The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-11-15

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Mr.. Chen Mok," he proceeded
calmly, has communicated with the
State Department at Washington, and
The United States authorities are now
only waiting our word to put your
good, gentlemanly friend under arrest,
Mr. Clyde. for the crime he commit.
ed on the high seas, sixteen years
ago"
For a moment | stared at them in
silent amaZement.
You're both mad" / exploded at
length, both crazy. Do you think for
one moment | believe such rot as
that? Even II what you say were pos
slble--and 1t isn't-you would have to
identify the accused by something bet
ter than the mere word of man who
hadn't seen him for years. OF what
use would such an Identification be
against the testimony of Mr.. Cam.
eron's lifelong friends?'
Since you doubt our ability to
Identify" was Mr.. Yup's prompt re-
ioinder, Il may add that there are two
marks of Identification, which must,
think, convince even yourself"
! laughed grimly. So that was their
game! For nearly month Cameron
had been their prisoner In that time
they had examined, inspected, lnven-
toried him. His scars, ,moles, birth
marks had been listed, and were now
to be used to.identify him with rene,
gade murderer of Chinese coolies.
told my slant-eyed visitors that
their trick was transparent. But they
only looked at me with an expression
which seemed half pity and half con
Tempt.
Did you ever observe tattoo mark
on your friends left forearm" asked
Mr.. Chen Mok.
Never" | answered.
He has one there"
Il am willing to wager : netting
valuable he hasn't tattg6 mark any
where on his person." letorted, "and
I'll prove it in five minutes"
I'VE shall be glad to have the
proof" said Yup Sing.
Once more pressed the button at
the side of the chimney-piece, and
once again Checkabeedy appeared in
the doorway.
you telephoned?" / asked.
Eyes, sir"
NV
Very good, now send Mr.. Bryan to
me here, at once" Then turning to
Cameron's accusers, l explained: "Mr.
Bryan, for whom have just sent, is
nursing my friend He would natural
ly know if what you say is true"
10 my surprise they made no demur.
Yup Sing, however, asked that he
might be permitted to put to the nurse
the necessary questions, and as was
perfectly confident that no incrimlnat-
ing answers could be given, no matter
what the form Of catechism, | willing.
ly acceded.
Had not played tennis and golf
with Cameron scores of times on hot
summer days when, with shirt sleeves
rolled above his elbows, his forearms
were barred to view? Could there by
any possibility have been a tattoo
mark there. and not have seen It?
Mr.. Bryan came quickly, little puz-
zled, seemingly. at being called to
such an audience. Purposely kept
silence, merely waving an Introductory
hand toward the two Cinnamon.
Yup Sing tactfully explained the sit
uation.
"A question has arisen, Mr.. Bryan"
he said. with more of suavity In his
tone than l had hitherto observed.
whether by any chance your patient
has a mark Of any character whatever
tattooed upon his left forearm. If you
have observed such, we shall be glad
il you viii kindly describe It,"
The nurse flung questioning glance
at me. and 1 nodded reassurlngly.
did not wonder that he was surprised
at the question.
Is there, or is there not, such a
MARK the Oriental urged.
There is; yes, SIR"
think, inyoluntarily, / started for
ward. | know that for Just breath l
thought my ears had played me
rick. Then, suddenly, there swept
back across my memory that express
sion Of Checkabeedy's: "Who between
you and me, sir, don't trust, nohow."
Could 1t be possible that Bryan was in
he conspiracy? But only for the
'riefest moment did this doubt sway
mid the weller of my thoughts. Into
Is place rolled an amazement that
hocked and stunned that checked
ne all standing, as 1t were; for Bryan
vas simplifying, was telling about the
mark, which he had first noticed he
aid, on the night of his arrival, and
which he had examined more closely
n several occasions since.
Its evidently a representation Of
ONE sort of sailing vessel" he ex-
lained, with a curved hull and
ingle broad sail And below It are
hree letters: D. M. ~"
Blindly | clutched the back of a
hair with both hands, for sense Of |
nreallty oppressed me, and the room |
self became waveringly unsubstan- c
al.
II was not true, Of course, this that T
ryan was saying. Nothing was true. \
'othing was real. 1t was all a night s
lare; and the two gloating yellow G
asks were horrible dream faces. t