"You are certain you would not like company when you go up the stairs to see Big Sam?" inquired Mr. Baldwin carelessly.
"I don't think it necessary," I replied.
"Are you armed?" he asked.
"I have a revolver."
"Very good. I have nothing but a penknife. It is hardly customary to carry firearms when making a social call."
"I do not make a habit of it," I said coldly. "I expected to come here to-night, and I did not foresee that I was to have company."
He made no reply to this, and the hack drew up near Big Sam's door as I had directed.
I stepped out and Mr. Baldwin followed.
"I think you had better remain here," I said.
"Perhaps," he replied. "But if you have no objection I'll stop at the foot of the stairs. You might have occasion to call to me and I should hear you better there."
"I think there is no danger."
"Big Sam is not as scrupulous as you may think. It has been said that men have gone up those stairs who never came down."
I remembered Big Sam's judgment hall, and the power he had apparently exercised over the warring tongs, and thought it quite likely that judgments had been executed as well as passed within its walls.
"Suit yourself," I said. "But as you are not armed you can do nothing but raise an alarm if the need comes. And you may be in more danger than I."
"Perhaps the hackman has a pistol," said Mr. Baldwin coolly. "I may be able to get a loan."
The hackman proved to be supplied with a fire-arm and he surrendered it cheerfully to Mr. Baldwin.
"Oh, the place has a bad name, but I've been through it for tin year and niver fired a shot," said he, laughing at the apprehension of the two innocent strangers he supposed us to be. And we crossed the street and opened the door of the shop that made the entrance to Big Sam's lodgings.
Four or five Chinese lounged about the place and one took my name to Big Sam. The others watched us furtively, and one made some comment upon us that caused his companions to give us a quick look and grim smile.
The action was not lost on Mr. Baldwin.
"Our friend's body-guard do not seem to anticipate the same ending to the affair that you do, Mr. Hampden," said he, with a shrug of the shoulder.
"I do not suppose they are in his confidence in the matter," said I. Then as the messenger returned with word that I was to "come up," I continued: "Keep near the door in yonder corner where you can not be taken from behind. If anything happens, get to the police station as soon as you can. I shall probably be back inside of ten minutes."
Mr. Baldwin bowed as his reply to this injunction, and spoke affably to the shopman who had paused from the swift reckoning of his accounts on an abacus, and was watching us furtively with the innocent pretense of casting up sums in his mind.
I mounted the rough stairs and in another minute was ushered into Big Sam's office.
The softer lights of the night that came from the gas-jets brought out the richness of the apartment far more effectively than the coarse light of day. The carvings and painted ornaments showed to more advantage, and the colors were softened into harmony with the western eye. In spite of the preoccupation of my errand, I could not repress an exclamation of pleasure at the sight.
Big Sam sat at his desk as he had sat when I left him in the morning, and looked at me with bland impassiveness.
"Good evening, Mr. Hampden," he said politely. "Can I serve you again?"
"No," I said, a little taken aback at this greeting. "It is on your business I have come."
"And your companion down-stairs?" he said, looking at me out of half-closed oriental eyes.
"He may be of service in case–"
Big Sam raised his hand to check my speech and spoke in Chinese. At his words there was the soft sound of the closing of a door somewhere behind the screens.
"A prudent precaution," he said. "You have found a place for the girl?"
"Yes," I replied. "I must say I do not fully approve of what I am going to do. But it is not on account of your ward. Nothing could be better for her than what I have to offer."
Then I explained with some detail the plans that had been approved by Miss Kendrick. He listened with studious attention.
"Miss Kendrick is too kind," said Big Sam diplomatically. "She is young, I believe?"
I bowed.
"And Miss Fillmore also?"
I bowed again.
"And you do not approve?"
"I do not."
"I see your reasons. Perhaps you are right. Do you wish to abandon the girl to her fate?"
"Oh, not at all. But with more time–"
"There is no more time."
"Not to-morrow?"
"The tongs are even now in session. I have word that before morning there will be a demand for the girl, and if she is not surrendered there will be the reward of blood."
"You are more powerful than they," said I, remembering the scene of the morning.
"I have passed the limits of my power," said Big Sam placidly. "What is it you say of Russia? 'Despotism tempered by assassination?' Well, I am but little of a despot, and the assassin has so much the better opportunity."
"And by to-morrow you would give her up?" I asked.
"To be frank with you, I would give her up to-night, Mr. Hampden, if it would purchase peace and safety."
I looked sharply at Big Sam, but the oriental mask gave back the record of nothing but bland and child-like simplicity.
"Then why not?" I asked.
"There is but one girl. There are two tongs," said Big Sam.
"That makes a difficulty," I admitted. "Yet only one tong owns the girl."
"I fear I could not explain to you the attitude and customs of the tongs in this matter," said Big Sam with a smile. "One tong demands the delivery of the girl, or five thousand dollars. That is the one you would perhaps call the owner of the girl. The other demands the girl, or twenty-five hundred dollars."
"Seventy-five hundred dollars for a girl–that is a little expensive."
"I believe some of your countrymen have paid more. Though the bargain has not been made in so simple a fashion."
Big Sam allowed himself to smile.
"I don't see how we are to help you then," I said. "But if you think it will put the tongs in better humor to have the girl in our custody, we are at your service."
"This evening," said Big Sam, "I saw three dogs quarreling over a bone. A fourth dog much larger came by and snatched it. The three dogs ceased to quarrel and started in chase of the fourth."
"A cheerful augury," I said. "I wish no quarrel with assassins, and least of all would I wish to bring them upon Mr. Kendrick's household."
"The fourth dog," continued Big Sam, "was larger–much larger–than the three put together. They ceased the chase before it was fairly begun, and joined in mourning their loss."
"You put me in doubt," said I. "I must not bring danger to others."
"I can guarantee their safety, Mr. Hampden," said Big Sam. "Your police have impressed it thoroughly on the minds of our people that the white race is not to be meddled with by any but white men."
I