The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales of Chinatown, by Sax Rohmer

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Title: Tales of Chinatown

Author: Sax Rohmer

Release Date: May, 2004 [EBook #5697]
Posting Date: June 11, 2009

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES OF CHINATOWN ***

Produced by Alan Johns

TALES OF CHINATOWN

By Sax Rohmer

1916

CONTENTS

THE DAUGHTER OF HUANG CHOW
KERRY'S KID
THE PIGTAIL OF HI WING HO
THE HOUSE OF GOLDEN JOSS
THE MAN WITH THE SHAVEN SKULL
THE WHITE HAT
TCHERIAPIN
THE DANCE OF THE VEILS
THE HAND OF THE MANDARIN QUONG
THE KEY OF THE TEMPLE OF HEAVEN

THE DAUGHTER OF HUANG CHOW

I

"DIAMOND FRED"

In the saloon bar of a public-house, situated only a few hundred yards
from the official frontier of Chinatown, two men sat at a small table
in a corner, engaged in earnest conversation. They afforded a sharp
contrast. One was a thick-set and rather ruffianly looking fellow, not
too cleanly in either person or clothing, and, amongst other evidences
that at one time he had known the prize ring, possessing a badly broken
nose. His companion was dressed with that spruceness which belongs to
the successful East End Jew; he was cleanly shaven, of slight build, and
alert in manner and address.

Having ordered and paid for two whiskies and sodas, the Jew, raising
his glass, nodded to his companion and took a drink. The glitter of
a magnificent diamond which he wore seemed to attract the other's
attention almost hypnotically.

"Cheerio, Freddy!" said the thick-set man. "Any news?"

"Nothing much," returned the one addressed as Freddy, setting his glass
upon the table and selecting a cigarette from a packet which he carried
in his pocket.

"I'm not so sure," growled the other, watching him suspiciously. "You've
been lying low for a long time, and it's not like you to slack off
except when there's something big in sight."

"Hm!" said his companion, lighting his cigarette. "What do you mean
exactly?"

Jim Poland--for such was the big man's name--growled and spat
reflectively into a spittoon.

"I've had my eye on y