Part 17 (1/2)

She did nothing of the sort, of course.

During the days of her unexplained absence, Alice remained shut in that room with Skeep Hup, the Chinese princess, an old Chinawoman serving them with their meals and otherwise attending to their wants.

Two Chinamen with drawn revolvers stood outside the door every time it was opened. There was no possibility of escape.

During this time Alice got very close to the princess.

Little Skeep Hup seemed to take a great liking to her from the first, which increased as the days dragged by.

She told Alice about everything she knew except the secret of the hiding-place of her grandfather's buried treasure, which she claimed she knew. She confirmed Dr. Garshaski's story in every particular, and upbraided herself bitterly for having been foolish enough to listen to the lies of w.a.n.g Foo.

But where was w.a.n.g Foo?

They saw no more of him.

Dr. Garshaski came every day towards night asking as to Alice's success.

She put him off as best she could.

”The princess will not reveal her secret,” she said at last, ”and who can blame her? The best thing you can do, doctor, is to go and blackmail Ah Lung out of a few thousand and set her free.”

This was on the night the Bradys had the call from Ah Lung.

The doctor's face grew dark as Alice said it.

”Do you say so?” he exclaimed. ”Well, we shall see!”

He turned on the princess and said:

”Now look here, little woman, to-night you have to tell your secret or take the consequences. Understand?”

Then Skeep Hup flew into one of her rages, and the doctor was getting it good and plenty when he abruptly left the room, saying in English to Alice as he went out:

”This is played out. She shall be made to tell, and you, who I believe have put her up to this, shall see the job done. You will find out that it is no joke to have pa.s.sed through the door of death.”

And this Alice translated for the benefit of Skeep Hup, asking her what she supposed it meant.

”It means torture, that's what it means,” replied the princess, promptly. ”No matter. They will never get the secret out of me. I will never reveal it to any one but Ah Lung.”

And here is what followed:

No supper came that night.

Alice and the princess waited until they were tired, and were just preparing to go to bed when the door was suddenly thrown open and two men wearing hideous paste-board masks after the Chinese style entered the room.

Dr. Garshaski and another followed them, an old Chinaman with a long, drooping mustache. A person Alice had never seen.

”Young women,” said the doctor, ”you are to follow us to the torture room, unless you, Princess Skeep Hup, instantly reveal what I wish to know, or, rather, give me your promise to do so, for it must be revealed to me alone.”

The princess set her lips together, and, throwing intense scorn into her speech, defied him.