The Mandarin's Fan
don't go down along o' me. No Sir. I guess old Forge has the article.
Now you sail in with me, and find out."
"How can I?"
"Well," said the buccaneer reflectively, "your father was a friend of
the doctor's and he's chums with you. Just you get him to be
confidential like, and then----"
"Forge is the last man to be confidential with anyone," said Rupert
coldly, "and if this be your scheme I can't help you. There is not a
shred of evidence to prove that Forge killed Miss Wharf."
"No. That's a frozen fact; but I guess I'm going to straighten out Forge
to pay out Aunty. Then both will have to part with cash for my going on
the long trail. I'm in the dark now, but later----"
An end was put to Mr. Burgh's chatter by the stoppage of the train at a
station, and by the entrance of a joyful party of father, mother and
three children. These last returning from a happy day in the country
made themselves agreeable by crying. Clarence closed his mouth, and only
bent forward to say one last word to Rupert, "I reckon we'll talk of
this to-morrow when I get back to Marport," said he, "I'm putting up at
the Bristol, and aunty's footing the bill."
Ainsleigh nodded and buried himself in his own thoughts. He did not see
how Clarence could bring the crime home to Dr. Forge, but the buccaneer
evidently had his suspicions. Rupert resolved to keep in with Burgh on
the chance that something might come of the matter. He saw well enough
that Clarence, in desperate want of money, would do all in his power to
prove Forge guilty and would then blackmail him and Miss Pewsey, or, as
she would then be, Mrs. Forge. This last design which Rupert suspected
Burgh entertained, he resolved should not be put into practise: but
if Forge was guilty, he would be arrested and tried. Therefore when
Clarence parted with Ainsleigh at the Liverpool street station, the
latter was moderately friendly.
"'Night," said the buccaneer wringing Ainsleigh's hand. "See you
to-morrow at Marport. Keep it dark," and he winked and disappeared.
Ainsleigh moved towards the barrier to give up his ticket. As he did so
he was roughly jostled, but could not see the person who thus banged
against him. He left the station however, with the feeling that he was
being followed, and kept looking back to see if, amongst the crowd,
there was any special person at his heels. But he could see no one with
his eyes on him. Yet the feeling continued even when he got into the
underground train, which was to take him to Rotherhithe.
The young man had put on a shabby suit of blue serge for the adventure
and,--as the night was rainy,--wore a heavy overcoat, the same in fact,
which he had left in the cloak-room of the Bristol hotel on that
memorable occasion. The compartment was filled with a rather rough set
of workmen going home, and some were the worse for liquor. However
Rupert sitting quietly in his own corner was not disturbed and arrived
in Rotherhithe without trouble. He was thankful for this, as he did not
wish to have a row when engaged on a secret errand.
It was dark and stormy when he stepped out into the street, but as the
address given in the letter written to Major Tidman, was that of a
narrow street close at hand--Rupert had looked it up in the
Directory,--he did not take a cab. On his way along the streaming
pavement he again had the sensation of being followed, and felt for the
revolver, with which he had very wisely provided himself. But nothing
happened, and he arrived at the mouth of the narrow street which was
called Penter's Alley. There were few people about, as the ragged
loafers were within, not caring to face the pelting rain in their light
attire. Rupert stepped cautiously down the side street, and saw in the
distance a Chinese lantern, which he knew, marked the house he was to
enter. This token had been set forth in the letter.
Just as the young man was half way down, a dark figure, which had crept
up behind him, darted forward and aimed a blow at him. Rupert dodged and
tried to close: but at that moment another figure dashed between the two
men and delivered a right-hander. There was a stifled cry of rage and
the clash of a knife on the wet pavement. Then the first assailant
cleared off, and Rupert found himself facing his rescuer. "Just in
time," said Clarence Burgh.
"What, you here," said Rupert surprised. "I left you at the station."
"I guess that's so, but I followed you--"
"And by what right--"
"That's square enough," replied Burgh, "you'd agreed to work along with
me on this racket."
"Not altogether. I had not made up my mind."
"Well I guess you'll make it up now Mr. Ainsleigh. It was a good job I
came after you as I did, or this would have been into your ribs," and he
held up a long knife which he had picked up.
"I am much obliged," said Ainsleigh, "but--"
"Well if you're obliged, let me go along with you and see you through
this game. I don't know what it is, but I'm on for larks."
Ainsleigh reflected, and on the impulse of the moment trusted the man.
Clarence had undoubtedly saved his life, and it would be just as well to
take him. Also Clarence could do no harm, as Tung-yu and Hwei would see
to that. "Very good," said Ainsleigh, "come along. I'm going to where
that Chinese lantern is."
Clarence gave a long whistle and smote his leg, "Gad," said he between
his teeth, "you're on the Chinese racket again."
"Oh, behalf of Major Tidman," and Rupert rapidly gave details.
Burgh whistled again, "Ho," he laughed, "so they think Tidman's the
strangler. Well I guess not. Forge for my money. Let's heave ahead
Ainsleigh, and see what the Chinkeys have to say."
The two moved on and stopped under the lantern. A sharp knock at a
closed door brought forth a Chinese boy, who was dressed--queerly
enough--all in red. Rupert recalled Tidman's adventure at Canton, and
did not like the look of things. But Clarence pushed past him and
addressed the boy.
"We've come to see Tung-yu," said he, "give this brat the letter,
Ainsleigh."
The boy took the letter and instead of looking at it by the light of the
lantern, smelt it carefully. Then Ainsleigh remembered that it was
strongly perfumed with some queer scent. Clarence cackled.
"Rummy coves these Chinese beasts," said he politely.
Evidently the boy was satisfied, for he threw open the door, and the two
adventurers entered. They passed along a narrow corridor to a second
door. On this being opened, they turned down a long passage to the right
and were conducted by the red boy into a small room decorated in Chinese
fashion, somewhat after the style of that in Dr. Forge's house. At the
end there was a shrine with a hideous god set up therein, and before
this, smoked some joss sticks giving out a strange perfume. A tasselled
lantern hung from the ceiling. The chairs and table, elegant in design
were of carved black wood, and the walls were hung with gaily pictured
paper. The room was neat and clean, but pervaded by that strange
atmosphere of the East which brings back curious memories to those who
have travelled into those parts. After conducting them into this room,
the red boy vanished and the men found themselves alone.
"Well I reckon we're got to make ourselves comfortable," said the
buccaneer sitting, "rum shanty--just like an opium den I know of, down
'Frisco way. Ho! I wonder how Tung-yu's escaped the police?"
"I wonder rather who it was that tried to knife me," said Rupert
sitting.
Clarence looked queer. "We'll talk of that when we get through with this
business. Here's some fairy."
Even while he spoke a tall lean Chinaman entered noiselessly. He had a
rather fierce face and one eye. Burgh started up.
"Hwei," said he amazed. "I thought you had lighted out for 'Frisco."
CHAPTER XVI
THE FAN MYSTERY
The one-eyed Chinaman did not smile, nor did he greet Burgh in any way,
friendly or otherwise. He simply looked at the two, with an impassive
gaze and then glanced at a clock, the hands of which pointed to thirty
minutes past eleven. What a clock should be doing in this Eastern room,
the visitors could not make out. It seemed to be out of place. Yet there
it was, and there was Hwei staring at it. He still preserved silence and
brought his one eye from the clock to Rupert with a malevolent glare.
"Major Tidman has not come," said Hwei in English, as good as that
spoken by Tung-yu, but in a grating voice.
"No," said Rupert who was addressed. "He received your note,--or rather
Tung-yu's letter,--and asked me to come here on his behalf."
"And I guess Hwei," drawled Clarence, "that I have come to see the
business through."
"That will not take long," said the Chinaman cheerfully, yet with an
unpleasant stare, "where is the fan of the Mandarin?"
"I have not got it," replied Ainsleigh shortly.
"Major Tidman did not send it perhaps."
"No. For the simple reason that it is not in his possession."
"That," said Hwei grimly, "is a lie."
"It's the truth," chipped in Burgh suddenly, "old man Tidman didn't
choke that woman!"
"You mean Miss Wharf."
Burgh nodded. "That's so," said he in a curt way, but with a watchful
eye on the one-eyed Chinaman.
Hwei gnawed his long finger nails, and then slipped his hands inside his
long hanging sleeves. In his dull blue clothes with the clumsy slippers,
he looked taller than ever, and quite as unpleasant as at first sight.
His pig-tail was coiled round his shaven head. He looked sharply at the
two men with his one eye, and appeared to be thinking, "It's my day,"
said he at length.
Ainsleigh and Burgh jumped up. "Do you intend to murder us?" asked
Rupert.
"If you have the fan," rejoined Hwei coldly, "it is the order of the god
Kwang-ho," and he bowed reverentially to the ugly image.
"What right's that second hand joss to give orders in a free country,
Hwei?" asked Clarence, "and don't you think, we'll give in without
laying you out."
Hwei made a clicking noise with his tongue and then smote a small brass
gong which hung near the door. The thunder had scarcely died away before
the door opened and there appeared four or five villainous looking
Chinamen with long knives. Rupert stepped back and stood against the
wall, with his revolver levelled. But Clarence simply produced the knife
he had picked up on the pavement. "I guess," he said reflectively, "you
tried to knife Ainsleigh outside. The knife here's the same as those
things yonder," and he nodded towards the door. "Well, sail in. We're
ready for the play."
Hwei started at this speech, and chattered something in Chinese. At once
the door closed and the three were again alone. "I never ordered anyone
to be knifed outside," he said, with his one eye on Clarence, "that
would be foolish. First the fan, then the death."
"I was certainly attacked outside," said Rupert lowering his revolver.
"Who attacked you, sir?"
"I can't say. But perhaps Burgh--"
"That's my business," said the cheerful Clarence who had taken his seat,
and did not seem to be at all afraid of the dangerous position in which
he found himself, "what we have to do, is to yarn about this fan. I saw
you in 'Frisco, Hwei. I reckoned the fan was there."
"We thought so, Mr. Burgh, but it came to the ears of Lo-Keong that it
was in England. So then I came here."
"Ah, I saw you in China also," said Clarence.
"You did, and learned much about the fan--too much," growled Hwei.
Rupert who was growing weary of all this hinted mystery sat down again,
and threw the revolver on the table. "I wish you would make a clean
breast of this," he said calmly. "I don't care about the fan, but I do
want to know who killed Miss Wharf."
"Major Tidman did."
"No. He was with me on the beach. I went out to smoke and we strolled up