Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-06-15

hope that the anaesthehc would d.
more than stupefy the beasts To-
awhile. There was not enough Of 1t
and the conditions were not favorable
"Just ten minutes-give me ten min
utes' start and I'll take my chances
with sharks rather than stay here an
| other minutew he muttered savagely.
The garden gate opened, and he step
ped over the inert form Of the stripes
guardian.
He slipped and slid down the mudd!
bank until he reached the waters edge
The full moon guided him to the groul
Of fishing boats drawn up on the beach
In a moment he had pushed of from
shore and was polling his frail Graf
into the track Of moonlight that led Il
freedom.
on to the southeast there showed
faint light-some northbound steamer
So fearful was he that he might mis-
the precious opportunity and 80 alb
sorbed was he In the management o.
the strange boat that Mason failed Il
notice the Ominous silence that brood
ed over the waters; the shuddering
licking sound Of the oily waves.
Suddenly the moon was blotted ou
by a swift onrush of inky clouds ant
the hot breath Of the wind.
Surely death stared him In the face
It was riding now on the wings Of tn
approaching typhoon.
And all the while that red light bob
bed and disappeared, and now th'
steamer showed a blessed green light
He could see them alternately-por
and starboard. She had changed hel
course and was coming before thu
wind, straight toward the tiny sampar
tipping up and down on the swell.
One minute after Mason had beer
rescued by the great ocean liner thu
typhoon struck with shrieking force.
Perhaps the tidal wave that follow
ed tossed the sampan back on its ma
tive shore: perhaps the hungry wave
leaped the embankment and tore away
Mason's hut and the snarling guard
ians. He never knew. He nevel
cared
They put him in a cabin and gave
him what he asked for-hot water anG
soap and clean garments-and he caree
not for fifty typhoons- He was bacl
among civilized people. He was fret
from that mysterious imprisonment
A year later he had almost forgotten
it. He was back in New Hampshire
going daily to his business In Concord
His family welcomed him home as one
from the grave, and his children play
ed with the straw toys he had bought
from the street vender.
Albert Mason had other troubles
now. Business was bad. and bank
ruptcy stared him In the face. Unfor.
tunate investments had depleted his
assets. The years he had wasted In
the hut on the China sea had under.
mined bis prosperity.
He went home and talked 1t over
with his wife, a helpmate indeed.
They smiled at the children playing
on the floor. The youngest brought q
broken toy to his father. It was one
Of the straw animals Mason had
brought home from China.
1.-THE frog and the cat and the bird
are quite WELL" said the baby earnest,
ly, "but my dwagon feels very sick!
1.-The dragon. ehr repeated Mason,
examining the hollow interior Of the
curly tailed, red fanged toy. II don't
wonder. Molly. look at thatr
He withdrew his fingers and dangied
before his wife's amazed eyes golden
chain, from which hung magnificent
girile clasp Of jade set with diamonds
and rubies, the insignia Of some Chi
nsse military official And carved on
the face of the jade was the deep cut
figure Of a dragon inclosed In a seal
"The dragonw he muttered dazedly.
"You were carrying 1t all the time"
his wife added. ut must have been
within the toy when you purchased 1t.
What a mystery 1t all isl"
"Some one has palmed of incriminat-
ing evidence upon me-" laughed Ma
son. "rll write to Wayne in Shanghai
and see If there is any chance Of find,
Ing the owner. II there isn't-well,
Mason & Co. will continue to do busi-
ness. Hurrahw
f: Two months afterward came
Wayne's letter, from which I quote:
Impossible to trace. China has
turned over. you know. Mandarins
have suicided, been assassinated and
others cashiered. You better keep II
as q reward for your time Of imprison-
ment."
"But I wouldn't 60 through the expe.
rience again for double the price," said
Mason grimly.
Origin Of "Watsrsd Stock"