He bent down and listened. There was no sound except Aunt
Josephine's breathing. Silently he drew from a fold in the loin-
cloth a screwdriver and removed the screws from the hinges of the
door. Quietly he pushed the bedroom door open, pivoting it on the
lock, just far enough open so that he could slip through.

Creeping along the floor, like a reptile whose sign he had
assumed, he came nearer and nearer Aunt Josephine's bed. As he
paused for a moment his quick eye seemed to catch sight of the
bulging lump under her pillow. His long thin hand reached out for
it.

Aunt Josephine moved restlessly in her sleep. Instantly he seized
a murderous-looking Chinese dirk fastened to his side and raised
it above her head ready to strike on the slightest outcry. She
moved slightly, and relapsed into sound sleep again.

Holding the knife above her, Wu slowly and quietly removed the
jewel-case from under her pillow.

. . . . . . .

In a country road-house Long Sin was waiting patiently. The
telephone rang and the proprietor answered. Long Sin was at his
side almost before he could hand over the receiver. It was Long
Sin's master, Wu.

"Beware," came the whispered message over the wire. "Kennedy has
made a false ring. I'll get the real one. By the great Devil of
Gobi, you must cut him off."