The Elbert County tribune., 1915-06-11

to the puzzle-the only key" ex-
claimed WI Fang finally. I'VE must
recover 1t at all hazards"
To his subtle mind plan OF action
seemed to unfold almost Instantly
There Is no good remaining here" he
added. And we have gained nothing
by the capture OF the girl. unless we
can use her to recover the ring"
Long Sin followed his master with
a sort OF intuition. III we have to steal
it, he suggested deferentially. 1T can
be accomplished best by making use
Of the Chong wah Tong"
The tong was the criminal band
which they had offended. which had in
fact stolen the ring from Long Sin
and sold 1t to Elaine. Yet in a game
such as this enmity could not last
when 1t was mutually disadvantageous.
WI took the suggestion. He decided
instantly to make peace with his enc
mies-and use them.
Later that night. in his car. WI
stopped near the little curio shop kept
by the new tong leader.
WI, followed by his slave in crime.
entered the curio shop and passed
through with great dignity into the
room in the rear.
AS the two entered, the tong men
bowed with great respect.
Let us be enemies no more, began
WI briefly Let us rather help each
other as brothers"
He extended his right hand. palm
down. as he spoke. For moment
the tong leader parleyed with the
others. then stepped forward and taid
his own hand, palm down. over that
of WI. One OF the others did the
same. including Long Sin. the ag-
grieved.
Peace was restored.
WI had arisen to SO. and the tong
men were bowling respectful fare
we'll. He turned and saw large vase.
For n moment he paused before il.
1t was an enormous affair and was
apparently composed of mosaic OF
rare Chinese enamels, cunningly put
together by the deft and patient fin
gers of the Oriental craftsmen. Ex-
tending from the widely curving bowl
below was an extremely long. narrow.
tapering neck.
WI looked at 1t intently; then an
idea seemed to strike him. He called
the tong leader and the others about
him.
Quickly he outlined the details of
a plan,
Have you received any word yet?"
asked Aunt Josephine. anxiously. when
Jennings had ushered US into the
Dodge library.
Kennedy shook his head sadly.
A few minutes later Jennings en-
tered the room softly again. The
expressmen are outside. ma am. with
large package" he said.
Aunt Josephine followed MIN out in
to the hall.
There, already, the delivery men
had set down a huge Oriental vase
with remarkably long and narrow
neck 1t was. as befitted such really
beautiful object of art. most carefully
Grated. But to Aunt Josephine ii
came as complete surprise. Il can't
imagine who could have sent it, she
temporized. Are you quite sure 1t Is
| for mep"
The expressman, with a book
looked up from the list OF names
down which he was running his fin
| ger. This is Mrs. Dodge, isn't it?'
he asked. pointing with his pencil tc
the entry with the address following
| it There oeemed to be no name OF
a shipper.
Yes she replied. obviously. but
1 don't understand it. Wait just a
moment"
She went to the library door. Mr.
Kennedy" she said. may l troubl,
| you and Mr. Jameson moment?"
We followed her into the hall. ant
there stood gazing at the mysterious
gift. while she related its recent his
tory.
| why not set it up in the library ?
suggested, seeing that the express
men were getting restiye at the delay
III there is any mistake they viii sen,
for il soon. No one ever gets anything
for nothing"
Aunt Josephine turned to the ex
pressmen and nodded. With the aid o
Jennings they carried the vase int
the library, and there it was uncrated
Craig walked around the vase. look
ing at it critically. had feeling o
i being watched. one of those sensation
which psychologists tell us are utterl,
baseless and unfounded. I was gla,
had not said anything about II whel
he tapped the vase with his cane. thel
stuck the cane down the long, marrow
neck. working it around as wen as h
could. The neck was so long and s.
narrow. however. that his stick coul'
not fully explore the inside of tn
vase, but 1t seemed to me to be quit
empty.
Well. there's nothing in it. any