N
SHORT STORY
THE CHINA MAIL, DECEMBER 8, 1939
CHINA PRINCESS By Captain J. L. STRONG
who
of
men.
A group of foreign officers were hav- plexion of that white shade that in- cum-secretary. You know the East. knuckles just underneath the nose, a
ing cocktails in the long har of dicates perfect health and which you You speak the Mandarin tongue and most painful blow. the Prince Edward Hotel, one of the find more among Latin women than two of our languages.. You were born The unknown assailant was really- fashionable resorts of the Interna- among the Anglo-Celts, an exquisite out here. Your old amah lives in my tough. He did not let Sandra loose, tional Concession of Shanghai which mouth and an elegance of figure that settlement. I will pay you a hundred' but his grip lost its strength for a carried on its business heedless of is given to few women, justifying pounds English a month and all ex- second and she wrenched herself war's alarms. In fact there was a Strong's remark at the Prince Edward penses."
away. The man ripped his long knife superb indifference to shells, bombs Hotel.
"I have been on my own so long towards Strong's body, a real knife- and incendiarism, manifested by
the The girl was all without being that I do not know whether I am good man's 'blow, but the Briton danced
a at taking orders, Mr. Su.” staff that infected the patrons, even dominating and she smiled with
away and shot the assailant right be- the most nervous of them.
frank, open smile that increased "That is why I have chosen you. tween the eyes. A British naval officer was déplor- Strong's admiration. Su introduced You will have to use your own good
men By that time,
were running ing the fact that most of the pretty his visitor to the girl, "Sandra, my judginent in most things. The few from all sides, Shanghai volunteers European women had left the long dear, this is Mr. Strong. Strong, this orders I shall send you will be all- from the Defence Force, police, white suffering city for safer places. Prince is my adopted daughter, Sandra who important and you are far too in- civilians and officers from the near- Aminoff, formerly of the Cossacks of was cast up by the sea as a gift from telligent a man to question them." by hotels. the Guard and now of the White Rus- the ancient gods to comfort a lonely Strong smiled. "Sorry to have When a count was taken, it was Of course, I found that three of the assailants sian company of the Shanghai De man and to become the inspiration of appeared churlish.
Su smiled, "I have a con- were dead, two wounded, and four fence Force, smiled. His lady friend, his people. She is the absolute ruler accept."
beautiful if slightly mysterious of my settlement of Huy-nan and the tract ready for you. I banked on your had been taken prisoners as they en- Manchu, had not deserted him, and he chatelaine of all my houses."
coming in with us. I have arranged deavoured to escape. Strong remembered the story of the for your clothes to be sent here and Sandra insisted on preferred her exotic beauty to that of
viewing the the pink-and-white prettiness of Eng- finding of Sandra by the fishermen of have ordered a uniform for you. You bodies and examining the faces lish flappers and to the glitter and Huy-nan, that model settlement will be in a few moments, a major in those who were still alive.
developed by Su. He remembered the my brigade, an officer in the Chinese "I thought as flippancy of American misses.
much. Japanese "This is no time to be thinking of note that was found pinned to her Republican Army."
officers and old soldiers disguised as women," said a bronzed commandant baby clothes, begging anyone
One of these days, Strong will write river coolies. Special Service of French colonial infantry, whereupon found the babe to be good to her and about his adventures in the Huynan Then she looked at her chauffeur who
of American marines to communicate with an address which brigade, of the hidden treasure was lying across his wheel, dead. laughed. "Satan rebuking sin, what was completely indecipherable. It China, of the Three Wise Old Men, of "Poor Chun,” she said wearily and
but the
Frenchman had begun, "This is my only daughter plots, conspiracies and intrigues. He sadly. "He died for me. I hope the smiled and lifted up an admonitory Sandra
has promised me that, but the time is Japanese hang for this." finger, saying in his clear English,
Other Su had sent his best boatmen out to not yet. All that he allows
figures gathered round, "No tales out of school,
my dear try to rescue any survivours from the make public is the adventure I
emerging from the darkness, and be- wreck of a yacht he had espied from narrating in this chronicle.
fore the Settlement policemen had a chance to resist, their six prisoners Rowly Strong, one of those wander- his palace, but the mist and the gloom of the storm had prevented him ob-
were snatched from them and rushed ing Britons you always find knock-
taining any clue as to the identity of
A away.
crowd ing about wherever there is trouble, the vessel.
of gesticulating, chattering Chinese invaded the street, preventing the police from giving chase.
Sandra smiled: "Those were our own men," she whispered to Strong. "San will be avenged. You must was think
I have to be.
me a savage. I am, at times, I am at war."
the hotels and drove her to the house Strong borrowed a car from one of
in the French Concession, where he During the day-time. young lieutenant who had been a de- girl put to bed by her attendants.
Son-tay, a telephoned for a ductor and had the tective in the Chinese municipal police But Sandra had not suffered any force, and four picked men kept watch injury, so the medico told him. She over her. At night, Strong was on would be all right later in the day, duty, shadowed by four other stal- but she was to go slowly. She had warts from Huy-nan. He escorted her received a bad shock. everywhere, for even in war-stricken
a
lieutenant
about
O'Hara."
vast
me
of
to
am
It was that afternoon that Sandra
After a while, Strong was called back to Shanghai and told to don civilian clothes. His adventures nodded his head. "It is no time to be
were not known to his European He had provided a Scottish nurse acquaintances and thinking of women, but there is one
he was received here in this bar who is a sight for for the baby and sent her, later, to a with acclaim by the little international sore eyes and a consolation for weary convent in Shanghai, then to Europe, coterie
that foregathered at the warriors."
on "You mean that mystery but she had insisted returning Prince Edward, but he spent little
there were signs of trouble; time with them. His main job girl called the China Princess?" asked directly O'Hara.
and it was rumoured in Shanghal's keeping an eye on Sandra. The enemy, Again the Briton nodded. "No international community that she had for some reason Su had not divulged, chance there," said a bluff English been doing a lot of useful work for the were much intent on kidnapping the major from a county regiment which Chinese forces. Wherever she went, girl. was just then holding defence posts she was unobtrusively guarded by on the borders of the Concession. "No four stalwarts of the Huy-nan brig iny lad, not an earthly. She is the ade, raised from the settlement of ward of Mr. Su, our very good friend, that name all henchmen of Su's. and he would take it in very bad part Strong had travelled widely. He if you were to force your company on had had to do with people of the girl. Moreover, she would know importance and had met celebrated how to deal with you. She has a way beauties in many cities, but he felt of coping with importunate males extraordinarily impressed by Sandra Shanghai there were entertainments, told Strong that she had received a which amounts to genius. By the and by Su.
and the news that he was her con- code note from her father, instructing way, here is Su himself. Let's change The dinner was excellent. Su's stant companion leaked through to his her to meet him at once and without the conversation.”
cook was evidently French, so were cronies at Prince Edward, who all escort at the shop of an old friend. There approached the group a slim the wines. After dinner, the host swore he was a damned lucky fellow, When she reached the rendezvous, Chinese, dressed in impeccable Lon- begged his adopted daughter to excuse except the French commandant who she found the shop had been gutted don clothes of grey. A highly in both himself and his guest as there had his own and pretty shrewd ideas and the old merchant slain. Two of telligent face and eyes that were ex- was a little matter of business to talk on the subject.
her own men had followed her, pressive for an Oriental attracted over. He then led Strong to a study One night, Sandra gave Strong the although she thought she had given Strong from the onset.
that resembled that of a Cardinal of slip. He and his four men scoured the them the slip, and their presence had He had not met the Chinese before, the quarttrocento period in Italy. city in search of her. The Briton perhaps prevented her being kid- and Carstairs, the English major "This is generally used by the appealed unofficially to both the inter- napped there and then. introduced him, saying "A welcome bishop when he visits us," explained national and the French police for aid. Sandra was the heroine of the addition to our little circle, my dear Su, not explaining that he had the but Sandra had vanished.
settlement after that. Strong simply Mr. Su. He plays a good game of room specially furnished for that eccle. It was two of the morning, when had to introduce her to all sorts of poker, holds his drink like a hero, and siastical dignitary who was one of his Strong was passing the Prince Ed- good wishers who flocked about her does not talk shop. He can't help great friends.
ward on his way to contact a Chinese at the Prince Edward, and he was being a civilian."
The two men sat down and lit cigars, detective, that a car stopped and growing rather hot under the collar, Strong smiled ever so slightly. No a silent-footed, boy came in and Sandra jumped out-of it.
for Sanda had unbent and was grac- one noticed the flicker across his face poured out coffee for them and another "I ani so sorry, Rowly, I just had to ious to everybody. A tall, distinguish- except Su, who asked the company to placed bottles of liqueur and appro- do something without your knowing- ed-looking Englishman, middle-aged drink with him and gradually drew priate glasses on a little Moorish table, or so I thought. A note was brought but fit, approached Strong. "Would Strong aside. The Chinese finished "Now," said Su, "I want to talk me, but the whole affair is a hoax. I you mind introducing me to that most by asking Strong to dine with him business with you, Mr. Strong. You cannot understand it." It was the interesting young lady yonder. There that night, and withdrew from the have been a soldier? Yes? Good. first time she had used the diminutive is something about her that has got company in spite of reiterated offers You have been a wanderer. You have of his Christian name and he stood me wondering and wondering of further refreshment.
written a book or two. I have one in speechless. The reaction of this furiously. I'm Fellows of the Red "Great fellow, that," said Car- my library that deals with ancient moment had robbed him of the power Cross Committee." stairs. "He cottoned to you, Strong. magic. You have also worked in con- of speech, even of movement.
Strong recognised the name at once; Take a fool's advice and play nice fidential capacities for governments Four figures glided from the the Honourable Julian Fellows, cele- with him. He's a power in China, and business firms, both. You were a shadows,
brated explorer and philanthropist. even in the China of to-day. He owns British agent in Mexico;
you have Strong's very highly-trained in- There had been a great tragedy in his banks, ships, a model town and settle- been out here before on business for stincts of self-preservation came to his life, so the rumour went. His wife ment of his own, and he is a general big British financial interests. You rescue. He flashed out an automatic, had died young and he had in the Chinese army. Oxford and all are not easy to frighten, yet you never and Sandra was hardly a whit he married again, but had gone wander- that. Generous to a fault. A really take unnecessary risks. Also I hear hind him. She also was armed. She ing about strange lands most of his great fellow.”
that you are honest. Please do not be had dashed back to the car and time. On the rare occasions he was annoyed at the word."
whipped out a small Remington auto- at home he had given lavishly to those "I am not, Mr. Su, but I cannot matic from its holder by the left-hand who lived in the distressed areas. very well imagine what all this is dour.
He was the friend of royalty and of leading up to."
Two of the figures flew nt the savage chiefs. It was said that he The house was outwardly Chinese, "Simple, my dear fellow, I should Briton, two at Sandra. Others could travel unmolested where no but, inside, it was European and in like you to work for me." Strong crowded to attack the chauffeur, who other white man would dare show his the best taste. There was a bevy of frowned. He had certain plans he fired first but went down with a knife face, servants all arrayed in a species of had conceived and which he wished to in his throat. Strong fired twice from Strong pushed through the little uniform with the dragon badge of the carry out.
his hip, where his pistol could not be crowd round. Sandra and performed Su family embroidered on their tunics. "Are you definitely committed to knocked
Su arrayed in whife evening Jacket any scheme? Are you actually
or kicked away. Sandra the ritual of introduction. He could em- fired once and then and black dress trousers greeted his ployed by somebody to whom you owe with one of the dark assailants.
was grappling see a look of wonder on Sandra's face, hüt could not see the expression on guests warmly and led him into a allegiance?" asked the Chinese. Strong hit this foe with all his might. Fellow's and consequently felt savage- small room where a tiny bar held "No," Strong assured him. "But I He was never a hefty puncher, but ly jealous. drinks of many varieties. Standing by hardly see: "But I do," Su in- on this night he excelled himself and
Strong went over to the French Con- cession where Su had his Shanghai quarters in the midst of an old Chinese garden.
4
never
this was the mystery girl, dark red terrupted him, smiling.
Then a friendly and well-known he landed a beauty on the fellow's voice said: "I thank you, Strong. We hair, large dark brown eyes, a com- "I want you as a personal adjutant- jaw and then hit him hard with his (Continued on Page-17)