The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1915-10-14


pursuers had relentlessly tracked him
until after two days and nights of
flight he had come upon me at the riv-
er's edge. His name was Sin Wei, and
he was from the province of Szechuan.
Il promised to take him into my
service, and l called upon my boy to
bring fresh blue cotton garments and
to give the stranger mat to sleep
upon and plenty Of rice. 1t was in the
middle Of the night that awoke and
sat up in my bunk. The windows Of
my cabin were wide open, and the
fresh breeze from the river was very
grateful. At dawn we would resume
our journey down the river. Now it
was 2 o'clock, as learned by glancing
at my watch by the light Of my cleo
trio torch. had gone to bed very
early, so felt sure was in for long
wakeful period some time in the night.
Il lay there awhile staring at the,
white square Of the window where the
moonlight shone. Suddenly across than
square came a shadow. It paused and
then blotted out the light.
'My hand slipped under my pillow
and frightened around the butt of my
automatic pistol. l watched the win
dow curiously, for man was climbing
in, and felt no fear because of the
weapon in my hand. leveled the pis-
tol at the intruder, but. was silent I
suspected it was Sin Wei, the stranger.
II wondered what his errand was.
Was he trying to murder and rob me?
MY question was soon answered.
From a filthy bundle which he had
strapped to his shoulders and which
he had refused to be parted from he
brought out this bronze jar, which he
placed beneath my window. He stoop-
ed over it 4 long time. pouring some
thing inside; the cover clinked and he
was gone.
Later heard splash in the river,
and | suspected that my protege had
become fear stricken and was making
his escape. When daylight invaded tk51
room l made out tie shape of this
bronze jar, and noticed strip of red
paper hanging from the cover. Curl
osity would be denied no longer, SO I
got up and examined the paper. On it
were scrawled some Chinese charac-
tiers expressing the gratitude of Sin
Wei for his deliverance, wishing me
long life, good luck and much felic-
ity and saying that the river gods
called him. ~. --
Il lifted the cover of the jar and
found it full of tobacco of an inferior
quality. I've never touched it, but
I've kept the jar for sentimental rea-
sons. Very likely Sin Wei stole it from
the mandarin. dressed and went on
deck, but my coolies were gatheEed~
forward jabbering excitedly. It seems
they had seen Sin Wei leap from the
boat in an insane frenzy of fear, and
the river had carried him swiftly on
her broad yellow breast. That's all, ex-
cept that there has been one disturb
ance after another in China, and l
haven't been there for several years.
South Africa has been my stamping
ground Of late years. Now, will you
accept the jar and it's contents?'' s1nil-
ed Durwent at his friend.
"I'H take the tobacco said McNair,
going to the mantelpiece for the jak
1.-The receptacle you can sell or keep. al
you like
He took a piece of white paper and
emptied the contents Of the bronze jar.
Several lumpy objects rolled out of
the pile of tobacco.
whats this?" he asked curiously,
picking up one of the Jumps Some
thing wrapped in tissue paper. Well,
mon, look at that, will ye?"
''An emeraldr' Durwent stared. with
unbelieving eyes. as he took the bril-
liant green stone in his hand DO
you suppose it's real?''
AYE, mon; glass never looked like
thatr' went on Angus in excitement as
he unwrapped lump after lump and
laid them before his bewildered friend.
''Rubies, diamonds and pearl. anoth-
er emerald and another, that's ALL All!
Enough to make you Independently
rich for iife!'
:, What in thunder does it mean?"
questioned Durwent.
Mean, you idiot? 1t means tnae~
your protege, Sin Wei. must have Ioot-d
ed the old mandarin for fair: And
you. Richard. are an accessory after
the fact. Deciding to end his misera
BILE life. Sin Wei unloaded his loot
upon you, his benefactor. and, surely
it comes in OPPORTUNITY, eli. mon?"
But they don't belong to me- OBJ
jected Durwent. even while he knew
that he could never find the owner aft
err fifteen years of revolution and riot
in China.
You can satisfy your conscience by
trying to find the mandarin. and in
the meantime don't believe he would
care if you used one little emerald to
save your precious effects. Eth. mon -
"I'll do it." said Durwent cheerfuIiy.
He packed the tobacco back into the
jar and locked the jewels away in his
SAFE
'"Then don't get the tobacco?" ask
ed McNair rucfully
mot this tobacco, but I'll buy you
any quantity OF your favorite brand.
~ fho NJ