Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-08
The Argus Daily Story
One He Didn't Know-By Clarissa Mackie.
Copyrighted 1911. by Associated Literary Bureau

precious possession in order to satisfy
his craving for the gaming table.
How shall we go?" asked Jim to
gain further time.
by railway 10 Ma ,ng, where my
masters junk lies: thence up the riv-
er of golden sands to Sicheng."
III CO." concluded Jim hastily. I'll
O'Clock If you will meet me at the
railway station will accompany you
TO your master"
The rest of the morning was filed
by inns preparations for departure.
Wah Loo few hither and thither At
his masters bidding, his slant eyes gilt
tering expectantly. If there Is one
thing more than another that a Chi
nese servant thoroughly enjoys 1t is
a hubbub Of any sort
Almost at the last moment Jim call
ed the servant TO him.
Boy" he said. can so get all same
ready, chop-chop."
Can sor' squealed Wah Loo, delight
ed at the idea of Il journey.
"Skedaddle, then" commanded Jim.
And. although that wasn't English or
even pigeon English. Wah Loo under
stood the order and skipped away to
make his scanty preparations.
Jim Westcott had two reasons for
taking Wah Loo with him. He believ-
ed the boy to be faithful. for be had
been seven years in Jim's personal
service. and he felt that going into the
interior. where there is constant dam
ger from bandits and river pirates. he
needed some loyal henchman who
might at least report his masters death
in case anything did happen. And in
these isolated provinces things were
very likely to happen" in the most
casual way.
eventful, as was the trip up the river.
They were attacked by river pirates
one dark night, but violent thunder
storm effectually put the rascals to
fight, and the frightened crew OF the
mandarin's pleasure craft returned TO
their posts after much persuasion from
the fat captain.
At Sicheng wharf they were met by
sedan chairs. in which they were
promptly whirled away to the manda-
rims palace a few miles beyond the
city.
Suddenly that old Chinese proverb
came to Jim's mind. "a devil you know
is safer than one you don't know"
I'm mighty glad brought Wah Loo
oil hn IA mi =
know that little yellow devil"
1t was an added comfort to feel the
two loaded automatic revolvers In his
pockets.
All at once they entered a desolate
region where the road was merely a
rough track. Jim wondered that the
highway that led 10 the mandarln's
| palace should be so Ill kept and appar-
emily little travelled. II the men had
deliberately chosen this out OF the way
route II was evidence that some mis-
I chief was brewing.
1t was not only brewing. but bnb-
I bling over. for Jim had no sooner
! snatched his weapons out than they
We're surrounded by a villainOus look
d
| bodyguard gave back instant fight, but
Jim noted at once that it was a sham
battle.
He had been delivered into the hands
of his enemies. There was little doubt
I that some one had passed the word
/ along that Jim Westcott possessed
these precious gems. Wen Hao TO
t. =. l.l
What more likely to happen than that
the honorable representative OF Fred
ericks & Co.. should he attacked by
robbers on his way TO the mandarin's
palace to purchase the silk coats?
Boy" called Jim sharply. glad that
he had brought Wah Loo along.
When he saw that Wah Loo had de
serted him and was fighting vigorously
to permit the robbers to approach the
chair Of his master Jim understood.
Wah Loo was the traitor who had told
about the gems his master carried
Because they had counted on Wan
Ioo's stealing his masters weapons
before the ambush spranG upon them
the robbers were quite unprepared for
the fusillade Of bullets that poured
from the opening in inns chair. When
he was all alone there. scattering the
dust in the road after the last flying
heels, Jim realized that the artfuI sec
rotary, Ting Tao, had fallen a victim
to his own treachery. The man was
lying, slightly wounded. beside his
chair. deserted by the cowardy sol
diers who had fed with their allies.
the robbers.
Jim did what he could for the secre,
tary with the little emergency medical
case he carried. and he was glad when
a party Of missionaries in bullock carts
came along and volunteered to carry
the secretary aud the American back
10 Sicheng.
So. after all. the gems that Jim car
ried in his belt were quite untouched
After that he kept them in safe deposit
at his bank. He found steamer 20
ing down the river. and the following
day found him back in Shanghai
The first thing he did was TO send
for another house boy 70 take the place
OF the departed Wan Loo
For that was the devil be really
a. a..