The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-04-08

AAO "a SeAoS Va lLc SicIh
'Now' Just cool off, Gordon" he said
with a Slight tremor in his voice You
are in a devilish scrape, know, but ]
will help you out If l can. In fact,
am the only one who can help you out
Make AMI enemy of me if you wish and
you will fbe handed over to the Chinese
government for punishment, for you
will be taken secretly into custody by
the imper1alispies and will not have q
| chance to claim protection under the
stars andfetripes or even to appeal for
hearing before the consular court.
It Is a crime punishable by death re-
CARELESS of nationality or, position or
wealth.
1.-THE facts are these: II received in
formation last night that. government
spies were tracking clerlz,in our office
who was suspected of being mixed
up in the case Of the theft of the Gold
en- Buddha from the summer palace at
Picking"
Jack WINGED, but his expression of
scornful unbelief did not change.
1--WE all know the history of the Gold
en- Buddha," went on Blake in q guard
ed tone, looking straight into the eyes
Of the younger man. eve know that
It Is a most sacred relic and contains
within its hollow form several gems
Of priceless value which were placed
there for safe keeping, as the reverence
with which this image is regarded has
always been sufficient guarantee of its
safety. The priests who guarded it
were foully murdered, and the image
disappeared.
1T has been traced to Shanghai, first
to the old city and then, last night, to
the doors Of Blent & Co. and finally to
the desk Of John Gordon"
Jack commanded his voice with diff
| f1culty as he replied in measured tones:
II repeat that know nothing what
ever about the matter. l never heard
of the Golden Buddha until l read Of
the theft In the newspapers have
never been in Picking In my life, and.
Of course, can prove that was here
at my desk when the image was sto-
len"
"Can your calculated Blake with
short laugh Of triumph. '"The theft
occurred on the LIST Of June. Today
is the 14th According to the office
records, you were granted leave of alb
sence from the 3Oth of May until the
I'd of June"
Jack started violently, and the color
foresoOk his face. you have formed
very pretty bit of evidence. Mr..
Blake" he said slowly, ''but you can
not prove that it was who placed the
package in my desk.aIt might have
been some one else, who, finding he
was detected. has planted tho crime
upon my shoulders. 1t might have
been any one of dozen others. It
might have been you! And. after all,
have no proof that this package does
contain the Golden Buddha," he added
heatedly.
Jimmy Blake drew the package to-
wnrd him and calmly united the red
silk cords that bound the covering of
blue cotton cloth and presently dis
closed lacquered box about twelve
inches square.
He pressed spring, and the cover
few up, revealing an object that caus-
ed Jack Gordon to utter a cry of
Amusement and to lean forward with
unconcealed interest.
Squatting In a bed of green silk. with
crossed hands and feet and terrible,
impassive countenance, was a Buddha
wrought in pure gold set with dia-
monds and rubies that famed In the
faces Of the two men with dazzling
radiance
"And that is IT." murmured Jack
breathlessly.
Nothing less" returned Blake as he
lifted the image from the box and
pressed firmly on the top Of the head.
The creases In the neck thickened as
the head sank between the shoulders,
and then from the base of the squat
figure poured forth a stream of enor-
nous gems which ran like living fire
and flame across the plotting pad on
Jimmy Blake's desk.
my Godr' muttered Jack at last
And they accuse me Of stealing that?"
'They certainly do" said Blake cool
~ as he replaced the image in the cas-
ket and relied the crimson cords about
the outer covering.
Then Jimmy Blake said: Now,
Jack. step to the window there. Stand
behind the blind. Now. look across the
read. See three coolies gambling un-
der that porticoY'
Gordon nodded
They have been there for several
days; they are not coolies: they are i'm
perial spies watching the bank. Night
and day we have been under espion-
age"
SNOW. Jack, my boy. you must de-
eide what you will do within a very
few, minutes. I have tried to think of
some way to help you out. and my plan
Is for you to take the image and go
down to the native city. There you
can hire sampan-I will go with you
II you wish-and proceed to the island
Of Wasoo Once there, we will meet
a man who has power from the exalt-