he led the way down the hall and to the back stairs of the building. “Me got wagon out there!” ”

“ It isn't generally known, but of the two hundred thousand Chinese now in the United States, it is doubtful if there are as many as twenty from the other provinces. Only the Shantung natives have the initiative required to venture into foreign lands—or to become criminals. ”

“ Bound hand and foot, he also was nearly naked, and on his bare abdomen was inverted what looked like a tin wash-basin. On the top of this a small fire was burning. First I threw this to one side.
“Heavens!” I cried. “What fiendish thing is this?” ”