Rock Island Argus., 1917-09-29
L Il e ID ally
Short Story

Diggs had not noticed it at first. all
though he stood nearer TO it than any
one else 8n the room. He was s. in-
terested in renewing his acquaintance
with Leone Verney that all insnimate
objects escaped his ken.
He had only seen her once before
ait Haekelis studio. around Christmas
time But she was a girl then slen-
der, corsetless, with a graceful eury-
ing body Haskell had told him briefly
of Miss EerneY's career, and it had in-
terested hlm immensely
Her father was q Chinese mission.
airy at Hangkow He was killed dur
ing the Boxer uprising Leonie was
disguised As a Chinese child by her
Christian nurse and hidden away 10
an old temple in the interior until the
trouble was over 1t was not until
rwo years ago that she came to Amer
ica
Digs was telling her of the Ro-
man seats which he had just sent out
to his garden at Greenwich. when sud
denly he caught her looking past him
intenty at something on the mantel
piece. Glancing around he saw tine
little Jade frog It was about two
and q half inches long. and quite as
wide. q puffy, arrogant frog utterly
unnatural and grotesque
What is it2' he asked, seeing that
the girl really looked pale
II don't know exactly" she answer
ed ia low voice. 1t is all too strange
and horrible Z wonder to whom that
frog belongs 2
"TII ask Haskell he said
Haskell shook his head do8btfully
when Diggs found him
You've got me, cid man I sublat
these rooms when I got back from
France. and that thing was here It's
Chinese, isn't it2 There are some won
derfuI embroideries in that. pearl in
laid cabinet i'm the corner. They prob
ably all belong 10 Doctor Toy, the for
mer tenant"
He carried the Information he had
cleaned back 70 Leonie She said lit
tie, bat asked him 20 call a taxi for j
her. as she was leaving early
can't explain tonight she said,
as they parted Come tomorrow at II
and III $eU YOU ali I know"
The morning mail brought q brief
letter from Haskell
Wire from Doctor You announces
arrival jn Frisco Monday. He requests
me to place the little Jade frog TN a
safety deposit vault without telling
anyone Thought I'd better let you
know
Dfggs called him up on the teie-
phone. asking him to wait until g copy
of the Inscription could be secured
then me got ln touch over the wire with
q certain civil engineer friend and coll
jeEe gl8ssmate who had spent some
time lu China. Wallace was perfectly
willing 80 help him out. and though it
made him q little late for his anno8at-
sH-.,
earrE the frog down 10 Wallaces of
fee After about an hours study the
latter gave him the transla tion Il
ram.
Vino SO seeketh vengeance an his
7pemies shall ask the crystal ball for
nd. Suirit of the sacred Hu Fwa era
ejously list to the curses upon the for
7ign devils
He carried the news to Leonlt at
once. She leaned forward eagerly, her
hands tightly clasped
OH I was sure OF IT, last night,
She said "AIr. Diggs you must help
me. I knew this doctor. He was
false friend of my fathers 1T was he
who bore witness against him. and be-
raEed him into the hands of the Box
7rs lie has mad me watched ever
since left China. but + never dreamed
hat the Jade frog was in his posses
SION
lie took the frog cut Of his pocket
.ud set il on the table In front Of them
-eonie leaned forward and looked al
he litlIA crystal ball AS she reached
or it her hand was unsteady. and IL
ELL from her clasp TO the floor with a
rash. she gave sharp cry of alarm.
nd kneit down among the fragments
)iggs was before her The fall had
BCEauaH secret @rrfrcr IN he 7a7aE-