Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-07-25

By
by Lew Pans-your villa!nous friend or
the play
What are you going to do with IL: '
We'll close 1t up for the present, SAID
Barnes blandly. and suiting the action
to the word. h. screwed the bottom on
again and placed the idol on its PEDESTAL
in its former position. The next moment
they had closed the door and were on the
outside of the temple. Their exit was III
the nick of time. for it was dusk ana the
exposition grounds were beginning to MI
up. Barnes paused to think Tor a mo-
ment, and then said:
Get In communication with the IN
spectors at once; have men sent out here
to watch both the Joss house and Lew
Pang's shack. and wait until ] give the
word and then seize the smuSgled stun
and arrest the men"
Within a few minutes the orders had
been put into effect. After that Clancy
looked up into Barnes face so appealing.
iy that he could not withhold the ex-
planation.
Con. my boy, that little news item IN
this mornings paper kept sticking in my
craw."
Why"
We'll. 1t was so puzzling. Why should
any one want to steal a Chinese idol. ana.
having stolen it. why should 1t be re-
placed: There were two probable expiana-
tons: the first was that it might have
been a lark on the part of some college
students. The second was some deeper and
more serious reason. Almost instantly J.
rejected the notion Of n boyisn prank, and
in the next thought my mind said opium!
The nationality and the drug are almost
.nseparable. a lot Of s%muggled opium has
found its way into the local market. How?
All of the incoming ships nave been close
ly watched. What more natural han that
the stolen lido should come under suspi-
cion? Once out here the fear and the
sullelessness of the girl made the solution
easy. CHING Moy has been in love with
Woo Tong for a long while, but through
fear of Lew Pang did not declare herself.
My presence gave her the courage to do SO
a little while ago.
After thar her desire was to be rid of
Lew Pang. to give him into the hands OF
the authorities, where he could not disturb
her in her new found bliss. She suspected
the fellow of being a smuggler, and had
proved 1t by the scheme of the sifted flour
in order to entrap him. His methods hay
been wary. He feared to dispose of all
the opium at once. That might have
aroused suspicion and caused his arrest.
he took 1t out a. little at a time, and
was selling it BY degrees He feared dis
covery while abs,racting it from the idol,
so he boldly carried the statue to his
room, where he could work IN comfort
and safety. That explains the mysterious
disappearance of the idol. You will learn
further that he has been absent for about
two hours every day between the after
noon and evening performances. That's
where he is now-off to the city disposing
of his i'll gotten stuff"
VIII we lock him up when he re-
turns?''
The chief rubbed his chin reAectively.
II think I'll let him finish the evening
performance. After that he'll go to the
temple to take his regular supply of
opium. I'd like to get him with the
goods
AT this point Ching Moy came running
cut of the dining room. her face flushed
with excitement. She t.midly touched
Barnes on the arm with her little waxen
fingers. He followed her into the building.
A flood of light blinded his eyes and a
pungent odor, like incense, assailed his
n%ostrils. TIL long table had been arts
t!cally decorated: candle were burning in
the center and on either end. AT the head
of the board were the paper dragon and the
paper phoenix fastened together with the
bits of red silk. Boil, were covered with
curious Chinese characters comprehend
ing the genealogy of Woo Tong and Ching
| Moy. The interpreter. acting as master OF
ceremonies. gleefully exhibited the bill of
fare for the feast which was to occur after
the evening performance. 1t included
such delicacies as pineapple, dried nuts,
ginger, melon seeds, spiced fish, birds
nests with chicken, oolong tea, rice cakes,
cigarets and spiced duck. All Sin was
certainly a resourceful and Industrious
man to accomplish so much within so
brief a time.
Ching Moy watched Barnes countenance
and when he smiled his approval she
clapped her tiny hands with joy. After
that her face saddened for a moment and
she put out her arms with an imploring
gesture.
Custom House man no let Lew Pang
hurt Woo Tonga
NO" said Barnes. reassur:nsly. Lew
Pang won't be able to harm any one after
tonight"
Ching Moy. coming to the door of the
dining room, gave a coquettish whtrl OF
her little fan.
Custom House man take dinner with
Ching Moy?"
He averted his head before replying.
Sorry, but haven't time; must go to
the office at once"
A premonition of trouble chased the 10Y
from her eyes. She took his big right
hand in her two tiny ones and said pite-
ously:
Tell me. can Lew Pang hurt Woo Tong
any more?'
He wheeled around. and. looking her
squarely in the face. said deliberately: :
mo. Ching Moy: Lew Pang will never
hurt Woo Tong any more"
The childish smile returned: a look of
cunning shone from the beady eyes.
Lew Fang smuggle; Custom House man
put him in prison; Ching Moy go back to
China with Woo Tong
Barnes nodded absently and walked
away. Clancy followed closely. He looked
at the chief.
did you get Lew Pang?"
Eyes; he's gone OFF in that police PATROL
ut won't be hard to prove the charge of
smuggling in this case" was C~lancy's adj
m.ring m
The charge will have to be changed"