Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-08-12
CHAPTER XIX

0AAshA A@AN -hA-Ns
"MilliOns-there are millions In that
pretended mortuary van!
In spite of myself, this imprudent
phrase had escaped me In such a way
that the secret of the imperial treasure
was instantly known to all. to the rail-
way men as well as to the passengers.
And so. for the greater security, the
Persian government. In agreement with
the Chinese government. has allowed il
to be believed that we were carrying
the corpse Of a mandarin. when we were
really taking 10 Pekin a treasure worth
fifteen millions Of francs.
Now the secret il divulged. and we
know that this treasure. composed Of
gold and precious stones. formerly de
posted In the hands Of the Shah Of Per
STA. il being sent 10 its legitimate owner.
the Son Of Heaven.
That Is why my lord Faruskiar. who
was aware Of II In consequence Of his
position as general manager Of the com
pany. had joined the train at Douchak
90 as to accompany the treasure to its
destination. That is why he and Ghangir
and the three other Mongols-had 10
carefully watched this precious van. and
why they had shown themselves so anx-
ious when It had been left behind by the
breakage Of the coupling, and why they
were so eager for Its recovery.
That II also why a detachment Of Chi.
nese soldiers has taken over the van al
Kachgar, In relief Of the Persians. That
Is why Pan Chao never heard Of Yen
Lou. nor Of any exalted parsonage of that
name existing In the Celestial Empirel
We started to time, and, as may be
supposed. our travelling companions
could talk Of nothing else but the mill
ions which were enough to enrich every
one In the train.
This pretended mortuary van has al
ways been suspicious TO me-" said Major
Notitz. And that was why | cues
toned Pan Chao regarding the dead
ma ndarin."
Il remember" l said; "and could
not quite understand the motive Of YOU
question. 1t is certain now that we hav,
got a treasure In tow"
And add" said the major, that tn,
Chinese government has done wisely il
sending an escort Of twenty well armed
men. From Kothan to Ian Tcheou tn,
trains will have two thousand kllometeri
to traverse through the desert. and tn,
safety Of the line Is not as great as 1
might be across the Cobb"
IAN the more so, major, as the re
doubtable Ki-Tsang has been reporte,
In the northern provinces"
Quite so, and a haul Of fifteen mill
ions is worth having by a bandit chief.
But how could the chief be Informe,
Of the treasure being sentr'
That sort Of people always know
what It Is their interest to know"
Yes" thought /. although they d.
not read the Twentieth Century"
Meanwhile different opinions were be
Ing exchanged on the gangways. Som
would rather travel with the million
than carry a corpse along with then
even though II was that Of a hrst-clas
mandarin. Others considered the carry
ing Of the treasure danger to the pas
sengers. And that was the opinion o
Baron Observation-Disclosures, In a furiou
attack on Popof.
you ought to have told us about Il
sir-you ought to have told US abou
III Those millions are known to be
the train. and they will tempt people I
attack u.s. And an attack. even II repul,
cd, will mean delay. and delay l will nc