The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-20
EVENING STORY
The Little Jade Frog.
(RyNSabel Frost.)

objects escaped his ken.
He mad only seen her once before
at Haskells studio, around Christmas
time. But she was a girl then. Slen-
ing body, she had the lines of the
Blessed Damosel; but instead of the
latters languorous, dreamy face, Le-
onie's was vivid and alert with anima-
ton. She loved to dress in dull green,
greens like the deep tones in jade,
with curiously wrought metal girdles
set in uncut gems.
As arule, Digs avoided, Instructive
ly, the bizarre in life. He had been
brought up in a suburb of Boston. he
came of good old non-conformist
stock, and he was absolutely immune
to the effects of Bohemias far-east
incense or erotic love ideals. But Has
kell had told him briefly of Miss Yer
ney's career, and it had interested him
immensely.
airy at Hangkow. He was killed dur
ing the Boxer rising. Leonie was
disguised as Chinese child by her
Christian nurse ana hidden away in
an old temple in%he interior until the
trouble was over. 1t was not until
two years ago that she came to Amer
lea Her gfrlhood was passed in the
Orient, altho of late years she has
been with her own people in the
American colony. She's mighty queer
little girl, but very interesting. Not at
all your fluffy blonde type, Diggs, so
you're safe with her.
Diggs believed that also The
spurious forms of attra had al
ways reused him to a sort of happy
frenzy, while with Leonie he felt only
curious, innate restfulness and con-
tentment, as tho the peace of the ages
EMBODIED him
| He was telling her now of the new
Roman seats which he had just sent
out to his garden at Greenwich, when
suddenly he caught her looking past
him intently at something on the man
| telpiece. CHANGING around, he saw the
| little jade frog. 1t was about two
| inches and a half long, and quite as
wide, puffy, arrogant frog, utterly
unnatural and grotesque; it's eyes were
| brilliant crystals and in it's mouth it
held small crystal ball. 1t stood on
a pedestal of three jade pediments,
each smaller than the last and en-
graved on the four sides of each were
chinese characters.
What is it?" he asked, seeing that
| the girl really looked pale.
| Il don't know exactly" she an
/ Swered in a low voice. 1T is all too
strange and horrible. l wonder whom
/ that frog belongs to-"
III ask Haskell" he said.
Haskell shook his head doubtfully
when Diggs found him.
| You've got me, old man. l sub-let
these rooms when 1 got back from
France, and that thing was here. It's
Chinese. isn't it? There are some
wonderful embroideries in that pearl
inlaid cabinet in the corner. They
probably all belong to Dodor Yoy. the
J former tenant"
What do you know about him ?''
asked Diggs
Nothing, except that he has gone
back to China for short time. Very
/ oh i-aly ifxr
fellow and specialist in therapeutics.
Why"
ri tell you later" answered Diggs,
lightly. Find out all you can about
him meantime"
He carried the information he had
CLEANED back to Leonie. She said lit
| tie, but asked him to call taxi for
her, as she. was leaving early.
Il can't explain tonight" she said
as they parted. Come tomorrow al
| IL and I'll tell you all 1 know"
The morning mail brought a brief
letter from Haskell.
Wire from DIR. Yoy announces ar
rival in Frisco Monday. He requests
me to place the little Jade frog in a
! anyone. Thought I'd let you know "
Diggs called him up on the tele-
phone, asking him to wait until a
copy of the inscription could be Sc
cured; then he got in touch over the
friend and college classmate who had
spent some time in China. Wallace
was perfectly willing to help him out,
and though it made him little late
for his appointment with Leonie, he
took the time to carry the frog down
to Wallace's office. After about an
hours study the latter gave him the
translation. 1t ran:
| Whose seeketh vengeance on his
enemies shall ask the crystal ball for
aid Spirit of the sacred HUI Fwa, gra-
ciously list to the curses upon the for
eign DEVILS
He carried the news to Leonie at
once. She leaned forward eagerly, her
hands tightly clasped.
"Oh, 1 was sure of it. last night,
she said. Mr.. Diggs, you must help
me. l know this doctor. He was a
false friend of my fathers. 1t was
betrayed him into the hands of the
Boxers. He has had me watched ever
since / left China. but l never dream
ed that the jade frog was in his pos
session"
"Why, you're not superstitious. are
you?"
IT don't think So" she answered. 1T
was given to me by my nurse. who
found it in the old temple where l
was hidden. used to play with it
when l was a little girl Lao San is
dead, am sure. When l came away,
1 left this in old chest of my
fathers private papers and books at
| Hangkow, and now / find it here on a
mantelpiece in New York. What do
| you think it all means?"
| Superstition, mostly" laughed
| Diggs, but If you don't mind 1 rath-
| err think you need some one to look
after you until we see what DR..
Yoy is up to. I'll return the frog and
let Haskell put it in the vault"
He took it out of his pocket and set
! it on the table in front of them,
Leonie leaned forward and looked at
the little crystal boil intently. When
he reached for it, her hand was I'M
steady, and it fell from her clasp to
I the floor with a crash. She gave a
/ sharp cry of alarm, and knelt down
among the fragments. But Diggs was
J before her. The fall had loosened a
I secret spring in the pedestal. Inside
its hollow there lay folded sheet of
/ rice paper with a hand-painted dia-
gram on it, and small vertical lines of
| Chinese characters.