SOUTHERN OREGON MINER YU’AN HEE SEE By SAX ROHMER LAUGHS► O opjtt 1f her jumper and produced a half iheet of thin paper, "When I saw ills," she continued, and her voice frew very serious, "1 thought you lught to know at once." Haig removed "Mr. Smith’s” [lasses and took the torn sheet from Eileen’s band. Scribbled In pencil upon the paper were the fol­ lowing words: “Haig. chief Inspector Scotland Yard, on board. Identify and ad- rise.” Alone once more. Dawson Haig bent over his notes. Eileen bad slipped In unnoticed. Sneer luck, and her keen wit. bad come to his aid. Doctor Oestler’s penciled scrawl was obviously a translation of the message: "Ibjh head keeper searchlight near home stop know telL” Its deadly simplicity betrayed genius. The IBJH was elementary, the letters being merely those next In the alphabet to HAIO, but the fact that "Head Keeper Searchlight" meant Chief Inspector Scotland Yard, was one which no cryptogra pher could ever be expected to dis­ cover. “Near home" evidently cor­ responded to On board; “Known" to Identify; “Tell" to advise. It was a system of analogies, and he proceeded to apply It to the oth er messages, with the result that by lunch time be was satisfied that at least the gist of these was in bis possession. He leaned back In his chair and whistled softly. Five members of this mysterious organization, pro- fessedly strangers to one another, were traveling in the Wallaroo, and Doctor Oestler was evidently the chief. Three were booked to Port Said (since Len Chow had arranged to cancel his further passage); two to Australia. What did their presence in the ship mean? And wbat was the con nection with the Limehouse mur­ der? He was battled. Perhaps the most alarming feature of the case was the fact that these people seemed to be supplied with deadly accurate Information. Durham had been Identified, so much was evi­ dent Now they knew that he, Haig was on board! Since be could not recall having ever seen one of the suspects In bls life—Franz Hartog excepted—he Inclined to the Idea that Durham, as well as himself, had been notified to Doctor Oestler from some well-informed source. He bent over the messages which he had decoded. Those sent by the woman obviously related to the chief engineer, one of them read Ing: “Organ grinder sure stop big boy and next of kin not running signed Vai." This he had translated as follows: “Chief engineer captured. Com roander and chief officer no good. Vai." That this meant that Corcoran had been bought over and become a party to some crooked deal, Haig did not believe for a moment He read It to mean that the Infatuated engineer was playing into the wom­ an’s bands. He was to be used, in some way, without his knowledge. But—Haig stared up at the port­ hole and asked the question aloud: "In what way?" Doctor Oesler’s radio correspond­ ence frankly defeated him. He could find no parallel, among the ship's company, to the strange names era ployed. And be bnd come to the conclusion that It related to some­ thing taking place elsewhere. Evi­ dently, Doctor Dealer was a sort of chief of staff; his outgoing meg sages took the form of inquiries as to the whereabouts of certain per­ sons, and the replies presumably contained the desired Information, which, however, conveyed nothing at all to Dawson llalg. These messages were sent to a telegraphic address In Paris which be bad no means of tracing. It was all very maddening, be­ cause one (act emerged from all this mystification. This complicated con­ spiracy had nothing to do with drug running. That enterprise had been merely a side line, abandoned at the first hint of danger. What, then, did It mean? Dawson Haig sat, his head rest Ing upon one upraised hand—for five minutes—for ten minutes . , , thinking hard—very hard. How had Jo Lung, or the man of whom Jo Lung was merely a crea ture. learned of the Instructions sent Sydney? They had been sent from the Yard In code to the chief cus toms officer. Haig suddenly stood up. “By heavens!" he whispered. "They can’t have known — they can't have known I It was a definite change of plan on the part of the gang. They removed their precious consignment because . . .?" Because of what? CHAPTER VI HE night train from Cairo to Asuan pulled Into the station at Keneh. Only two first-class passen­ gers alighted there, a man and a woman, a small, very slender woman. The woman shivered as they en tered a saloon car which awaited them In charge of a Nubian chauf­ feur and groom. “You shiver, little one." said Yu'an Hee See. The woman leaned against him **I am so cold, Yu'an,” she ex plained. “In two days you will be In yonr own apartments — amongst yonr scents and jewels and those other toys you love, with service and warmth, and those treasures amid which I delight to see you playing " He stroked her slender knee with a plump, tapering hand, and his words came as a high croon. Where a large mosque grotesque ly affected the continuity of the bouses, they swung Into a narrow side turning. The driver skirted one high wall of the mosque, came Into the very shadow of the min­ aret. and turned left again. Twenty yards along, they pulled up. Yu'an Hee See and the woman passed across a roughly paved court yard. Light shone out from rooms on the ground floor, and there was an outer staircase leading up to a bal cony illuminated by two One lattice windows. Yu’an Hee See and his compan Ion entered a lighted room. On the threshold they were met by Aswaml Pasha. He bowed low over the ex­ tended hand of Orange Blossom, deeply saluting Yu'an Hee See. “We have done our best, my lord,” he said. “1 trust you will be happy here for one night." He clapped his hands, and an old Arab woman appeared. “My lady,” he bowed to Yu’an Hee See's companion, "your apart­ ment Is prepared; Magreba will at­ tend you.” Orange Blossom followed the aged attendant from the apart­ ment. “All are here?" Yu’an asked, upon a very high note, which betokened anxiety. “AIL I have the list showing where each man Is tonight" Yu’an Hee See waved a plump hand. ”1 do not wish to see ft." “The detective from Scotland Yard, who Is on the Wallaroo, has been Identified. ... He Is In touch with the American girl whom your T excellency has taken under your protection I" Yu'an Hee See began very aoftly to hiss. "It la almost certain then, that thia man had read the notea In my bered. •'He la." A pause, then: “Instruct Doctor Oestler." said Yu'an Hee See. Aswaml Pasha nodded compre hendlngly; whereupon Yu'an Hee See began to laugh, hla red lipa seeming to swell, but hla teeth never ahowlng; the oblique allta of hla eyea turned In the Egyptlan'a direction. jerked suddeuly, “the loss of n big Ger mnn freighter somewhere oft Suukltn about two years ago?" Jack Rattray shook Ida head. “1 wasn't on this run two years ago. Why?" “Well, there's no point In telling you why, If you don't remember the case," Haig replied. "But do you recall the wreck of the Amer­ ican steam yacht, Mixa Minnesota?" “Clearly I We were only forty miles off nt the time I An aunt of Eileen's—l-ady Dakenham — win I oat In her. What's the chief idea grill Ing In your brain turn?" "There are several Ideas But I admit they're a trifle hazy. Did you get an SO S from her?" "Not a thing." “Wasn't It funny they didn’t send out a call for belli?" Dawson llalg naked. Rattray stared nt him. “No," he replied. “In my opinion they bit some small heavily laden craft, and Dawson llalg aat in the room of the pair of 'em sunk almost at Jack Hattray, the chief officer, or once." Followed a short silence, then rather, he ant at intervals fisc I ng llalg naked, “la there much drug up and down like a wild anlmaL “It’s a most unholy business," smuggling down that way?" “Lots! Hashish for Egypt, most said llattray. In hla alow fashion. ’T’ve been looking on, and I've seen ly. Also, the good old slave trade things. Flrat thing: you're spot­ flourishes exceedingly." “But where can the markets be. ted! .. ." “I know 1—and I can’t read Oeet- Jack?” “There’s Mecca. That's still a ler's messages I They’re In a per closed city. Fez. up In Africa And fectly undecipherable code." "Second thing.” Rattray went on: I'm told there's a small, sort of ex­ "Two members of this slimy gang clusive market somewhere on the are watching F.lleen; meaning Doc­ Nile In Egypt." A rap on the door. tor O. and Mr. Chow. What for? “Come tn!" Ilattrny called. The She's not In their way. la she?" Dawson turned, just Inside the door opened, and Eileen entered, cabin door, and stared at the speak­ closing It carefully behind her. “I've caught them!" she declared, er. Then: “You're right. Jack." he said her eyea sparkling with excitement "I’ve seen them myself. 1 don't like —"at last 1" “What?" Dawson llalg demanded. It. and I don't understand IL” “I saw the snnke charmer slip a "But what's It all about?" llat­ tray asked helplessly. “What are note Into the hand of Mr. Ix*n (’bow as they passed on the promenade all these birds doing on board? three minutes ago!" They’re a pretty unsavory crew. In deck, • ••••• my reckoning, anyway. Oestler's There wns a dance after dinner plausible enough, but there's a nasty brute hidden onder that amiable that night. Dawson llalg. desperately wor­ smile. As for the 'snake charmer, she'd drown her own twins. Then ried, went up onto the boat deck, quite deserted nt the moment, and there are the two Chinks on D deck The learned one. with the glasses— leaned over the starboard rail. The problem was one demanding the little bloke. 1 mean, l^n Chow —doesn't seem In the Number One the exercise of nil hla powers. And. list to me. But his long pal with set like a jewel In this dark nffnlr. the strangled face ought to be put was Eileen—a distracting figure (he overboard. If I’m any judge. Then could not be blind to the truth) there's the big German. Hartog—he and one npon which all too often seems harmless enough and not in he found hla thoughts focused That the same gallery at alL 1 don’t Eileen hnd twice proved of Incal­ culable service did not altpr the plain know what to make of IL" tact that many times when he should “And I.” aald Dawson llalg, con tlnuing his restless pacing, “don’t have been concentrating upon the know wliat to make of my report to mystery, he found himself concen tratlng upon Eileen. the chief. I’m acting on Informa From a professional point of view tlon. Rattray, that this scheme, whatever It Is, cornea to a head be­ he was faced either with something fore we reach Aden. And as I don’t very like ruin. or. alterne, vely. with know what the scheme may be, I a triumph which must prove a step­ can't reasonably expect Scotland ping stone In hla far flung amhl Yard to go on granting me leave of tlons. Granted this success—now doubly absence and paying my expenses indefinitely. You see. Pm supposed to be prayed for—he might dare to to be In charge of the Limehouse think about Eileen as lie longed to think about her; not ns the charm­ murder easel" ing sister Oi an old friend, nor even “1 know." said Rattray, and pro duced his slow smile. "It's never a capable little helper, but as . . been clear to me what the passenger Eileen. Where did the clew lie to these list of the Wallaroo bad to do with mysterious activities? What should IL” be his next move? It was madden “It Isn't dear to me," Haig con fessed. "But 1 know there la a Ing to wntch. to know some Incom connection. And I know I have my prehenslble plot stretching from hand on the solution of the mystery Limehouse to Paris. Paris to Mar sellles, and thence to Port Said- ir only I can grasp IL" He paced up and down awhile further. perhaps—was fermenting under hla very eyes coming to ma longe< then; “Do you remember. Jack," he turlty. and yet—to do nothing! THE STORY FROM THE BEGINNING • Matt Ksarnsy, young American living In !x>ndon, says good-by to hla slater Eileen, on board the Wallaroo. The ship la conveying 12.000,000 In gold to Auatralla. On hla way borne Kearney meets Inspector Dawson Haig, of Scotland Yard, very much In love with Eileen Haig Is on the trail of opium, which ho la convinced la concealed In Jo Lung's warehouse. Called to other duty. Haig delegatee Kearney, with Detective Norwich to vlalt the place and find out what he can While In the warehouse Kearney picks up and carries away a notebook, which he turns over to llalg. Yu'an Hee See, leader of a band of International thievea. la at Jo Lung s He sends two of hla followers after Norwich and Kearney, one of whom he realizes must have picked up the notebook. Haig la puzzled over cryptic notes In the book, referring to the Wallaroo Moon after leaving Kearney Norwich la murdered, but Kearney Is not overtaken While Haig la por Ing over the book, a monstrous creature enters, seizes It, and escapes At Cairo Yu'an confers with hla lieutenant, Aswaml Pasha, over a mys .erlous coup they are planning llalg boards the Wallaroo at Marseilles disguised. From radio messages ho decodes, he realizes that members of Yu'an’s gang are on board, aud that they have recognized him. At which point in hla reflections, he was seized from behind In a Steely grasp ami lifted lightly, as n nurse might lift an Infant I 11« was In I lie grip of that creature of Yu'an Ih-e Nee's called "th« Hang­ man." But of this fact lies win Ig­ norant. Swung luu k oivr the alioulder of Ills unseen, bill Incredibly powerful nssallaid. lie recognized, with a cold chill of dread, that he was nlmut to be hurled Into the seal Aulomatbnlly to Ida mind sprung those Inal ructions which every |s»- lice officer rccehea. In jlu-jiisu Illa fists were uoelesg, flung high. Impo­ tent, nlatve Ida head But the cun­ ning grip which told him that ho wns dealing with an expert, held him so poised that inly at one mo men! —for which dangerously, llalg must wult—could lie counter. That moment came—ns Hie seem­ ingly Irresistible forward awing com­ menced which wns to hurl hlin Into the sen. He checked a cry In Orangs Blossom Followed ths Aged Attendant From the ApartmenL hla throat. He was Icy cool. And, following the curve of that mighty throw. Inatead of endeavoring to check It as an III Informed victim would have done, he swung forward, drew up his knees, and kicked back­ ward with all hla strength I It was sheer guesswork, hut one heel registered dully upoi the head of the athlete who held him aloft That death awing won nevei com pleted. llalg dropped with a crash upon the rnll, hung perlloualy for a moment—and felt a vlsellke grip upon hla anklea. . , . He waa tlpfied forward, forward Irresistibly—until he saw the lights of portholes beneath, the lower ones reflecting the sea. He clawed at the rail. That silent horror behind him. hanging above him! Clutching grimly, he klcked- klcked again . . got a hold with fai­ led hand higher up. and realize« that the man was craning right over waa reaching down to relax that de tolnlng grip. In des|M*ratlon, rest Ing his head against the lower rail he managed at last to free bl ankles, to draw hla legs down. Then, with al) hla remainin strength, he shot both feet upward There was an Impact—a stifled crj Ills jacket, held In clutching fingers awept down over hla head, but h« clung on—clung on dizzily, A wrench—a bulky shape strenke« post him ... a dull splash. Th« Hangman hnd failed 1 Disheveled, panting, llnlg dragge«' himself hack to the deck He leane«1 dizzily against a boat, striving |« adjust hla disorder Already the plan waa forming which later he carried out. No one knew that the thug was overboard No one should eve- know. but the shark«, until his al aence was discovered' (TO HE CONTINUED)