Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-26

It's no joke to NEEDLE in these Asiatic
squabbles." Fleetman looked anxious
ly at his young friend Take my ad-
twenty years, and I'm speaking from
experience"
81 promised Lung I'd help him out"
declared the other obstinately.
"Of course it's none OF my business,
but as long as you've told me some
thing about it l can hazard a guess
that you've got to put up some money"
II can afford it. It's sport to me to
dip into these things"
THAT may be true. No doubt it
| looks like a sporting proposition to
J you, Paul, but remember this much,
my lad, If you are successful you will
| be the only one TO reap reward wheth-
| er in enjoyment Of the sport and adj
venture or financially. On the other
| hand, If you fail and fall into their
hands-you will most certainly expect
/ that your country will protect her citi-
zens-you embroil the United States
in your personal matters"
mo. I'll not" retorted Paul quickly.
''I'n do this trick as a man without a
country. II fail, all right-o.''
"Pigheaded obstinacyw groaned
Fleetman. II feel like a criminal in
helping you thus far on your way,
Paul. Take my advice and do not step
on the dragons tail"
Paul Deering laughed uneasily. 'sThe
dragons tail is good distance from
his jaws, old man. There'll be time
enough to run away before I'm snap
ped up"
"The dragons tail is as powerful as
his head, and it will toss you into the
dragons jaws. This is the last word.
Paul Will you give it up"
I'm sorry to say that I've gone too
far-I can't be piker!'
Better be a live piker than n dead
foolr' growled Fleetman rudely.
A red flush stained behring's skin,
but he said nothing. He had confided
in Fleetpan, and he was not sorry for
it, although he might regret having en-
tered into the negotiation at all. Paul
was practically a newcomer in China
He was the son of a very rich man
and he had plenty Of money to spend
If he chose to spend 1t in helping G
dissolute mandarin fee the country L
escape punishment for a great crime
, it was nobody's business.
Paul had told Fleetman that he wal
to receive valuable concessions in re
turn for the favor. The mandarin
Lung, possessed much land in his owl
province that was rich in copper ore
and it was this land that he was con
ceding to the rich young American IL
return for his help. Lung had been
revolutionist, but had betrayed hi
cause to the imperialist party. Ther'
was a price upon his sleek head, TO
, the rebels wanted to punish him TO
! his treachery.
, From Paul's point of view, and b.
had only heard smatterings of TIL
: truth mixed with much falsehood from
Lungs own lips, the mandarin hal
been badly used by both parties. Lunl
= wanted to leave the country, but h
: could only do so in a disguise of SOM
sort, and he could not rely upon an!
of his own people to help him out, 70
he had been hard MASTERY when II
power
The upshot of the matter was tina
r the impulsive young American hat
promised that Lung should accompan,
{ him back to the United States unde
[ / guse of his personal servant. Pau
had taken passage on a steamer whtcI
would sail two days later, and he ha'
! h. m n
promise of strictest secrecy. Som
one had to know in case anything di'
hapen to Paul, and Fleetman seemed
TO think that the chances were goo'
for something to happen to somebOd
in the matter
"It's such q futile undertaking" h
ended his protestatiOns. IF 1t was &c
ing to benefit anybody to have tina
rascal got out Of his own country L,
4 help you out on it or at least applau
your courage. But, by JOve, If an
man ever deserved a good hanging it /
! that same Lung"
I'm sorry, but I've promised" sal
Paul firmly, and so the subject wa
dropped for the time.
They sped up the Yangtze for a feJ
miles and then turned down its swift
~ flowing yellow stream and mad
for the mouth. There they could eros
to the Huangpu and run up that litti
4 tidal river to Shanghai.
Little was said between the two me
as the launch scudded back to Shanf
hal, but when they reached the jett
and Fleetman turned the craft over t
the care of his Chinese boatman he re
: ferred once more to the matter.
when are you going aboard tn
Java"
'At dusk tomorrow" was Paurs re
ply.
when does your man join your
"As soon after sunset as possible
I've already furnished him with tE
), necessary clothing for Disgusting him
self He's been hiding in a half RUNE
temple up there and is starved Amos
to a skeleton. That in itself is a dis
gulse, for he was a pretty sleek look
ing old customer before they got afte
him so I've been told"
''I'll see you tomorrow. Paul. re
!, some cumshas gifts for your fathe