The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1913-03-07

| might have been the nre woou
suffering on the hearth for all the el- |
'ect my vehemenca had upon that
precious pair OF Mongolians.
I'VE understand" the spokesman re-
sumed, that your friend managed in
some way TO escape from his captors,
and il now In this house"
Yes" | resumed. holly. Hes here,
more dead than alive unfortunately;
but he is coming around slowly and
will be quite able to testify when the
tine comes"
MIR. 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 moment stared al them in
silent amaZement.
You're both mad" | exploded at
legth. both crazy. DO you think for
that? Even wi at you say were pos
sible-and II isn't--yu would have to
identify the accused by So 9thing bet
ter than the mere word Of mo. VINO
| hadn't seen him for years. or WA
[ use would such an Identification be
against the testimony OF Mr.. Cam
erons lifelong friends?"
Since you doubt our ability tc
Identify" was Mr.. Yup's prompt re
| joinder. - may add that there are two
marks OF Identification, which must.
think, convince even yourself"
laughed grimiy. So that was their
game! For nearly a 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
eade murderer OF Chinese coolies.
told my slant-eyed visitors thai
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 mari
on your friends left forearm" asket
Mr.. Chen Mok.
Never" | answered.
He has one there"
II am willing to wager somethin.
valuable he hasn't tattoo mark any
where OH his person." retorted. "an1
I'll prove it in five minutes"
I'VE shall be glad to have tn,
proof. said Yup Sing.
Once more | pressed the button a
the side of the chimney-piece. ant
once again Checkabeedy appeared il
/ the doorway.
You teIephoned?" | asked
Yes, sir"
Very good, now send Mr.. Bryan Il
me here at once" Then turning Il
Cameron's accusers, | explained; Mr.
Bryan, for whom | have just sent, /!
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 wa'
perfectly confident that no incriminat
ing answers could be given, 10 natte
what the form Of capechism, | willing
ly acceded
Had | not played tennis and gol
with Cameron scores of times on no
summer days when. with shirt sleeves
rolled above his elbows, his forearm
were barred TO view? Could there b,
any possibility have been a tatto,
mark there, and not have seen It?
Mr.. Bryan came quickly. little pul
zled seemingly, at being called I,
such an audience. Purposely | KEEP
silence, merely waving an lntroductor
hand toward the two Cinnamon.
Yup Sing tactfuly explained the sit
uation.
A question has arisen. Mr. Bryan,
he said. with more OF suavity in hi
tone than ] had hitherto observed
whether by any chance your patien
has mark of any character whateve
tattooed upon his left forearm If yo
have observed such. we shall be gla
If you will kindly describe IT,"
The nurse flung questioning glanc
at me. and 7 nodded reassuringly.
did not wonder that he was surprise
at the question.
rs there. or is there not. such
mark" the Oriental urged.
There is: yes. sir"
think. involuntarily. | started FOL
ward | know that for just a breath
thought my ears had played me
trick Then, suddenly. there swep
back across my memory that expires
sion OF Checkabeedy's: Who between
you and me. sir | don't trust. nohow.
Could 1t be possible that Bryan was Ii
tho conspiracy? But only for III
briefest moment did this doubt swa
amid the welter OF my thoughts. Int
its place rolled an amazement tina
shocked and stunned; that checke,
me all standing. as II were: for Brya,
was amplifying, was telling about tn
mark. which he had first noticed h,
said. on the night OF his arrival. an,
which he had examined more closel
on several occasions since