The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-10-27

lleve me, but ] know You VIII. They
suspect me and they hound me. Tbey
follow me here and watch me all the
time. ] know not what 10 do unless
you help me-"
What In II they suspect you Oft"
asked quietly. But. first. your name
aud address"
1T In Sing Tung. and there Ii my
place OF business. am a merchant
and respectable"
took the proffered card with 10
tie involuntary start. Was II coin.
ridence or d well defined oriental plan
for the man who was suspected Of
spiritIng AWAY Helen GrIswold In his
own establishment 10 seek my profes.
] slonai assistance within half an hour
after the outraged father had called
upon m.i
he seated moment" I said. wish.
ing time 10 study the situation.
With oriental calmness he related In
substance the story Of the mysterious
disappearance OF Helen Griswold M
told to me twenty minutes before by
her father. The only difference was In
the ending.
This was No follows: when the
noise outside attracted their attention
walked 10 the window, too, and
looked out Then ! heard some one
ask. Where's HelenY turned then
10 look. The beautiful girl was gone.
We all looked for her. but she was no.
where. They accused me OF taking her
away. and the police threateDed me.
What can dor know nothing about
II. come 10 you for help"
felt that the man was lying. but I
rcfralned from saying 40. by taking
his case ! might be able TO get some
light on the subject.
Half an hour later Sing Tung guided
me TO hIs home. The place was already
In the hands OF the police and tho
house was practically guarded and
watched on every side.
II had been nn ordinary dllnpldated
brick building constructed In the days
when Dutchnen dwelt In the neighbor.
hood OF Mott street as the fashiona BILE
section OF New York. but strange and
wondrous changes and transformat tions
had been made In the house during
successive ages OF occupation.
Sing Tung. with evident innocence,
showed me all Of the secret places OF
the house. explaining In elaborate de-
tail the uses to which the different
rooms were put
How many Cinnamon were In the
house the night Of the disappearancey'
I asked Sing Tung casually.
"one besides myself Wing Tung. my
son-and he's held at police headquar-
ters."
where was be standing when Miss
Griswold Disappeared
"He was upstairs In the back room.
lie came down when he heard the
noise. lie was looking for bis cloak"
Did he nnd itr'
This question was asked merely to
keep the Chinaman talking while I
could study his face.
"No; the cloak was gone. II was no.
where In the house"
I was instantly alert. II the cloak
had disappeared II had probably been
used TO cover Miss Griswold In her
hurried and mysterious kidnapping.
Describe the cloak" I commanded
In rather peremptory tones.
1T was beautiful cloak OF blue silk,
embroidered with peacocks In gold. II
was gift 10 me from friend In
China. No such cloak was ever made
In this country. My son valued II
highly"
And he couldn't find II anywhere Ia
the house. nor the police eltherY'
After moment Of silence | asked
meanlngly. Where do you suppose the
cloak Is now. Sing Tungf"
For the first time his eyes showed
change. and an expression Of wrath or
fear entered his immobile face. He
was quiet for moment and then
added.
1T was a magic cloak, they say. My
son believed II, but | do not. II was
woven for one OF our idols In China.
There IL a story that II shielded a pair
Of lovers from the vengeance OF the au
thorities. and II was stripped from the
Idol by profane hands, but It's spell and
magic lasted. Once on the shoulders Of
n lover. no harm could befall the wear.
er. II had the power Of shielding
"And splriting away" l interrupted
sarcastically.
The Chlnaman's face showed sudden
grief and sorrow.
"You do not believe It." be added |
slowly, 'and you dlstrust me-"
"No," ! interrupted, mot you. Sing
Tung, but your son. We must and the |
magic cloak. and then think we'll And |
Miss Griswold."
Yes: II you and the cloak Miss Girls |
void will be found too"
II was quite evident to me by this
time that the old Chinaman was not |
In the spiriting away of Hell
IN Griswold, but In his desire to shield
his son | thought he would 10 to any
engths to deceive me. The story Of the