The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1916-06-16
Ksarston to himself as he mounted the

gowned figure was sprawled In a carv-
ed ebony chair. while his yellow fin
gers held a gold lacquered pipe.
He lifted his heavily lidded eyes, and
a glitter came into them as he saw the
American and his companion.
"Ah. Ping" he said in good English,
'you have brought the keeper Of my
mckw
"Yes. gracious hiGhness." stammered
the wizened little man.
"Be seated, please" Feng Pu waved
Mars.on to another carved chair. 'Tea,
Ping" he commanded.
'"This call is an unexpected pleasure"
remarked Marston coolly.
mot unexpected by me-" smiled the
mandarin.
what do you meanY" askeH the 9th.
er quickly. "Why," he adde< sharply.
you are getting under way. Where
are we goingT
BE calm. my friend smiled the
other imperturbably. 81 am merely
taking you for a pleasure trip"
THANK you, but l cannot go today"
decided Marston hastily.
Feng Pu sighed. You Americans are
30 abrupt" he murmured regretfully.
Marston laughed heartily. mot as
abrupt as you Chinese" he said. Eff
teen minutes ago / had never heard
of you, and now you are taking me
on a pleasure trip to-where"
"A place Of good luck" said the other,
looking at him under pickering lids.
Heaven knows ! need it-whole
chunks of good luck" groaned Mars
ton, with a sudden. bleak realization
of his position.
"Then the prophecy will come true"
murmured the Asiatic.
Marston stared. what prophecy"
1.-THE prophecy Of the geOmancer
who foretold that on certain day
should be travelling through the Street
of Thousand Ways and should lose
my luck-and should find 1t again.
swell"
II lost my luck-my lucky stone to-
day-and my servant Ping saw you
pick It up" said the mandarin quietly.
Marston pulled the amber dragon
from his pocket. This is yours?' be
asked.
Feng Pu's eyes glistened. YES" he
Kissed. 1T has all been foretold long.
long ago while l was still a young
man. A geomancer in the bazaar pre-
dicted that / should lose my luck and
find friend and find my luck all in
the same day."
ss'Tho MI VOL, cpniIal MarSfnp ou,io
bly,. Am your friend or your luck?'
my friend, 1 hope" said the other
quietly. This is no jest-this stone
He fastened the amber trinket to q
long jade chain which swung from his
neck. This stone is the luck of my
family. but there is greater luck in
store for the one who solves the secret.
See!" He twisted the tail of the am
Der dragon and revealed tiny cavity.
from which he drew bit of oiled silk
1T was given to my grandfather by
an American sea captain who was
taken prisoner by some river pirates.
He had found some treasure and hid
den it, and he would not give it up to
the pirates. We never saw him again.
and my father could not understand
the directions. and so we have waited.
hoping that some day we would meet
q foreigner we could trust" He stop.
ped abruptly. His greed for the leg
endary treasure had for the moment
overcome his native caution, but re-
covering himself he watched the young
American carefully while he unrolled
the tiny scroll of oiled silk, on which
appeared neat black letters.
Marston frowned at the scroll. stared
and went off into gale Of laughter.
Feng Pu scowled angrily. Who was
this American dog that he should make
jest Of mandarin's lucky stone?
But he must know the secret. Then
the American could be dropped over
into the river for all Feng Pu cared
He shrugged his fat shoulders.
John Marston stared at the nursery
jingle that was neatly lettered ON the
little scroll
Ding, dong bell,
Pussy's in the we'll.
Who put her in?
Little Thomas Green.
"Was the captains name Green
Thomas Green?" he asked Feng Pu.
$50 says the SCROLL" nodded the man.
DARN stiffly.
"And do you know the nature Of the
treasurer"
Precious stones"
"And have you any idea where Cap
tain Green might have hidden them
"He was captured in the courtyard
of the temple of thousand eyes. We
are approaching 1t now" said Feng Pu
quietly.
"And II find your good luckr' ask
ed Marston.
"Half is yours" asserted the other
blandly.
"A written agreement to that ef-
fectw asked The American.
The mandarin shrugged his shoul.
ders. IL will send for my secretary"
He clapped his hands, and Ping came
running.