The Last Ditch

em chasing a native through a Chinese street. Still the words of Min

ouring of the Oriental maps, the end of a warring world, the strange patience an

k of form. The Japanese ran with a limp-ran for his Emperor in whose service he had given youth and all the fine edge of his vitality. It was not until he was spent that he turned fox. Luck was not with him. The white man nea

the service of the Big Three, that he had touched the secrets of their devoted lives, but now, as in the shop of Minglapo, the great zeal and patience, the unswerving fealty of this spy's service to his most human and impossible God, had a merit to it that touched him where he was tenderest. Nifton Bend and the two Chinese leaders meant adventure; reinstatement into the world of real men; more than that they meant initiation int

ide of the subject was big and near. He had run down the spy but didn't know what to do with him.... The little Jap had his life to live, his work to do. He had

her ambitions and that he was deeply called to the mysterious activities o

severe. The way he personally panted and perspired, disgusted a mind in which the old ideal of an athlete still remained.... He saw

ound before him, they brought lanterns to bear upon the two faces, talked long and with much gravity. Romney blinked into the lantern light again, an extra-long exposure. Then his life-story in full was hypothecated by one of the officers. The two others afterward relieved themselves of prolonged intonations in many high keys, having little to do with the facts of the case. Their manner became sumptuously courteous, even d

of them, but delivery meant a return to the dais and resumption of the murder process. Meanwhile in the little old head walking behind, between the two Chinese policemen, were facts and suspicions enough to break entirely what Romne

r fix matters somehow-

came the

t you say some

ay. I expected death wh

that was my

ot unde

ity of Tokyo training. He was familiar with Japanese students. Always they bent forward with the effort of thinki

t understand why I

t is what

. I haven't got any

are not

es

ot unde

a chasm that could not be brid

ters-as to what fron

ro

ell them, so that o

ori

y will ask questions at the station. We must answer. If we a

had a disagreement. You st

mestic difference

es

do we

i four days ago. We have been

the arrangement. The spy had a fertile mind. These things were a pa

Japanese added. "I have been showing you our country. You are rich. You just pl

on his arm. "Good," said the Japanese in frightened, cringing tones. "Now I wi

s and fresh beginnings, as if the spy were releasing a memorized address

please them

to fall into the hands of the law. Even the Japanese didn't understand a white man's mercy. These nationalists were an interesting sort. They didn't ask from others what they were unwilling to give themselves. Failure meant forfeiture of life in their work. But th

through his mind, and did not take real form until he happened to recall the laboratory in Minglapo's cellar. There might be a connection here. He had he

ould wait for Ti Kung and then possibly it would be well to clear himself from the Big Three. Perhaps they wouldn't trust him-even to keep his mouth sh

not seen before. The prison guard was intent for an instant upon the figure at Romney's feet

g for you. To-morrow you will be free. This-remember-is a madman. H

the full significance of the words. Suddenly the lantern fell and the stranger raised a terrible outcry

with light, above was darkness. Romney's face was caught in the hands of the pol

take my pistol. I had to shoot. He is

ice for help, and the corrido