The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1911-01-25
The Japanese
Umbrella
ChiUese Episode and It's
Horrible Effect
By CLARISSA MACKlE
Copyright, 1911. by American Press
Copyright, 1911. by American Press
Association.

blue bloused Chinese His present pc
sition in the custom house made it
necessary that he should visit well
known silk importer. whose place of
business lay in the heart of San Fran
cisco's reconstructed Chinatown.
Jay Nelson had been glad enough to
eliminate all memory of his last year
| in China. There had been one horri-
bic incident from which he had fed,
but whose shadow had lurked in the
background of his daily life since his
return to America. In broad daylight
he had laughed at the fears that pur-
sued his first sleepless, fear haunted
nights After awhile the fear gave
place to sense of security fostered
by the practical workaday happenings
of his busy life.
/ Today, however, as he passed along
Dupont street and turned into mar
rover thoroughfare there burst upon
him the significant fact that this part
of great city was but fragment Of
the old eastern world after all.
He had to pause once or twice and
inquire his way, for the house Of the
importer was set in the heart of the
web of streets and alleys. Then when
his goal lay but a few yards ahead
there sprang into sudden view, bob
bing along in the crowd before him, Il
certain green and gold paper parasol,
the meaning of which was all too
clear to Jay Nelson. He had a vague
realization that this emblem of an old
horror might have been evolved from
his own morbid fancy.
He pressed forward. eager to stretch
forth his hand and prove that the
Japanese umbrella was q thing of air,
was an optical illusion. But always It
danced before him like a will-o' the
wisp. now showing a CLINT of gold and
green and then melting into a dozen
illuSive tintS.
Where ii went there he too must
follow until he could prove by actual
contact with its surface that it was 4
creation of his fancy and not the
dreaded emblem of the White Brother
hood
1t drew him on down into the very
bowels of the earth.
The paper umbrella collapsed and
was cast aside, while the bearer turn
ed to confront Nelson. Then the lat
ter awoke from his trance-like state
that confronted him, then about tho
small dungeon-like room, empty of fur
niture and reeking with foul Odors
and lighted by a single swinging oi
lamp Nelson's gaze came back to the
face of the Chinese and he shivercd
slightly, for the face was that of {
member of the dreaded order-the sigI
was written on the mans brow
Instantly Nelson whipped off his
coat, holding it before him as a shield
and backed to the stairway LEADING
upward.
Hold moment" said the Chinese
In the Cantonese dialect; II am no
alone"
"Who else?" demanded Nelson
sharply in the same tongue.
THE brotherhood-at each stan
head they await your coming if yor
contemplate flight" returned the Chi
nese imperturbably.
What do you want with me?"
Command of the big brother tha
you be brought before him for trial"
"He came on from Hongkong e
seek me?"
The Chinese cackled shrilly. TheI
he spat contemptuously. "The broth
erhood is everywhere, Captain Leesol
wherever there are offenders ther
also will be found tribunal of tht
brotherhood"
why do you call me by Captain
Lessons name" questioned Nelson
warily.
Because you are he."
Suppose l am not?
"You are" asserted the man rough
ly. 1.-THE brotherhood does not max,
mistakes"
"You blunder this time. am Mel
son."
The other laughed derisively. +"
: was told you would claim that name
! Nelson died that night"
"Ah," cried Nelson suddenly, "yol
, are the big brother! This is the tri
) bunal You are alone; you thought t.
: fool me; see you later, Tai Laao" H
) started to leap up the stairs and thel
, stopped short.
Tai Laao made no move to arrest hi
flight. He merely folded his long clav
tipped fingers into either capaciou
sleeve and smiled widely.
1t was this smile that halted Nelson
departure, the smile and a certain hiss
ing whisper that sang down the stair
: way and bore warning on its breath.
Again he turned to the Chinese
: "Have it over with-this court o
yours! Be quick, for l have busines
| to attend to-matters of importance.
; Every good, Captain Leeson," con
, mented the man called Tai Laao. $50
) low me-"
He led the way to shadowy corne
= and pushed open a door into anothe
; dimly lighted room. At a long tabl
: sat seven men, three on either sid
and one at the end. At the farthe
q \