Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-03-09
The Argus Daily Short Story
The Mandarin's Fanny Clar'ssa Mackie
Copyrighted. 1910. by Associated Literary PrsoA

was prompted to return the fan to
the mandarin, quite reckless Of the
breach Of politenese. The cold, deadly
glitter of the little black eyes threat
ened harm to something-some one
she loved, and Jeremy's mission was
a delicate one and dangerous, indeed.
Her husbands work might become
the theme for a tragedy, never q ro-
nance.
At that moment Jeremy Hoffman
appeared and carried her away, with
parting apologies to the great man
DARN. =
'You are looking ghastly, Nell.
What is the matter? Do you feel i'll,
desrT
As he asked the question Jeremy's
arm was outstretched to catch his
wife's swaying form, and In another
instant she was lying unconscious In
his embrace.
'sToo much dancing-playing too
hard-nerves unstrung-verge Of pros
tration.' snapped out the wiry little
English doctor as he left the Hoffman
bungalow In the pale dawn.
Jeremy went back into the sickroom
and looked down at the white face on
the pillow. He bitterly reproached
himself for letting his fragile wife
dance her way so merrily into an i'll
ness. But they had been married only
a brief three months, and his impor-
tant mission had carried them directly
to Shanghai, his sole thought outside
Of business had been to make her hap
py and keep her amused, and now If
anything happened. If Nell should die.
he would leave the cursed country
forever, career or no career.
He recollected with a sudden mis-
giving that his predecessor had thrown
over the task because his wife had
died-Elwin had returned to America
and chucked the service forever.
Several days afterward Nell had re-
recovered sufficiently to be brought out
into the cool, matted sitting room.
Her Illness had taken the form OF a
strange inertia. Hour after hour she
would lie with dark lashes fringed
against her white cheeks, her bosom
scarcely stirring with each feeble
breath
The little English doctor was plainly
puzzled He fetched clever French
physician, and together the two men
consulted over the case. The French
man went away without offering an
opinion, but the next day he came
back and ordered Jeremy to take his
wife away.
"It is poison-so insidious-so subtitle
TO hnger here Is to die. Take her
away"
where can take herr demanded
Jeremy, wild with fear and anxiety.
"Anywhere-down to Hongkong II
you like 1t will be change"
So Jeremy gave up the bungalow
and discharged all the servants, even
the faithful old nurse, whom Nell
had learned to love. After them he
tossed the medicine bottles and pills
and powders. II secret enemy Turk
ed in his household, one whose object
was to destroy his beautiful bride, the
general clearing out would include
him.
The sea voyage and the arrival at
the picturesque island, with its de-
hghtful points of interest and its
charming English population, did Nell
Hoffman a world OF good Gradually
the apathy left her and her bright
spirits returned. The French doctor
made a special trip down the coast
to see her and pronounced her on the
road to recovery.
BE careful OF her." he urged Jer-
envy. "She is not strong. cannot de-
termine what drug or how It has been
administered, but surely some slow
poison has been given to your wife.
Watch, and take care II you have an
enemy"
That very evening they attended a
dinner party. Nell lovely in pale green
with the mandarfn's fan swinging
from her wrist. An hour after her
arrival Jeremy accompanied ner home
again, sitting beside her in the car
rage, holding her unconscious form
In his arms.
This time her illness was Of longer