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Show J Warnor Uron.-Flrtt National Picture Starring Morle Obpron and Ccorge tironl with Pat O'Brtrn, Ceraldine Fitzgerald, tiinnie llarnet and Frank McIIugh Serialiiad br HAXRY LEE CHAPTER I HONG KONG the Ear of All Nations jangling music song the jumbled tongues of many lands among . the throng at the bar a personable man in the middle-thirties middle-thirties awaiting the mixing of his favorite cocktail. "When anyone comes along who knows the importance of every second of life," he said to the bartender, "make him one of these !" "I know tho importance of every second!" said an eager voice, and a fragile and exquisite exquis-ite girl, pushed her smaller glass toward his. "A few drops of Paradise!" he eaid, pouring it from his own. 'Think of that!" she exclaimed, ex-claimed, looking at him. "Only a few drops 1" "But they're precious!" Her dark eyes were gleaming, t "My name's Dan!" fa "Mine's Joan!" F- "Shall we drink to our brief meeting?" I "Hail and farewell!" said Joan, an other-worldly joy in her sensitive face, as she raised her 1 glass. And suddenly she had dis appeared in the milling multitude. multi-tude. As Dan passed through the swinging doors to the street an automatic was pressed to his side. "It's been a long chase, Dan!" drawled a quiet voice. twins act ail the way? Any chance you may have lost the key in that bnlde back there?" Steve's hand went to his pocket. He was satisfied. Slowly, carefully, care-fully, Dan was loosening tha pin from the rail. The sate swung open and he and Steve plunged over the side, hurtled through the air, and hit tha water. Dan threw his legs about Steve in a scissor-lock, pushed him down, and as his struggles grew weaker, quickly found the waistcoat pocket and removed the key. As Dan attempted to unlock the handcuffs, Steve started to struggle, but was pushed under again. A crowd gathered at the rail. "Man overboard!" was the cry. A life-preserver was thrown overboard. He pulled him up, saw him safely in the preserver, then left and swam toward the shore. A. U. S. Navy gig, com- it' : : : h ; ; - tt.' i "Shall wo drink to our brief mooting?" j Dan suddenly whirled, his left swiftly striking the gun from Steve Burke's grasp his right crossing toward Steve's chin. Steve blocked it with his left, replied re-plied with his right and Dan was sent against the wall. Steve followed fol-lowed like lightning, struck again, and Dan went down. Steve hit him one for luck while he was on the ground and then yanked him to his feet with all the brutality bru-tality of an outraged arm of the law. A Hong Kong policeman rushed in. ! "It's all right, buddy," said Steve, whipping out his identification identi-fication badge, "he's a prisoner of mine, and get my gun for me, will you? It's on the ground over there!" "Move along now get along!" snarled the cop to the crowd. "Will you be havin' more?" sneered Steve snapping the handcuffs on his man. "Where do we go from here?" asked Dan, adjusting his cuff so that the bracelets were hidden. "The boat and then San Quentinl" "Yon're a hard man to lose, Steve! Yon ought to be very grateful to me. How many cops pst a chance for a trip around th world? Marseilles, Algiers, Cairo?" "The trail wasnt half bad!" aid Steve with a wry grin. "WeD, the last leg now .. . Honolulu nd then Sao Frao- AW you"r goin' 3 tX4 "D e nTe to do the Siamese ing around the bow of the ship,' rescued Steve, who, still gasping gasp-ing ordered: "Get that man-He's man-He's my prisoner!" The liner was about to sail, passengers stood in groups, laughing and chatting, or hurried hur-ried up the gang-plank. Among them was the stately Countess de Vaubert who was anvthing but that and the bald and British Sir Harold who was in her toils, and Rocky, the tipnling pickpocket and the happy young honeymooners, Bonnie and Jimmie. Joan the fragile one, was saying radiant goodbyes to her friends, trying to put behind be-hind her the crowding tragedy of her young life. Wild with the intoxicating thought of her new acquaintance Dan. Dan and Steve were in their cabin wet and disheveled and Dan was again handcuffed. When the steward had gone Steve unlocked them. "Why did yon have to come back and slip me the life-belt?" , T didn't . . answered Dan glumly retreating to the bathroom. bath-room. "Why didn't you let me drown. Dan?" "I was just wondering . . I came Dan's quiet voice from beyond the wall. He had picked op the handcuffs which he was examining thoughtfully . . . H was thinking: "Is there a chanea of dubbing Steve over the head with these before the boat sails?" (T Bt Cntinutd Tomorrow) |