The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-12
THE CASE OF THE
SACRED CHANK
C ontinucd from Page -

me OF, and smiled as / Went rapidly
down the street.
The ship sailed from Colombo ano
we went south. We reached sydney il
good time. and on our return voyage
looked anHi"usly Forward To our arriva
at batavia ana - tll. letter Which TX
peclcu 10 iinu there. called minc-
diatclE at our agents office and asked
II there We're any letter for me. one WAS
placed in my hands. II was from Miss
Borrod;ilc. ! tore it open and read the
following contents:
Dear Mr.. Conway
Things are going well at last, and
nope hy the time YOU arrive here
shall have been successful Mr.. Baliujcc
my grandfathrr's old agent has proved
very KING. ana is moving heaven and
earth TO help me in my search. The clue
about which he cabled 10 grandfather
came. unfortunately, to nothing and be
Nond the fact that the C'han< has lately
been in Colombo he had nothing to tell
me definitely: but within the last feyy
days a most important nrH development
has taken place. liahaiec has told me
that he believes he is At last really on the
track. 1t seems that the sh,ll was traced
TO the possession Of an old merchant here
an American who lived alone, and has
lately died. Fearing that the emissarics OF
the Nizain would find and steal the
Chank, he buried 1t in some place in the
Cinnamon Gardens at lenst,,that is the
story. lhc secret Of its hiding place
has. - All appearance. died with the
old merchant; but Cing;icSe q friend
OF i5alijcc'S told him only Yesterday
that til" merchant had Il nani; OH the
subject. ana was constantly repeating
the secret Of the hiding place to him
Self lie lived alone. with ollv one
companion, q large grey parrot. The
CinSnlcSc sWcarS that tho Bird has
picked up the words Of his masters
secret. and used To repeat them al in :
tervalS, amusing the old man BY DINING
the secret into his ears at all sorts Of
unexpected moments: but since the
merchants death the bird has; not once
uttered the words, although the Cinga
!csc Is persuaded that they form part
OF lis Vocabulary Balm jco believes;
that some means can be taken TO in
ducc that bird TO rcfc;t the secret, and
is now arranging that he and / Shall
go 10 the ola merchants house for the
purpose. This is a little difficult To
manage. as the relations Of the old man
guard his property day and night, and
ere naturally anxious to discover the
hiding place Of the Chank themselves,
as it is worth money 10 any one VINO
tnds Il. They therefore, watch the bird
day and night, fearing 10 leave. Il a mo-
mcnt With strangers, and trusting 10 in
0ucc it to reveal its secret Bahaicc in :
'ciluS 70 outWil or 10 buy OH these IIcO-
pie. What his exact mode Of action is
cannot tell YOU. for | DO not quite
know; but he has every hope that he
will succeed. and whatever he wishes
me TO do | intend 70 undertake. You
know how vowed mat would not re-
turn to grandfather without the Chank
or the rupees, ana | would 20 far now
TO keep that promise. which made to
my own mind. By the time You reach
Colombo hope that success Will have
crowned our efforts. In the meantime
wish me luck
Yours sincerely.
lucy BOPRODALE
"P.S.-AIr. Quentin is still in Co
sombo; | met him only Yesterday. He
asked me how was progressing with
my search, but told him nothing I
dislike and distrust him more than
ever"
read Miss Borrodalc's letter over
more than once. There was something
about its contents that | did not like.
The story OF the parrot seemed to me
queer and unlikely. and horrible s,Is-
picion assailcG me that Lucy was being
led into some trap. The more thought
over matters the more uncomfortable
| GRO 2,,t