Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-10-11
The Dragons
Tail
A Case Where Interference
Was Not Wise
By CLAHSSA MAcKIE

"Once more l warn you, Deering
It's no joke to NEEDLE in these AsIati,
squabbles." Fleetman looked anxious
ly at his young friend. Take my ad
vice. You know that I've lived herr
twenty years, and I'm speaking from
experience"
IL promised Lung ia help him out,
declared the other obstinately.
"of course it's mono Of my business
but as long as you've told me some
thing about 1t / can hazard a guess
that you've got to put up some money
II can afford 1t. It's sport to me to
dip into these things"
That may be true. No doubt II
looks like a sporting proposition to
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 ad-
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.
"I1l do this trick as a man without a
country. If fail, all right-o."
"Pigheaded obstinacyw groaned
Eleetman. 81 feel like a criminal in
helping you thus far on your way,
Paul Take my advice and do not step
on the dragons tall
Paul Deering laughed uneasily. THE
dragons tail is a good distance from
his jaws, old man. There'll be time
enough to run away before I'm snap
ped up"
1.-The dragons tail is as powerful as
his head. aud 1t will toss you into the
dragons jaws. This is the last word,
Paul. VIII you give 1t upT
I'm sorry to say that I've gone too
far-I can't be a pikerp
Better be a live piker than n dead
foolP growled Fleetman rudely.
A red flush stained behring's skin,
but he said nothing. He had contided
In Fleetman, and he was not sorry for
it, although he might regret having en-
tered into the negotiation at all. Paul
was practically newcomer In China.
He was the son Of a very rich man
and he had plenty Of money to spend.
II he chose to spend It In helping a
dissolute mandarin fee the country to
escape punishment for a great crime
1t was nobOdy's business.
Paul had told Fleetman that he was
to receive valuable concessions In re-
turn for the favor The mandarin,
Lung. possessed much land I'm his own
province that was rich in copper ore,
and It was this land that he was con
ceding to the rich young American In
return for his help. Lung had been n
revolutiOnist. but had betrayed his
cause to the imperlallst party. There
was price upon his sleek head, for
the rebels wanted to punish him for
his treachery.
From Paul's point of view, and he
had only heard smatterings of the
truth mixed with much falsehood from
Lungs own lips, the mandarin had
been badly used by both parties. Lung
wanted to leave the country, but he
could only do so in disguise of some
sort, and he could not rely upon any
Of his own people to help him out, for
he had been hard master when m
power.
The upshot Of the matter was that
the impulsive young American had
promised that Lung should accompany
him back to the United Stntes under
guise of his personal servant Paul
had taken passage on q steamer which
would sail two days later, and he had
conflded the plan to Fleetman under
promise of strlctest secrecy. Some
one had to know in case anything did
happen to Paul, and Fleetman seemed
to think that the chances were good
for something to happen to somebody
In the matter,
ats such futile undertaking" he
ended his protestations. IF 1t was go
ing to benefit anybody to have that
rascal got out Of his own country I'd
help you out on It or at least applaud
your courage. But, by Jove, IL any
man ever deserved good hanging II is
that same Lung"
I'm sorry, but I've promised" said
Paul firmly, and so the subject was
dropped for the time.
They sped up the Yangtze for few
miles and then turned down its swift
ly flowing yellow stream and made
for the mouth. There they could cross
to the Huangpu and run up that little
tidal river to Shanghai.
Little was said between the two men
as the launch scudded back to Shang-
hal, but when they reached the Jetty
and Fleetman turned the craft over to
the care of his Chinese boatman he re-
ferred once more to the matter.
when are you going aboard the
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 the
necessary clothing for Disgusting him
self He's been hiding in half ruined
temple up there and is starved almost
to skeleton That in itself is dis
gulse. for he was n pretty sleek look
Ing old customer before they got after
him SO I've been told"
"I'll see Won tomorrow. Paul. I've