Mexico Missouri message., 1913-04-03

| mIBHJ nave Deeu tne hre "oou
sputtering on the hearth for all the eff
feet my vehemence had upon that
precious pair of Mongolians.
We understand" the spokesman re-
sumed. that your friend managed In
some way to escape from his captors'
and is now In this house"
Yes" resumed, hotly. He's here,
more dead than alive unfortunately;
but he 10 coming around slowly and
will be quite able 10 testify when the
| time comes"
"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
ted 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
sible-and It isn't-you would have to
identify the accused by something bet.
ter than the mere word OF a man who
hadn't seen him for years. or what
use would such an Identification be
against the testimony OF Mr. Cam
eron's lifelong frlends?"
Since you doubt our ability to
Identify" was Mr.. Yups prompt re
joinder. 81 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, inven-
toried him. His scars, moles, birth
marks had been listed, and were now
to be used to identify him with a 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 something
valuable he hasn't a tattoo mark any
where on his person" ! retorted, and
I'll prove 1t 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?" l asked.
Yes, sir"
Very good, now send Mr.. Bryan IA
. me here. at once" Then turning tc
: Cameron's accusers. explained: Mr.
Bryan, for whom | have Just sent IL
, nursing my friend. He would natural
! ly know If what you say is true"
TO my surprise they made no demur
, Yup Sing. however, asked that h,
might be permitted to put to the nurs,
the necessary questions, and as wal
perfectly confident that no incriminat
? ing answers could be given. no matte
r what the form of catechism, willing
q ly acceded.
2 Had ! not played tennis and gol
: with Cameron scores OF times on no
g summer days when, with shirt sleeves
!. rolled above his elbows, his forearm
/. were barred TO view? Could there b,
J, any possibility have been a tatto,
r mark there, and not have seen It?
K Mr.. Bryan came quickly. little pu7
|, zled. seemingly, at being called T.
d such an audience. Purposely ! KEEP
= silence. merely waving an introductor
n hand toward the two Cinnamon.
Il Yup Sing tactfully explained the ST
e uation.
n A question has arisen, Mr.. Bryan,
he said. with more of suayity in hi
J. tone than | had hitherto observed
a whether by any chance your patien
y has a mark OF any character whateve
n tattooed upon his left forearm. If 20
n have observed such, We shall be gla
W If you will kindly describe It,"
The nurse flung questioning glanc
y at me. and / nodded reassuringly.
If did not wonder that he was surprise
D. at the question.
e. rs there, or is there not, such
d. mark" the Oriental urged
ID There is; yes, sir"
I'd ! think, Involuntary. started 70
le ward ! know that for Just a breath
IL thought my ears had played me
IT, trick Then, suddenly, there swel
We back across my memory that EXPIRE
er sion Of Chockabeedy's Who betwee
in you and me, sir, don't trust, nohow
OF Could It be possible that Bryan was
he the conspiracy? But only for II
or bnefest moment did this doubt swa
n; amid the welter OF my thoughts. Int
nc its place rolled an amazement tb,
a shocked and stunned; that checke
u.s. me all standing, as II We're; for Brya
was simplifying, was telling about n
as mark, which he had first noticed
M said. on the night OF his arrival. ar
ur which he had examined moro ctosa