Reginald Wright Kauffman

“ For the benefit of any Department of Justice official whose curiosity might otherwise be aroused, the Lotus Valley Burial Association had explained to the world, through the newspapers, that each of the organization's dead had to be accompanied by sundry provisions for eternity, which necessitated the use of extra large and heavy coffins. The rejected candidate for a Secret Service job could not speak ”

“ The band ceased playing; the wagons jolted over tracks; the transfer to freight cars began. Steve could hear the dragging of coffins and the comments of Irish laborers engaged in the task. He wondered if his portable prison would have another casket placed atop of it. In that case he would surely smother.
If the chief—that scornful chief—knew what Steve knew! The big man little guessed where Steve would soon be, when he sent the youth away because he was small and had red hair. ”

“ Thomas was writing to the White House on a most confidential matter.
Those were the days when the Chinese province of Canton was rebelling against the central government in Peking. The revolutionaries were said to be supplied with unlimited funds from Soviet Russia. All that they now needed for success was a shipment of machine guns, which the Bolsheviks couldn't spare, and the prestige of recognition from some great power. Where they would get the guns nobody knew, but they were carrying on a strong propaganda to secure recognition by the American Senate. ”

“ They shot around Central Market at a pace calculated to enrage the police. Now, before the brown Post Office Department building, they were turning a corner on two wheels. Smith grabbed the window strap to shout caution, but found that that particular window was like the windows of many public conveyances in one respect—it stuck tight. ”

“ Steve turned away in horror, but in the fascination of horror he turned back.
The coffin was full of machine gun parts. All the coffins must be full of machine gun parts! The Lotus Valley Burial Association was smuggling arms to its Cantonese friends at home. Its sole purpose was thus to prepare its Peking enemies for burial!
IV
“Would you mind coming down? ”

“ It's dangerous there, and we shouldn't want to hurt a little fellow like you.”
Steve looked below. This was another Oriental, but his speech was that of an English university man, and he held a perfectly good American automatic. Smith descended. The suave stranger evidently meant business. ”