The Forrest City times., 1912-04-12
4 Present from China.

It was the 0fst IDl1g l saw that night as swung Into my chambers. Fact is, for the moment. t was the only thing saw. Somehow, its splash of yellow there under the shaded lamp seemed to catch my eye and hold 1t.
 I screwed my glass tight and ex- amined the thing with interest. Moth ing remarkable just tiny, oblong package, bearing curious foreign markings. it's wrapper plainly ad- dressed to me, but
 ny Jovei From China!" l eiacu- lated.
 Somebody in far-of China sending me present. with duties and charges prepaid evidently.
 Anybody l know in China. Jen- kins?" l asked And to help him out. l added: Fact Is. some chaps sent me a package. you know"
 Name on box. sir, perhaps Said 1t offhand. just like that-no trouble of thinking, dash 1t all-never even blinkeds Just instinct. by love!
 And there 1t was, nicely printed in the corner with a pen:
 Roland Mastermann, Government
 House. Hong Kong. China
 I read 1t aloud-ean.t read anything. you know. unless I read it aloud-and looked at Jenkins inquiringly But he came right up to the scratch; just seemed to get il from somewhere right out Of the wall over my head:
 Beg pardon, sir: but think it's that London gentleman-entertan you at the Carlton when you were over the other side"
 Mastermann! By love. so 1t was l began to remember him now, be- cause l remembered his dinner, sew eral os them. in fact. during the three years had lived over there, acquir. Ing the English accent-manner, you know~-and all that sort of thing,
 Mastermann-oh, yes, had him, nowi Jolly rum old boy, but enter taining and clever-long hair. pink wart on jaw! And. by love, had promised him-promised him-what the deuce was 1t 1 had promised him Let me see: he was something or 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 Joye," I calculated, as it came to me. And for that reason he want ed them to send him out to China"
 Beg pardon. sir" put in Jenkins but think you had a letter with q Chinese postmark last week"
 He looked around at my little writ ing-desk and coughed slightly behind his hand
 Was just a-wondering, sir. If 1t might not be among those you haven't opened-there are several piles. If 1 might look. sir"
 nodded. Fact Is. I allow Jenkins much privilege. owing to long service. Then. you know-oh. dash t. hes so original-so refreshing and that sort of thing-so surprising Just as in this case, he thinks of so many devil ishly ingenious, out-of-the-way sort or things
 It was Jenkins idea that find out what was in the box by just opening the dashed thing while he looked Tor tho letter.
 Clever that. eh? Well, rather,
 So l unsheathed my little pocket manicure knife. cut the strings and removed the wrapper. Inside was just a little. stgaw-coyered box with telescope cover and inside the box. wrapped Tn tissue, was a tight roll Of bright red silk
 |! That was all-not another thing but this little silk roll It was a wad as thick as three fingers and perhaps twice as long, tied with bit Of com mon string. ending in loose bow knot.
 l pinched the roll gioomily.
 If it's a red silk muller. Jenkins, catch me wearing it. that's ail!" l burst out indignantly. Rotten bad form. If you ask me, I'd look like an out-and-out bounderl"
 Then I had a horrible thought: Or or the Salvation Army. dash it"
 Here Jenkins thrust letter at ne. ."Perhaps this may explain fl. sir" he suggested.
 Sure enough. 1t 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. fin fact, for I skipped down to this paragraph, which l read aloud:
 Every pun of those rare cigars you sent me has but reminded me that my debt to you is still unpaid"
 I read thus far; then read 1t again. But could make nothing of 1t.
 "Cigars-cigars?" l exclaimed. pug zled
 Then I forgot the letter as stared at Jenkins.
 And what's the matter with your" l demanded.
 For I had caught him with his hand