Manchester Democrat., 1911-01-18

great doing and great mixing among
men had created him, creature per-
fectly natural and therefore eccen-
trio; but the same generations had
handed down from father to IN the
law-abiding instinct of the rulers of
the people. He could be careless of
the law. He was strong in 1t. In
his own mind he and the law were
one. perception OF the relations
of life so complete that he had
no further use for the written law;
and Farrell Wand's was so limited
that he had never found the use for it.
Lawless both; but-the two extremes.
They might seem to meet-but be-
tween those two extremes, between a
Chatworth and Farrell Wand-why,
there was all the worlds experience
between!
She raised her eyes and smiled at
him in thinking of it, but the smile
faltered and she drew away. They
were about to be disturbed. Beyond
the rose branches far down the drive
she saw figure moving toward them
at slow, uncertain pace, looking to
and fro. "See, there's some one
coming"
"Oh. the gardener" he said as one
would say "Oh, fiddlesticks!"
The gardener had been her frst
thought. But now she rose uneasily,
sincr she saw 1t was not he. asking
herself: "Who else. at such an
hour?"
BY, this time Chatworth, still seated.
had caught sight of 1t. Hello" he
said, what sort of thing is that?"
1t was short, shabby, nondescript
little figure. shufiing rapidly along
the winding walk between the rose
bushes. Now they saw the top of his
round black felt hat. Now only a
twinkling pair Of legs. Now. around
the last clump of bushes he appeared
full length, and. suddenly dropping
his businesslike shuttle. approached
them at languid walk
Flora grasped Chatworth's arm in
nervous terror. Tell him to CO." she
/ whispered; make him go away
The blue-eyed Chinaman was plant
ed before them stolidly. with the
curious blind look of his guarded eyes
blinking in his withered face. He
wore for the first time the blouse of
his people, and his hands were folded
in his sleeves. e.
Who's this?" said Chatworth, ap-
pealing to Flora.
At this the Chinaman spoke. "Mr.
Crew." he croaked.
| The Englishman. looking from the
Oriental to Flora. still demanded ex-
plantations with expostulating gesture.
1T is the one who sold US the sap
phire,"' she whispered; and "Oh. what
does he want of your
"Eh:" said Chatworth. interrogating
the goldsmith with his monocle
What do you want?"
The little man finished his long.
and. what had seemed his blind, stare;
then dived into his sleeve. He drew
forth crumpled thing which seemed
to be a pellet and this he proceeded
to unfold. Flora crept cautiously for
ward. loath to come near, but curl
Gus, and saw him spread out and hold
up a roughly-torn triangle of news
paper. She gave cry at sight of It.
Across the top in thick black type
ran the figures $4,000.
Chatworth pointed a stern fore
finger. What is it?" he said, though
by his tone he knew.
The Chinaman also pointed at It,
but cautious and apologetic. Twenty
thousand dollar. You likee twenty
thousand dollar?" He waited a mo.
ment. Then, with glimmer as OF re-
turning sight, presented the alterna,
tive. You likee god?-little joss?-
come sor' And with his finger he
traced in Che air a curve of such deli
cate accuracy that the Englishman
with an exclamation made step to
ward him. But the Chinaman did not
move. Twenty thousand dollar" he
stated. 1t sounded an impersonal state
ment, hut nevertheless it was quite
evident this time to whom 1t applied
The Englishman measured of his
words slowly as If to an incomplete
understanding. which Flora was aware
was all too miraculously quick. "This
little god. this ring-do you know
where It is? Can you take me to itg
i The goldsmith nodded emphatically
at each word. but when all was said
he only reiterated. Twenty thousand
dollar"
i Chatworth gave Flora an almost
shamefaced glance. and she saw witt
curious twinge of jealousy that he
was intensely excited. Might as
well have pot-shot at It," he said
and sitting down on the edge Of the
fountain and taking out his check
book. rested it on his knee and wrote
Then he rose; he held up the filled-ir
slip before the Chinaman's eyes.
4 Here" he said, twenty Thousand
dollars" He held the paper well ou
of the little mans reach. Now" he
challenged. tell me where 1t is?"
/ Into the goldsmith's eyes came {
lightning flash of intelligence, such a.
Flora remembered to have seen there
when Farrell Wand. leaning on the
dusty counter. had hidden him go ant
bring something pretty. He seemed
to quiyer a moment in indecision
Then he whipped his hand out Of hii
sleeve and held 1t forth palm upward
saygE1N |EW