Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-26
The Argus Daily Story
The Dragons Tail-By Clarissa Maclie.
Copyrighted. 1911. by Associated Literary Bureau

there was no doubt that the mandarin.
Lung. would disappear from his native
heath forever without leavin. a clew
to the manner OF his departure,
But Paul Deeripg reckoned with
stepped on. the dragons tail. and the
jaws Of the monster were not far away
even as Fleetwood had prophesied-
The day drew to a stormy close. Il
rained heavily, and darkness set in ear
". All this boded good the further
ance of Paurs scheme, although Lung
might have hard time OF it rocking
down the Yangtze in his frail sampar.
Paul waited at Pundersons jetty for
Lungs arrival. The slanting rain beat
heavily OF his rubber clothing, and
raw wind came out of the east and
tried to discourage his waiting.
At last a small shadow took shape
out Of the dull grayness OF the river,
grew larger as it neared the jetty.
something bumped softly against the
steps. In a few minutes a tall, slight
form doomed out OF the gloom of the
flight of steps, and the mandarin. Lung,
stood before his deliverer. From a
lamppost near by a stream OF light fell
on Lungs figure and displayed a dis
guise that was admirable, for the man.
DARN had so changed his appearance
with various chalks and chemicals that
few would have recognized in the mel
ancholy, cadaverous checked China
man, CARRIED In a straw rain suit, the
once fat and prosperous mandarin,
Lung
Paul hurried him to the tug which
was putting to and fro between the
Java and the wharf in Shanghai, and
they were soon speeding down the river
to where the Java lay in the mouth Of
the stream.
Their arrival at night was timely.
Paul took to his bed as a seasick pas
senger, and his valet was in close at
tendance upon him for days.
AS they neared the coast Of America
Paul recovered rapidly, and as he was
actually sickening for fresh air and
exercise he spent the remainder OF
the voyage on deck, while Lung kept
out Of the way as much as his duties
would permit Paul was glad they
were nearly there. His responsibility
for Lungs safety would be ended when
they locked in San Francisco. He
would be glad to have saved the life
of one poor devil. but he decided not
to try it again. There was something
| about Lung that aroused his anttpathy.
The more he saw Of him the less he
! liked him.
He hoped that Lungs escape would
not be discovered until after the lava
locked. 1t would give the fellow q
chance. He hardly thought it likely
they would discover the escape OF the
mandarin from China. although they
might suspect it later. Lung had been
In hiding for months, and his appear
:. ance had greatly changed. Unless his
enemies had held him under surveil-
lance, even In his hiding place, know
ing that they could pounce upon him
any time they wanted him, he would
not be missed from the country for a
long while-not until that country had
been thoroughly combed.
The Java steamed through the Gold
en- Gate before dawn and warped into
her dock in pale gray light. There
were a few people gathered there on
the wharf, but TO the busy passengers
on the great steamer they were a blur
of unfamiliar faces and forms. The
Java was several hours ahead OF the
| expected time Of her arrival.
You are a stranger here. Can l do
anything to help your" asked Paul Of
his valet as they parted in the state
room.
Lung shook his head. He was very
nervous, and his black, beady eyes
darted suspiciously here and there as
IL seeking out hidden enemies II
know where l goa cousin meets me-"
he said in the laborious English that
he had acquired from missionary.
He expressed his thanks TO his de-
liverer and said that he would have
the copper lands transferred to him.
Then he melted away from Paurs side
with a fat soft felt hat pulled down
over his face and his worldly goods
tied in a Dig bundle in his hand. In
the other hand his passport was tight
iy clutched.
never forgot the scene. Just as Paul
was leaving the gangplank he saw
Lungs spare form ahead OF him on
the wharf. The mandarin was hesl-
tating, perhaps looking for the cousin
who would meet him there IN the new
country. AS Paul looked and as Lung
hesitated there was rush OF blue
bloused Cinnamon from behind q pile
Of casks on the dock. There came a
scream Of awful fear from Lung az
they closed about him.
An instant later the blue clad China
men melted away before the coming
Of a policeman and several stevedores.
They disappeared like rats I'm some In
visible holes, but they left something
behind on the dock.
Paul drew near and shuddered. The
disguised mandarin, Lung, lay dead
from dozen knife tbrusts. His escape
from China had been in vain.
They had stepped on the dragons
tail I'm Asia, and its jaws had snapped
an its victim in farawav America.