The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ring Once for Death, by Robert Andrew Arthur

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Title: Ring Once for Death

Author: Robert Andrew Arthur

Illustrator: Ernie Barth

Release Date: March 31, 2010 [EBook #31840]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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Transcriber's Note:

This etext was produced from Amazing Stories March 1954. Extensive
research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this
publication was renewed.

RING ONCE FOR DEATH

BY ROBERT ARTHUR

Illustrator: Ernie Barth

_The power of the old gods was certainly nothing for Mark
and Edith--a modern, twentieth-century couple--to worry
about. After all--everybody dies!_

* * * * *

[Illustration:]

Twenty years had left no trace inside Sam Kee's little shop on Mott
Street. There were the same dusty jars of ginseng root and tigers'
whiskers, the same little bronze Buddahs, the same gim-cracks mixed
with fine jade. Edith Williams gave a little murmur of pleasure as the
door shut behind them.

"Mark," she said, "it hasn't changed! It doesn't look as if a thing
had been sold since we were here on our honeymoon."

"It certainly doesn't," Dr. Mark Williams agreed, moving down the
narrow aisle behind her. "If someone hadn't told us Sam Kee was dead,
I'd believe we'd stepped back twenty years in time, like they do in
those scientific stories young David reads."

"We must buy something," his wife said. "For a twentieth anniversary
present for me. Perhaps a bell?"

From the shadowy depths of the shop a young man emerged, American in
dress and manner despite the Oriental contours of his face and eyes.

"Good evening," he said. "May I show you something?"

"We think we want a bell," Dr. Williams chuckled. "But we aren't quite
sure. You're Sam Kee's son?"

"Sam Kee, junior. My honored father passed to the halls of