The Fate Joss

CHAPTER XIII BROUGHT FROM BONDAGE

“HOW long have we been here, Harry?”

“A couple of hours, I guess. I could tell you better, Cliff, if I could get a look at my watch.”

“Same here, Harry. I wound mine just before we started.”

“So did I. I noticed it was nine o’clock when—”

“Psst! Easy, Harry! There maybe snoopers! The less we say, the better. About certain matters.”

“A good point, Cliff. Let’s forget the past and stick to talk of the future.”

“The future looks black, Harry.”

Both men chuckled. Despite their plight, they found Cliff’s prediction a humorous one. For the two prisoners were surrounded by an inky darkness that betokened windowless walls and a thick door.

Gags had been removed; but both captives were still bound. The thongs had loosened slightly; but offered no more slack. Any effort to tug at the bonds brought cutting resistance to wrists and ankles.

Lying on straw mats upon the floor of the pitch-black room, Cliff and Harry found comfort only in shifting their positions from side to side. While they talked, they lay on their backs; but that position soon became uncomfortable, as it placed too much pressure on their bound wrists.

“I’ve been figuring something, Cliff,” remarked Harry, rolling on one side to speak directly to his companion. “That one fellow must have been Satsu, the Korean who slipped the police. If he—”

“Stick to the future, Harry,” interrupted Cliff. “I’ve been thinking about the truck. I’ll bet it’s on the way without us.”

“You think the head man of these bandits took it along?”

“Why not? His strong-arm boys were in the truck, weren’t they? It’s easy enough to guess that they wised up to where we were going.”

“You’re right, Cliff. That letter was lying in the office of the Howland Garage. Right on the desk—”

“Psst! Harry — listen—”

Footsteps were barely audible, apparently they came from beyond a door. Both men became silent; they heard a key click in a lock. A puff of air followed; but no illumination. Next, the door closed. Slight footsteps, whisperings, told that two persons had entered the inky-black room.

Tense moments; then the clicking sound of the chain on a hanging lamp. An instant later, a single bulb brought startling light that made both prisoners blink. Hazily, Harry and Cliff saw that the room was square-walled and windowless. Then they focussed their attention on those who had entered.

ONE was Noy Dow. He was recognizable, for he had been in the office when Cliff and Harry were carried through. The other was a young woman, and the light revealed her as an amazing beauty. Though clad in American clothes, the girl had all the semblance of an Oriental. Her charm was dazzling, for this was none other than Loy Ming, the niece of the mandarin, Shan Kwan.

Noy Dow was speaking to Loy Ming. His words were in Chinese; the prisoners saw the girl nod, then heard her speak in calm reply. Noy Dow became sober; his words were troubled. The girl laid a tiny hand upon the secretary’s arm and spoke in pleading tones. At last, Noy Dow sighed; then nodded.

Turning to the prisoners, he made an urging gesture with his hands. Understanding, Harry and Cliff managed to work themselves backward and reach seated positions, leaning against the wall. Reverting to English, which he spoke without an accent, Noy Dow introduced himself.

“My name,” he stated, “is Noy Dow. I am the secretary of Doctor Roy Tam. He is the man who captured you and brought you here. He performed that deed because he seeks the Fate Joss.”

No reply from The Shadow’s agents. Noy Dow seemed unperturbed as he resumed.

“Doctor Tam has left you in my charge” he explained. “He wishes to hold you prisoners, that he may question you, upon his return tomorrow night. I have long served Doctor Tam. Yet I am willing to aid you, at the request of this lady. She is Loy Ming, the niece of the mandarin, Shan Kwan.”

Neither of these names were familiar to the listening prisoners. Noting that fact, Noy Dow uttered more.

“Shan Kwan is honorable,” he stated. “He also sought the Fate Joss; but for it, he paid a price. His money was taken from the man to whom he paid it. Taken by Hoang Fu, the mighty killer, who had long been one of those who served Doctor Tam.

“Tonight, Loy Ming called me, to tell me of the evil that Doctor Tam had done. She asked me to serve her uncle, Shan Kwan. When you were brought here prisoners, I called Loy Ming. She told your story to her uncle. He is concerned because of your plight.”

This time Noy Dow made a longer pause; Harry decided to speak.

“THE mandarin wants to aid us?” he questioned.

“He does,” nodded Noy Dow, while Loy Ming, understanding English, added her affirmation. “Though he knows not who you are, he favors your cause because he knows that Doctor Tam is evil. Shan Kwan wishes that you be brought to his presence.”

“As prisoners?” questioned Cliff, abruptly.

“As guests,” replied Noy Dow, emphatically. “To talk with him; yet without obligation. To tell him only those facts which you feel free to state. He promises that if you come to him, you will be allowed to leave whenever you may wish. He desires only that you do the courtesy of speaking with him, in his own abode.”

Cliff looked at Harry, who nodded.

“Sounds fair enough,” said Harry, “Much better than this present set-up.”

“Suits me,” returned Cliff. “I’d rather be some place where we’re invited than remain here.”

“All right, Noy Dow,” decided Harry. “Cut us loose. We’ll make the journey.”

Noy Dow shook his head; his lips trembled, troubled.

“It is not so easy as that,” he declared. “To serve Shan Kwan best, I must remain with Doctor Tam. Therefore, I must arrange to have Doctor Tam believe that you escaped without my knowledge. He must think that through some scheming of your own, you left this prison.

“There is a guard who must be passed. The one who dwells in the tea shop through which you were brought here. You must be carried by him. That can not be arranged until morning. However, your place of waiting shall be changed.

“You will dwell in tea boxes in the storeroom. In the morning, at an early hour, men will come to take away a shipment. They will arrive long before those who are the actual purchasers of the tea. Thus shall you both be carried to the residence of Shan Kwan.”

Noy Dow paused; Harry was about to put a question when Loy Ming spoke a reminder in Chinese. Noy Dow nodded as he heard the girl’s words. He translated her expression.

“Shan Kwan has promised that you will be his guests,” he explained, “but he must have assurance that you come to him. He can assume no risk until then; nor can I. Therefore, you must sleep while time passes between now and morning.”

Loy Ming produced two tiny bottles and handed them to Noy Dow. Cliff darted a look at Harry, who frowned, doubtfully.

Seeing their expressions, Noy Dow stood by to let the prisoners talk between themselves.

“Dope,” suggested Cliff, indicating the bottles with his head. “What about it, Harry? What is your feeling?”

“It’s not poison,” returned Harry, managing a shrug of his shoulders. “If these friends of ours want to do away with us, they wouldn’t have to talk us into it.”

“I agree with you,” said Cliff, with a smile. “Well, Harry there’s merit in the suggestion. We can’t ask these people to let us loose. They would have no guarantee against our making a break for it.”

“And we can’t sleep while we’re tied up like this, Cliff. Those green bottles don’t look so bad.”

“You have my promise,” asserted Noy Dow, “my word that these draughts will be harmless. I would be glad to trust you, gentlemen; but remember, time passes slowly within the confines of a tea box.

“Should you stir about within the chests; should you sleep and mumble the guard outside might hear. Sometimes when midnight comes, he retires within the storeroom and sleeps there, behind a locked door. He will be close at hand, perhaps awake to hear any disturbing sound.”

“You are talking sensibly, Noy Dow,” decided Harry, with an approving nod. “I’ll take my medicine. Are you ready for your dose?”

The question was put to Cliff, who nodded. Noy Dow gave one bottle to Loy Ming. Simultaneously both uncorked the greenish phials. Noy Dow approached and placed a bottle to Cliff’s lips. Loy Ming did the same with Harry. Both men drank together.

THE effect of the concoction was immediate. Cliff looked at Harry and blinked in exhilaration. The liquid did not burn, nor was its taste unpleasant; but it brought a stimulation that gave each man a feeling that he could break the thongs that held him. Instinctively, they struggled; but the bonds held.

A minute went by; the effect of the stimulant passed. Cliff sagged back, exhausted; Harry did the same. Both felt a slight dizziness; Noy Dow observed it and approached. He drew a large-bladed pocketknife and cut the thongs that held the ankles of the prisoners.

Noy Dow and Loy Ming helped the men to their feet. Cliff managed to steady and find his balance. Harry nearly toppled, but Noy Dow gripped him until his dizziness ended. He put a question:

“How do you feel now?”

“Pretty tired,” acknowledged Cliff. “That stuff hits quickly. I’m getting groggy already!”

“Sleepy,” added Harry. “All that strength is fading.”

“We must hurry.” Quickly, Noy Dow cut the wrist bonds and gave the prisoners full release. “Follow Loy Ming. Keep steady.”

The girl had opened the door. She was blinking a flashlight, leading the way along a passage. Cliff came to motion; the activity roused him somewhat and he followed. Harry came close behind him, while Noy Dow extinguished the light of the prison room and brought up the rear of the procession.

Loy Ming reached the open panel of Doctor Tam’s office. She stepped through and waited until Harry and Cliff arrived. Both were moving steadily, but their steps were slow and deliberate. A feeling of sleepiness was becoming paramount with the released prisoners.

Noy Dow arrived and nodded as he noted the increasing stupor of The Shadow’s agents. Loy Ming opened the door beyond and led the way down stairs. Gripping the rail, Cliff and Harry followed with careful, slow-moving steps. Thus they arrived, Noy Dow behind them, in the storeroom behind the tea shop.

Both were wavering. Noy Dow hurried silently to a pair of large, square tea chests. He opened the lids and gripped Harry, who was the closer of the pair.

Managing a high step Harry entered the box; then sank wearily to the bottom. He relaxed without a sigh, shifting comfortably with arms and legs limp.

Noy Dow and Loy Ming guided Cliff into the second chest. Their combined efforts were necessary to help him settle silently. Noy Dow carefully closed the lids and padlocked them. He gave the keys to Loy Ming. He pointed to tiny air-holes drilled in the sides of the cubical boxes. These were scarcely noticeable; but they provided sufficient air for the men within.

SILENTLY, Noy Dow motioned to the stairs. Loy Ming ascended; from the third floor, the pair went down to the second. But this time, they chose the way to the restaurant. In Chinese, Noy Dow told the girl to make her departure; then he added:

“I shall call Fong, to tell him that he must guard this entrance to the Hunan Cafe, while I remain within the office. He will never know that you came here and departed, Loy Ming.”

Noy Dow opened the panel so that the girl could go out through the cafe.

In the dim light Loy Ming paused and sighed. Noy Dow embraced the Chinese girl and gave her a farewell kiss. When she had gone past the panel, he closed the barrier; then delivered a sigh of his own.

Noy Dow, the secretary of Doctor Tam, was in love with Loy Ming, the niece of Shan Kwan. Through knowledge of that fact, the mandarin had offset the craft of the wary physician. Wisely had Shan Kwan spoken when he had told Yat Soon that he held the key through which Doctor Roy Tam could be reached!

Though The Shadow had not yet learned that his agents had been captured, the prisoners were already as good as free from the toils of Doctor Roy Tam. When he returned tomorrow to question Harry and Cliff, the shrewd Chinese physician would find his captives flown.

Comfort and sleep were theirs for the rest of the present night. On the morrow, they would awake refreshed, to enjoy the luxurious hospitality that guests received in the home of Shan Kwan the Mandarin.

Strange and bizarre were the experience of those who sought to play a part in the destiny of the mighty Fate Joss from Jehol!