“I don’t see the connection, Dave. You are suddenly beginning to connect Tsing Chan with the crooks. It doesn’t fit.”
“Yes it does, Colin. Let me give you my impression of the whole occurrence. Tsing Chan knew I was after something in the storeroom. He must have known also that nothing was stolen. So he was watching for me at the auction. But he probably guessed that he might not see me; and even if he did, he could not make a move himself.
“So he had the crooks there, like he did the night before. But he was without Wong Soy. He had to contact directly with the crooks themselves. Someone noticed me and was watching everything I did. That person passed a signal when I showed interest in the teakwood box.
“Tsing Chan caught the signal. He started a fuss about the box. That caused the commotion. The crooks made for me. Then a stranger put in a wild bid — a hundred thousand dollars and it was so outlandish that the crooks thought he must be in on the game. They started after him instead of me.”
“Good theory,” smiled Colin. “Go ahead. Finish it.”
“Three Mexicans went to grab the box,” stated Dave. “They were blinds, to make it look as though Tsing Chan had nothing to do with the crooks. The lights were switched out by one of Tsing Chan’s helpers, off behind the screen. Some fellow helped me out of the mess. The Chinamen attacked us when we saw the Mexicans running. That proves the connection, Colin.
“The fellow who helped me was a fighter. He drove off the Chinamen, but it was too late to chase the Mexicans. They had made a getaway with the teakwood box. You came along; not knowing that I was with a friend, you slugged the fellow who had helped me.”
“That was the only mistake I made,” put in Colin. “Yet it was justifiable under the circumstances. Let me give you a real summary of what happened. A better one than your theory.”
Dave was listening. Colin proceeded.
“FORGET all ideas of a connection between Tsing Chan and the crooks,” declared Colin. “Study the situation as a simple one, eliminating complexities. Tsing Chan wanted to know what you were after, when you went to the storeroom. But that was only natural, because of the raid there, two nights ago.
“The crooks wanted to find what you were after, too. That is why they came to the auction. Their ranks must have been depleted; so they recruited some Mexicans. One of the thugs recognized you. He saw you fidget when the box was offered for sale.
“Tsing Chan may have spied you, or he may have noticed a motion among the hoodlums. Both, perhaps, for I feel sure that Tsing Chan saw you. Of course, he wanted to protect the teakwood box. That was why he argued with the auctioneer. He was too late, however.
“The attack started. Thugs wanted to get you; their Mexican cronies sought to seize the box. The stranger chanced to divert the attack; that fact saved you. But the Mexicans took the teakwood box from Tsing Chan, by force. I saw them do it.”
Colin paused reflectively, then resumed:
“One of Tsing Chan’s men must have turned out the lights. You were correct on that point, Dave. The Chinamen were behind the screen on the right. Not only did they try to save Tsing Chan, they also expected that the Mexicans would come in that direction. Instead, the Mexicans went out by the other door.
“Two chaps had come over to help you. They did not look like crooks, but I thought for the moment that they were. So I pitched on one of them. Then the darkness hit; the other chap took you through to the back street. The two of you spied the Mexicans running.
“You had gone right by the Chinese. They popped out upon you. They never saw the Mexicans, running up the street. What is more, you and your new friend did not try to explain matters. You were as excited as the Chinamen. You fought them and drove them back; they must have fled by some side passage of the bazaar, along with Tsing Chan and the auctioneer.”
Colin was speaking with assurance. His survey sounded logical; Dave found his own theory dwindling.
Colin smiled regretfully.
“I was quite excited, too,” he stated. “I was lucky enough to crack the chap whom I was fighting. I lost my revolver; I wanted to leave in a hurry. There had been a lot of shooting at the front door; but it ended suddenly. The front doorway was completely blackened. I dashed out through it.
“I cut through to the street where we had parked the coupe. I had a hunch that you had made for the back door of the bazaar. I drove around there and spied the second of those two chaps hauling you along the street. You were groggy; I thought that he had slugged you.
“That was why I pitched into him. I sent him reeling under a hard punch. I pushed you into the car and drove away. It was no time to remain and exchange calling cards with any stranger. It was not until we arrived home that I learned my mistake. I did not know that the chap was all right, until you told me.”
DAVE KELROY felt convinced in spite of himself. He tried to look for flaws in Colin’s summary; but it was several minutes before he could find one. Suddenly, Dave pointed to the morning newspaper.
“Tsing Chan is missing,” he asserted. “None of his servants are back at Ku Luan’s house. All have vanished. Doesn’t that implicate him, Colin?”
“Not at all, Dave,” laughed Colin. “You are missing, too, yet you are innocent. When I say ‘missing,’ I mean you would be missing if the police knew about you. Like yourself, Tsing Chan has every reason to keep under cover. If the crooks fail to find you, they will go after him.”
“That’s true, Colin. This Zack Ruggey appears to be a very dangerous character.”
“He is. The police have linked him again. I thought he and his henchmen would not appear last night; but I was wrong. They did appear; but Zack stayed outside until just before the lights went out.”
“How do you know that, Colin? The newspapers made no such comment.”
Colin chewed at his cigarette; then laughed. His mirth was forced.
“I’m guessing,” he declared. “I saw this man Ruggey, once — that is, he was pointed out to me. There was a fellow who looked something like him, along with the crowd that rushed in just before the lights were extinguished.”
Dave started to ask another question. Colin stopped him impatiently.
“Enough of these theories,” decided Colin, his tone abrupt. “There is something I want you to do for me, Dave.”
“Something important?”
“Yes. Very important. I want you to see Dryer.”
“When? Today?”
“This very afternoon. Mark may have spoken to him; both may be wondering where you are. You must go to Dryer’s office, as Mark suggested to you.”
Dave nodded, knowing that more was coming.
“Make no blunders,” added Colin. “Mention what happened two nights ago, because you already intimated that you were in trouble, when you paid your visit to Mark’s house. But say nothing about having met me; and remember — you were not at the bazaar last night.”
“But what about the teakwood box?”
“You will have to mention it. State that Ku Luan said it was to be yours. Dryer might know something that would help you. Sound him out.”
“Regarding the possible contents of the box?”
“Yes. We both caught a glimpse of a folded tapestry, something like the others that were in the other boxes. Suggest to Dryer that the box might contain some sort of silk.”
“I can say that Ku Luan intimated that fact.”
“A good idea. When you have finished talking with Dryer, come back here. Maybe we shall then know more than we do at present.”
“But where shall I tell Dryer that I am stopping?”
“At a hotel — any hotel. If he questions you too closely, tell him that you have checked out. Let him recommend a better hotel. He will think that you have gone there.”