Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-04-17


John Hartman. American Consul at
Shanghai, lay back In his chalr anu
,fretched his feet toward the blaze.
without, the snow fell ceassiesiy'
n. large. whirling flakes settled on
The sedan chairs. the wheels Oh the
rirkshas and the shoulders OF the cool
eR
The tall buildings beyond the consul
Nufe grounds were outlined In soft,
cleaning white. A large covered
chair. held by three coolies. was car
xSed M the path to the door OF the con-
suazte
Hartman aroused himself as one
sooiie entered with lights and another
announced the presence Of the great
In Euang. The ceremony OF greeting
syer with. the old mandarin seated
himself and drew his chair to the hre.
The consul waited courteously for
him to explain his errand, but the old
man remained silent. his eyes fixed on
ehe leaping flames.
His robe of gray silk, fur-lined and
Gnbcoidered In gold and scarlet but
Nwaies, caught the light and SHIN
nered with each movement. 1t sur
paxsed anything the American had
syer seen.
I'VE are having bad weather." ven
TIRED the consul.
yes. Shanghai Is wrapped In snow.
While Canton is gay with butterflies
md flowers. But what can we expect?
u this not Gilman" With an express
I've wave Of the hand.
The young consul, comprehending
ne Chinese character, and knowing
lie old mandarin well. waited for him
- continue the conversation. At last
Ire other turned slowly, and fixed his
Mack eyes on the consul's face.
Il have come to ask you a favor.
Every seldom ask favors."
Hartman bowed. Il place myself at
sour service" he replied.
The mandarin spoke quietly.
4 have traced the jewels
-Ah! that is good news. And you |
Aave found the theft" The Ameri-
1an looked up with interest.
There was no thief. Lu Luang |
zpoke quietly.
what! No thief"
Il say thsg were not stolen"
The eopSm hid his surprise as best
Ne could. Gu Luang looked languidly |
around him.
We are aloneT'
Certainly"
Then I shall explain. For my
swn reasons 1t was best to report
them stolen. They were taken away
by the thieving hands of Lu Luang.
Do you follow me?"
The consul bowed gravely. "You
Aave sold them?"
Yes, needed a great deal of |
money. Work is impossible for a |
chinese nobleman. l therefore was
sDrced to sell the jewels of my ances-
buEs to obtain this sum. l shall some |
day recover them. They are safe. |
They brought to me a vast sum-"
Undoubtedly" At this juncture |
the servant entered with liQueurs, and |
after he had departed the old man |
euntfnued.
BY mistake our household token |
md treasure. the beetle of the house
of Luaug. was sold with the lot at Is |
q small piece OF feather jewelry, In it
self almost valueless, but necessary to |
NE welfare OF our family. AS I knew |
nCt that It was kept with the jewels, |
did not miss 1t. The fury Of the gods |
rs descended upon us. My son is dy-
ing. The beetle must be recovered"
Hartman rose with an expression |
q sympathy, and crossing over to the |
cid mandarin. stood before him.
Cannot the physicians help your
DuYv
The old Chinaman shook his head. |
Medical help can do nothing for him. |
The token must be recovered. II was
. gift Of the gods to my forefathers. |
We have provoked their anger, and |
ny sons life is dependent On their |
good pleasure"
The dignity and sincerity of the
tately old man deeply impressed the
he American.
Cant you recover the emblem from
ne purchaser of your jewels?"
No. he has sold 1t. But wait. I do
Know where 1t is. He sold II to the
nandarin, Gum Sag Lee. He. in turn,
hzs placed 1t In the hands of Song
Wen. the auctfoneer, In Canton, to be
sold at auction in four days"
Cant you buy 1t back before the
euction takes placer"
mo Song Wen has been instructed
not TO sell the jewel to me- Gum Sag
Lee viii publicly buy 1t back at the
auction. That will clear him of any
underhand method OF acquiring it."
Cant you over-bid him?"
mo. My tael are few. His are
many. am an old man. He will sue
cred me. II my son lives not. My sons
ME is dependent on the recovery of
ne beetle. Don't you understand"
Yes. He must be stopped. Why
not appeal to the law"
mo, no. II must never be known
nat the jewels Of the house of Luang
vue sold. 1t would mean everlasting
Aisgrace."
is there no way"
Yes. think there is one way; IL |
yUu win recover 1t for me. At my ap-
proach all signs OF II would be hid
den- must pretend ignorance of its |
Whereabouts. You. a foreigner and a