it’s you she meant. Is that so, sister?’ he asked, turning to the girl. She nodded. ‘Well, you look to me to be a Chinaman, while I kinda expected a Japanese, you see.’
‘Since you appear in such difficulties, shall I admit that I am a Japanese wearing Chinese clothes?’
‘I get you. All right, I’ll spill the beans. First of all, though, you’ve got to know that I don’t want to get mixed up in any Secret Service racket.’ He thereupon repeated that which he had told the girl in the Pearl Dancing Hall, adding a few details to colour the recital. ‘That’s about all, I guess,’ he concluded.
Yumasaki had listened attentively without interruption. He now began to question Carter cleverly in an effort apparently to discover if the police had any suspicions of his whereabouts. The young man answered with obliging frankness, declaring that they certainly seemed to know something judging from the manner of the man who spoke to him. The Japanese then turned to the girl and spoke rapidly in Chinese. Unfortunately Carter was not well acquainted with that language, and was able to understand only a phrase or a word here and there. He gathered, however, from the little he was able mentally to translate that among other matters, Yumasaki was referring to the affair of the letter found on the sailor who had committed suicide. Possibly he was blaming it for his present dangerous situation. Presently he turned to Carter.
‘I am much obliged to you, sir,’ he acknowledged, ‘for theinformation you have imparted. I regret that your interest in the China Doll has involved you in a matter that is, doubtless, distasteful to you. At the same time you have been of service to us and that I regard as fortunate. You are, I believe, an officer from the American liner, Seattle . Is that so?’
Carter nodded.
‘Yes; I am second mate.’
‘May I ask you to say nothing about meeting me here?’
‘Sure. I guess that’s easy.’
‘Excuse me if you please. I will see if you can leave without any more police officers wishing to talk to you.’
He rose, and left the room in the same silent manner as he had entered it. Carter turned to the girl, who was looking distinctly perturbed again.
‘So that’s the man you’re going to marry, Joy,’ he commented. ‘Can’t say I’m impressed, but I guess I’m prejudiced. Say, what are you looking worried about?’
‘The situation to us is rather worrying,’ she replied. ‘You would not understand. But let us forget it, please. It’s not pleasant. This morning you will go back to your ship, and you and I will never meet again. I shall be sad.’
‘Why shouldn’t we meet sometimes? The Seattle won’t be sailing for several days, and I guess you’ll find me around.’
‘You must not, please. I really mean it when I say we shall not meet any more. Promise me you will not come here again to the saloons.’
He spent some minutes protesting, but she remained firm in her determination. At length, with an appearance of intense disappointment, which was not very much alien tohis actual feelings, he acquiesced, giving the required promise. Womanlike, she then began to express her regret, which he believed to be entirely sincere. Yumasaki made his appearance in the same unheralded, quiet fashion, shut the door behind him and, crossing the room, stood before Carter, his hands hidden, in typically Chinese fashion, in the voluminous sleeves of his garments.
‘It is evident,’ he announced, ‘that there is much police activity tonight. Always these halls are kept under strict surveillance, but there are certainly more officers about than is usual. I think it will be wise if you remain here.’
Carter gave the appearance of considering the situation.
‘Well, that suits me,’ he declared presently, ‘so long as I can get back to my ship by six.’
Yumasaki shook his head slowly. The Englishman could see his eyes narrow behind the tinted lenses of his spectacles and, at
‘Since you appear in such difficulties, shall I admit that I am a Japanese wearing Chinese clothes?’
‘I get you. All right, I’ll spill the beans. First of all, though, you’ve got to know that I don’t want to get mixed up in any Secret Service racket.’ He thereupon repeated that which he had told the girl in the Pearl Dancing Hall, adding a few details to colour the recital. ‘That’s about all, I guess,’ he concluded.
Yumasaki had listened attentively without interruption. He now began to question Carter cleverly in an effort apparently to discover if the police had any suspicions of his whereabouts. The young man answered with obliging frankness, declaring that they certainly seemed to know something judging from the manner of the man who spoke to him. The Japanese then turned to the girl and spoke rapidly in Chinese. Unfortunately Carter was not well acquainted with that language, and was able to understand only a phrase or a word here and there. He gathered, however, from the little he was able mentally to translate that among other matters, Yumasaki was referring to the affair of the letter found on the sailor who had committed suicide. Possibly he was blaming it for his present dangerous situation. Presently he turned to Carter.
‘I am much obliged to you, sir,’ he acknowledged, ‘for theinformation you have imparted. I regret that your interest in the China Doll has involved you in a matter that is, doubtless, distasteful to you. At the same time you have been of service to us and that I regard as fortunate. You are, I believe, an officer from the American liner, Seattle . Is that so?’
Carter nodded.
‘Yes; I am second mate.’
‘May I ask you to say nothing about meeting me here?’
‘Sure. I guess that’s easy.’
‘Excuse me if you please. I will see if you can leave without any more police officers wishing to talk to you.’
He rose, and left the room in the same silent manner as he had entered it. Carter turned to the girl, who was looking distinctly perturbed again.
‘So that’s the man you’re going to marry, Joy,’ he commented. ‘Can’t say I’m impressed, but I guess I’m prejudiced. Say, what are you looking worried about?’
‘The situation to us is rather worrying,’ she replied. ‘You would not understand. But let us forget it, please. It’s not pleasant. This morning you will go back to your ship, and you and I will never meet again. I shall be sad.’
‘Why shouldn’t we meet sometimes? The Seattle won’t be sailing for several days, and I guess you’ll find me around.’
‘You must not, please. I really mean it when I say we shall not meet any more. Promise me you will not come here again to the saloons.’
He spent some minutes protesting, but she remained firm in her determination. At length, with an appearance of intense disappointment, which was not very much alien tohis actual feelings, he acquiesced, giving the required promise. Womanlike, she then began to express her regret, which he believed to be entirely sincere. Yumasaki made his appearance in the same unheralded, quiet fashion, shut the door behind him and, crossing the room, stood before Carter, his hands hidden, in typically Chinese fashion, in the voluminous sleeves of his garments.
‘It is evident,’ he announced, ‘that there is much police activity tonight. Always these halls are kept under strict surveillance, but there are certainly more officers about than is usual. I think it will be wise if you remain here.’
Carter gave the appearance of considering the situation.
‘Well, that suits me,’ he declared presently, ‘so long as I can get back to my ship by six.’
Yumasaki shook his head slowly. The Englishman could see his eyes narrow behind the tinted lenses of his spectacles and, at
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