The Forrest City times., 1913-06-13


 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"
 les, l resumed, hotly. Hes here. more dead than alive unfortunately; but he is coming around slowly and will be quite able 10 testify when the time comes"
 MT. 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, Mir. Clyde. for the crime he commit led on the high seas, sixteen years ago"
 For a moment stared al them in silent amazement
 You're both mad I exploded at length, both crazy. Do you think for one moment l believe such rot as that? Even If what you say were pos sible-and 1t 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 Of what use would such an Identification be against the testimony of Mir. Cam eron's lifelong friends,"
 Since you doubt our ability to identify" was MT Yup's prompt re- ioinder, T may add that there are two marks of identification. which must, think, convince even yourself"
 l laughed grimly. So that was their game. For nearly 8 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 slsnt-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 MT, Chen Mok
 Never answered He has one there"
 T am willing 10 wager something valuable he hasn't a tattoo mark any where on his person" retorted. and I'll prove 1t in five minutes"
 We shall be glad to have the proof, said Yup Sing Once more I pressed the button at the side of the chimney-piece. and once again Checkabeedy appeared in the doorway.
 You telephoned7" asked Yes, sir"
 Very good, now send Mir Bryan 10 me here, al once" Then turning to 1 Cameron's accusers, explained "Mr. Bryan, for whom l have just sent. is 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 he might be permitted to put to the nurse the necessary questions. and as was perfectly confident that no incriminat- ing answers could be given, no matter what the form of catechism, I willing ly acceded
 Had l not played tennis and golf with Cameron scores Of times on hot summer days when, with shirt sleeves rolled above his elbows. his forearus were barred 10 view? Could there by | any possibility have been a tattoo mark there, and not have seen 1t?
 Mir. Bryan came quickly, little pug zled, seemingly. al being called to such an audience. Purposely kept silence, merely waving an introductory hand toward the two Chinamen. Yup Sing tactfully explained the sit uation.
 "A question has arisen, Mir. 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 If you will kindly describe it."
 The nurse flung questioning glance at me, and l nodded reassuringly I 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, involuntarily, I started for. ward know that for just a breath I thought my ears had played me a trick Then, suddenly. there swept back across my memory that e1pres- sion of Checka beedy's: Who between you and me. sir, l don't trust. nohow :" Could it be possible that Bryan was in the conspiracy? But only for rhe briefest moment did this doubt sway amid the welter of my thoughts Into it's place rolled an amazemept that shocked and stunned; that checked me all standing, as it were: for Bryan was simplifying. was telling about the mark, which he had first noticed he said. on the night of his arrival and which he had examined more closely on several occasions since.
 Its evidently representation ot