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

anu SicduluS Tcus Diuc anu pun PIC.
In the very front of the drawer lay
a tiny green object He bent closer.
A sharp metallic click started him,
and he Strengthened up. 1t was prob
ably the charms on his watch chain
striking against the ornaments in the
drawer.
'I'll have to take them closer to the
light" He moved across to the lamp
and examined the contents Of the
drawer infinitely.
The red and purple bees and butter
flies stared back at him from their
cushion of cotton. There was not one
green ornament in the box. He ut
tered an exclamation of disappoint-
ment.
Going back to the cabinet he at
tempted to replace the drawer. 1t
stuck, and while he was jerking at 1t,
Song Wen came over to him.
Never mind that. I'll replace 1t.
Have you found anything you admire
particularly"
"No." Hartman moved to the door.
carefully stepping past pair of tall
ox-blood jars, passed under the hanging
and into the bare little shop, the auc-
tioneer following.
His coolies awaited him at the door,
you will come again? On Wednes-
day, perhaps?" the auctioneer asked.
''Yes. Good-day.
"Good-day." Song Wen stood bow
ing in the doorway until the chair had
turned sharp corner and the last
coolie disappeared. Then he entered
the shop and passed under the hang
ing into the long, dark room. The
tray lay as he had left it moment
before. He carried 1t to the light and
began to arrange the articles on the
cotton pad.
Suddenly he jumped back, his olive
face paling. THE green BEETLE! 1t is
not here! am ruinedl / am ruined!"
He stood there a minute, mumbling
to himself. Then, calling to a coolie,
he hurried into the shop and on down
the street, calling excitedly as he ran.
Meanwhile, John Hartman lay back
on his cushions, tired and disappoint-
ed. He had failed to obtain the one
tiny object on which the health of all
the American residents of Shanghai
had rested. For he knew well that in
case he did not recover the beetle Lu
Luang would again close the Chang
Road to American merchants. Again
they would be compelled to use the
old Cemetery Road, in. which fever
was always lurking for its prey.
Suddenly shrill cry came from be-
hind him somewhere; then a babel of
voices; then the sound Of crowd OF
people running.
Fire" he thought. Leaning from
the car he called to the coolies, Hurry
up"
They began to run. It was a dan
gerous proceeding In Canton. AS the
heavy chair numbered through the
streets. the Chinese ran to their doors,
scowling.
He leaned from the window and
looked cut. The wharf lay directly
ahead. He breathed a sigh of relief.
Just then the cries from behind be-
came clearer
Observation-Disclosures devil
the green eyes! There he is. Yahaii"
He looked back. A terrifying sight
met his eyes.
Around the corner behind him
swung a Chinese mob. with faces dis
torted, bowling as they ran, and point
ing at him.
''Yahai! Give US the green beetle.
Stealer!" At sight of his face the
cries broke out afresh.
''Stealer Kill him!"
He sank back, weak and sick. These
men were accusing him of some imagi-
nary theft that they might mob him
and steal what money they could find
in his clothes. Arguing with them
were worse than useless. The desire
to kill had made beasts of them.
Most Of them did not even know what
they were running for.
If they searched him they would find
that vast sum he had in his purse, and
which he could never repay to Lu
Luang.
No. He must make the steamer.
The chair was swaying back and forth,
striking the shop signs on either side,
and sending them spinning. He
looked ahead The steamer lay at the
dock, not two blocks away. Suddenly
there came a binding crash, and he
was thrown forward on his face. The
chair was motionless.
He leaped out. His coolies were
running down the street. They nai
deserted him. Behind came the mob.
A huge man holding a knife was al
most upon him.
''Stealer. Kill"
Turning, he ran down the street.
Behind him he heard his pursuers,
as their wooden shoes clattered on
the rough cobbles. He heard their in
sane bowling. Kill. Yahai! Kill"
He shuddered and ran faster. his
head down and his arms swinging.
Crashing suddenly into some one ap-
preaching, he fell to the ground. He
struggled to his feet and ran on down
the narrow street, past open shops,
stumbling over the cobble stones.
Still the cries behind grew nearer
and nearer. He looked up. There lay
the steamer. beyond the next corner.
1t had not gone yet. He must make it!
kill" Something struck him in
the arm and glanced of. He stopped,