Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-10-02
Certainly; now or tomorrow morn

w. ~ u
jinrikistlas to the gate of the old wall.
ed city crouching on the outskirts of
he newer modern city.
Your clew?" asked Oakley as they
went down the narrow. crooked. i'll
paved streets.
"A Chinese named Sun Yat said that
Lin Wah, the missing servant. was
seen to offer the emerald eye to a deal
er in the gold beuters' street"
Il know three goldsmiths in that
street. Its this turn to the right said
Oakley, leading the way.
The first goldsmith professed igno.
rance Of the emerald eye; the second
n had seer it. but disparaged it's
value. and the third said it had been
offered him by Il Cantonese two days
before and that the man had been
seen running out of the city.
II said to the SOUTH" was Oakley's
comment.
My impression is that it's nearer
said Langham doggedly, and some
thing in his one told the truth Of the
situation to Frank Oakley.
Out with the whole thing. Lang
ham," he said shortly. What is it?
Are you trailing me, or what?"
We'll. you We're there, you know"
Did Mrs. Desbrow''- Oakley chok-
ed on the words.
Langham shrugged his perfectly fit,
ted shoulders. mo. indeed, old chap.
She wouldn't listen to a word against
you. But the house boy
Oakley laughed scornfully. The
house boy! Do you mean to say that
you are holding the word of a China
man against mine, Langham?
"He said be saw you" retorted the
other shortly.
Saw his grandmother" was Oak
ley's cheerful reply. You take my
advice. Langham. If Mr.. Desbrow
got that emerald from one of the tenn
pies IN south China it stands to reason
that the w%orshipers will try to get
it back.
Those old things mean more to the
native Chinese than they do to the
decadent mandarins. They will fight
for the emerald. and they will steal
it again and again until it finally re-
mains where it originally belonged
only they will leave a trail Of blood
in it's wake"
VERY WELL" said the other sharply.
Go ahead and 1 will follow"
Find out for me where the temple
is located and the name of the man
DARN. Tomorrow morning we start
for Canton, and from there we will
travel cross country to the temple.
once there we can scout around and
see if the emerald is there
Good. Let us go back"
The next morning they we're on their
way to Canton via Hongkong.
AS the journey progressed there
grew up between the two men a vague
inexpressible feeling of distrust.
At last they came into the province
OF the mandarin who had sold the en-
erald eye to Mr.. Desbrow and here re-
ceived permission to inspect the tenn
pie.
This man will direct you to the
temple of the green IDOL" he said
suavely, and the two young men made
their adieus.
In the wake OF the wooden faced
servant they crossed the grass grown
courtyard and entered the dark arch
of the temple. Here their footsteps
walked the sleeping echoes. and the
guide grumbled because the lantern
sputtered in sudden drafts OF air.
I'VE will look at the Buddha first.
for it the stone has been returned it
should be resting in the left eye sock
ct Odd that they should make the
eyes of such precious gems and then
cover them with lids of bronze or
gold" Frank Oakley made this re-
mark as be walked close behind Des-
brow, now his openly avowed enemy.
"Ill have to see it there to believe
it." said the other mar obstinately.
BY standing beneath the massive
face ore could look up and see that
n half closed eye contained Il spar
king emerald. while the other one was
quite empty.
"WelI?" questioned Langham. with a
nasty smile.
We'll" retorted Frank. suddenly
drawing Il revolver and pressing it
against the others breast. III give
you just five minutes to restore the
emerald eve to the idol" be said
grimly.
me: What do you mean?' shouted
Langham.
What | say. l may as we'll tell you
that I know where it is. and l congrat-
ulate you on having distracted atten-
ton from yourself."
"Where is it," demanded Langham.
up with your handsv!' ordered
Frank sharply. And when the 9th
er's hands were out of the way Oak
ley's fingers passed deftly over the 9TH
er's form. There were a bundle of let.
tiers and a cigarette case. A gold
match safe disgorged the missing
jewel, and Langham did not smile
when Frank drew it from it's hiding
place M SliDDed il in his own nOclxet