Gilpin observer., 1912-05-23

Fact 10. for the moment, It was the
only thing saw. Somehow, Its splash
Of yellow there under the shaded lamp
sssmed to catch my eye and hold it.
screwed my glass tight and ex-
amined the thing with interest Moth
ing remarkable; Just a tiny. oblong
package. bearing curious foreign
markings. Its wrapper plainly ad-
dressed to me, but
by Jovei From Chinai" I sjacu-
hated.
Somebody In far-on China sending
me a present, with duties and charges
prepaid evidently.
Anybody I know in China. Jen-
Ginsi" asked. And to help him out.
Z added: Fact is. some chaps sent
me q package. you know"
Name on box. sir, perhaps" Said
u offhand. Just like that-no trouble
of thinking, dash 1t all-never even
blinked. Just instinct, By Jovs!
And there It was. nicely printed IN
the corner with . pen:
Roland Mastermann, Government
House, Hong Kong. China
read It aloud-can't read anything.
you know. unless read It aloud-and
looked at Jenkins inQuiringly. But
he came right up to the scratch: Just
seemed to get It from somewhere
right out Of tho wall over my head:
beg pardon. sir; but think it's that
London gentleman-entertain you
at the Carlton when you were over
the other side"
Mastermann! BY Jove. SO 1t was
began to remember him now. be-
cause remembered his dinner. sew
eral Of them. in fact, during the three
years l had lived over there, acquir-
ing the English accent-manner. you
know-and all that sort Of thing!
Mastermann-oh. yes. I had him.
now! Jolly rum old boy. but enter
taining and clever-long hair. pink
wart on jaw. And. by Jove. l had
promised him-promised him-what
the deuce was 1t had promised him
other in the foreign Office: yes. l had
that-and tremendously interested in
mummies and psychical investigation
and rum sort Of things like that, and
by Jove!" l calculated. as 1t came
to me. And for that reason he want
cd them to send him out to China"
Beg pardon. SIR" put in Jenkins.
but think you had letter with a
Chinese postmark last week"
He looked around at my little writ
ing-desk and coughed slightly behind
his hand.
Was just a-wondering. sir. II It
might not be among those you haven't
opened-there are several piles. II 1
might look, sir"
nodded. Fact is. l allow jenkins
much privilege. owing to long service.
Then. you know-oh, dash 1t, he's SO
original-so refreshing and that sort
Of thing-so surprising. Just as in
this case. Ls thinks of SO many devil
ishly ingenious, out-of-the-way sort OF
things!
1t was jenkins idea that find out
what was In the box by Just opening
the dashed thing while he looked for
the letter.
Clever that. eh? Well. rather!
So l unsheathed my little pocket
manicure knife. cut the strings and
removed the wrapper. Inside was
Just q little, straw-covered box with q
telescope cover and inside the box.
wrapped in tissue. was q tight roll OF
bright red silk.
That was all-not another thing but
this little silk roll. It was q wad a.
thick as three fingers and perhaps
twice a. long. tied with q bit OF COM
mon string. ending in q loose bow
knot.
pinched the roll gloomily.
"If it's Q red silk mufler, Jenkins.
catch me wearing It. that's ALL" l
burst out Indignantly. Rotten bad
form. II you ask me. I'd look like an
out-and-out bounder!"
Then l had a horrible thought:
"Or-or the Salvation Army, dash
I'll"
Here Jenkins thrust letter at me.
'Perhaps this may explain It. sir" he
suggested.
Sure enough. It was from Hong
Kong. and from that chap. Master
mann. Out there on special mission
for his government. he said. don't
know what It was-never did know.
in fact. for skipped down to this
paragraph, which I read aloud:
Every pun Of those rare cigars you
sent me has but reminded me that my
debt to you 10 still unpaid"
read thus far; then read II again.
But could make nothing Of It.
"Cigars-cigarsf" exclaimed. pus-
aled.
Then forgot the letter - I stared
at jenkins.
"And what's the matter with your
II demanded.
For I had caught him with his hand
4over his mouth. obviously trying to
suppress . chuckls. He sobsrsd In