Part 20 (2/2)
The old detective flashed his electric lantern around.
”Your Chinese puzzle isn't it, Mr. Brady,” whispered Leggett. ”Is there any end to the mysteries with which these c.h.i.n.ks like to surround themselves?”
”None, absolutely none,” replied the old detective. ”It makes one tired to try to follow their curves. But listen a moment. We may catch on to something.”
”It's a blame sight more likely that someone will catch on to us,”
growled Leggett.
”Hus.h.!.+ Hus.h.!.+ Listen!”
He had scarcely spoken when someone behind the middle door called out in a loud voice in English:
”Now, Ah Lung, I've got you. You scoundrel! It was I myself who kidnapped your princes! The secret of Gong Schow's hidden treasure is mine! Now you die!”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Three shots were instantly fired.
”This is murder!” cried Old King Brady, and he threw himself against the middle door from behind which the shots came.
CHAPTER IX.
THE BRADYS GET TOGETHER ONCE AGAIN. BUT THE PRINCESS SLIPS THROUGH THEIR FINGERS.
Urged by Harry, Ah Lung jumped to the outer door of the smoking room as this part of the House of the Seven Delights was called.
Young King Brady hastily adjusting his clothes--he had taken off his coat and vest after the manner of opium smokers--prepared to follow him, but Ah Lung was back before he could get ready.
”Well?” he demanded.
”I know where he went,” replied Lung. ”Are you ready?”
”Yes.”
”Then come with me.”
They pa.s.sed out into the corridor.
There were the ”two Chinamen” seen by Old King Brady and Leggett.
”Where did he go?” demanded Harry.
”Listen,” replied Lung. ”We--the organization, I mean--don't make use of all this big building. Our part is only on this side. There are rooms on the other side which we rent, some to secret societies, others to individuals; most of them are vacant just now. The Doctor went in through a door leading to a suite of these supposed-to-be vacant rooms and here it is.”
He paused before the door which Dr. Garshaski had called the ”Door of Death.”
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