Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-26


tain the gem. The thick soles Of his
shoes they cut into bits. No diamond
was found. Not satisfied with their
search. they told him that II he would
not reveal the place where he had hid
den it they would kill him. They even
forced him TO kneel with bis hands
tied behind his back. and one Of them
raised q sword over him. But he sub
mitted to all this without q word, and
the robbers, convinced that he did not
have the diamond. desisted and let
him 60.
Though the poor man was LEFT with
his clothes badly torn and his shoes
destroyed, he went on with q light
heart, for he felt that no worse test
than this could be put upon him. He
had feared most to be followed from /
Karakash and next 10 be stopped by
those to whom Information Of his
movements had been forwarded. He
now hoped that both these dangers /
had been passed. Indeed. he was way |
layed by only one more party, who
had received Information concerning |
him, and these. after q careful search,
made up their minds that he had been |
sent as q blind to attract attention !
from the real bearer OF the treasure.
who was taking another route. 30 tho |.
traveller set out again. much sncour- !
aged. But fearing that n thase who
were watching for the DIAMOND failed
quest they would stop him again. he
Travelled night and DAY for three days. !
Then his feet wsss % sofeshs could
80 NO farther without s~rsaA
Ching Fang travelled as Q beggar
TIL he reached Suchau, where he found
funds that had been forwarded by
bis principal, and. being so far from
his base that he believed no one would
suspect his mission from this point he
hired conveyances. Nevertheless CHI
ma Is a very large country, and toreach
Picking he must traverse nens3E the
whole breadth Of # At last he az;
rived at the capital and. going 10 AM
inn, settled himself to await the COM
ing Of the merchant
for the payment Of the funds Ching
Fang had received at Suchau was re-
ported to him, and be started In his
real character Of merchant BY fro
Quented routes. for he feared that he,
might be stopped BY parsons suspect
ing that he bore the diamond. When
he reached Picking he met Ching Fang
at a place that had been agreed upon
before the latter started, and they pro-
ceeded TO the disposition Of the dia-
mond.
The first thing necessary was 10 re-
move it from its hiding place. They
called ON an American surgeon who
treated the family Of the American
minister and other foreign residents at
the capital and impaired TO him their
secret. They were conducted to an op-
Grating room, where Ching Fang
stretched himself on table, and the
surgeon proceeded to make an incision
in his right arm. Then from between
the muscles he took out the gem. Be-
! fore Ching Fang left Karakash a sur
geon had made an incision. placed the
diamond in It and treated the heal
ing 80 carefully that no scar was left
Though the messengers body had been
carefully examined by those seeking
the gem, DO well hidden had 1t been
between two muscles that no lump
was made.
When the surgeon handed the treas
ure to WI Tung the latter put It In
his pocket, paid a good fee. and the
two Cinnamon went to their Inn, the
merchant to write letter to the man
| ager Of the emperor's household. In
forming him that diamond was to be
had that would be one Of the finest Of
his majesty's jewels.
Meanwhile Wee Sing and her chill
dren had been maintained !at WI
lungs expense. But she knew that
this support would end If her husband
was not successful In his quest, and
knowing the dangers he must pass. she
had but little hope Of ever seeing him
again.
One day q man stood at her door
who, though he wore the rich dress OF
mandarin, had the face of Ching
Fang. And this singular creature was
smiling upon her. Then he took her In
his arms and the children one after
another, kissing them all.
II do not need" he said. Ito sch my
life as substitute. for am very rich
WI Tung has dealt honorably with me
and. since he made fortune for him
self. my share IL sufficient to keep u
all In luxury so long as we live"
What a man you are" said Wee
Sing when he had recounted his adven
lures. ito have survived such treat
ment and made as all rich.'
And what a woman you are" BIZ
replied. ito have such ingenuity as Il
tell me the only way the fortune could
have been concealed SO as to be carried
across the whole domain Of China.'
That was the greatest transition from
poverty to affuence on record. A mar
SO poor that he must sell his life thai
his family might live suddenly becomes
possessed of quarter Of a million OF
dollars.