Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-10-26
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Sin Wei'S
Gift
The Lost Jewels of q
Mandarin
By CLARISSA MACKlE


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Richard Durwent looked gloomily
around the disordered library. which
had lost its accustomed air Of quiet
repose. Packing cases jostled each
other. and the empty bookshelves pro-
claimed that their contents had been
transferred.
The big mahogany table In the mid
die Of the room was Uttered with writ
ing materials. for Durwent and bis
friend, Angus McNair, had been max
ing an inventory of the contents OF the
room and had been putting In the pack
ing cases the few books and curios that
Durwent could not bear to part with.
Durwent. traveller and explorer. had
made an unwise investment. and he
awoke to find himself penniless. Even
the sale of his furniture and books
would barely cover the amount of bis
debts. On the morrow the goods were
to be carted away to the auction rooms.
The apartment would be to let.
"You will keep the set Of kiplingT
asked McNair, poising his fountain pen
over the writing pad.
"Yes, but the other first editions must
90, Angus. That cleans up all the
books"
"Yes, and. man. you won't take 1t
amiss If l buy in some Of them for my
own libraryT
"Pick them out now. Angus. They'll
boost the prices"
McNair laughed. mo, no. III take
my chance with the others, Richard.
It shan't be said I profited by my
friends adversely"
Hang 1t all, Angus, why did l try
to speculater fretted Durwent II
haven't got any head for money mat
ters anyway"
"You listened to the voice Of the ser.
pent, meaning the willy Mr.. Wales"
smiled McNair. pulling q battered pipe
from his pocket. He certainly trim
med you neatly, Richard. You mind,
I'm 30 sore ut him that ] can't speak
decently when We meet"
"I'n have to make another plunge
into the unknown" went on Durwent
"just when Id made up my mind to sit
quietly at home and enjoy my books"
There's Landlords expedition Into
Cochin China" suggested McNa.r.
"rve Joined it." said the other
tersely.
you'll be writing another book and
making more money-barrels OF It
Hoots, mon," he went on, his Scotch &C.
cent growing pronounced as he became
excited, maybe you were thinking OF
retiring too soon. Your worruk's not
half done in the world! All. wish l
could adventure forth instead Of being
tied down to medical pracdceg
Come with me as physician to the
expedition" urged Richard.
IL can't leave my poor people" OBJ
jected McNair, and then they both
laughed, for DR.. McNair's charity pa
tients represented a hobby.
He went over to the mantelpiece
and groped among the litter Of ivories
and bronzes.
"Have you any tobacco. Richard
Where's your old Jar?"
I'm the bottom Of my trunk" con-
fessed Durwent. ITS an old friend of
mine, and | was afraid it might get
mixed up with some Of this salable
stuff. l wasn't taking any chances
with 1t. Have cigaretteT extending
his case.
"No, thanks. What's In this jar
not q pinch Of 'baccyY lifting the
cover Of a large bronze jar with an
ivory dragon twisted around 1t. The
cover handle was Of ivory In the form
Of a raven. why, it's fullr'
Durwent laughed.
"I've never even tried Whit Of 1t.
It was given to me under suspicious
circumstances, and I've neglected to
empty it. Why, that tobacco must be
fifteen years old. got it when I made
that trip up the Yangtzekiang, you re-
memberT
"I've read your book. ought to re-
member" said McNair dryly. He dip
ped his pipe into the jar and crammed
the brown powdery flakes into the
bowl "I'll try 1t anyway while you
spin me yarn about It"
He scratched q match and puffed
slowly. Blue spirals ascended from the
bowl.
That's not bad, Richard" declared
the Scotchman. throwing himself into
q chair.
"You better take 1t, then. You can
use 1t for emergencies, when. like the
present, you can't get anything better.
Take jar and ALL"
"No, thank you. can't bear creepy.
erawly things around" said the other.
drawing on his pipe. "Ill take the
'baccy. but the jar you can keep. Tell
me the story"
"It's not much Of story" returned
Durwent. lighting cigarette and sit
ting down on q corner Of the table. ut
was when I was in the upper reaches
Of the Yangtze. among the rocky
gorges, where our boat slid and bobbed
and foundered through the rapids. l
had gone ashore to examine the re-
mains of an ancient shrine. and be-
came separated from my servants.
Suddenly through the underbrush
there crept the pitiful apology Of a
man, q Chinese. he was gaunt and
famished. His clothes were In tatters.
and his straw shoes were worn out
He was scarecrow, and as he came
toward me on hands and knees he
moaned.
~ course I recognized the signs Of
starvation and thirst and a great feaf
He was undoubtedly fugitive IRON
Justice. He may have been murderer
or a bandit, but he was human being
So gave him to drink from my pock
ct bottle and dressed a cash In hD
head from the contents OF my pocke'
medicine case. anil later he told me MI
story, but that was not until unGel
cover of the approaching darkness
had hurried him on board the boat.
"Squatting at my feet in the bow o.
the boat, he told me that he had beer
wrongfulIy accused of stealing treas
ure from his master, rich mandarin