The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1917-01-06

Yes, Mr.. Ferris" he was say
ing, that's the young lady hersei
Miss Marian Sylvester, OF "a
lung, Tibet-sole heiress to a It'd!
fortune in England, that's beer
piling up interest for more'n ~
years, not saying anything abou
her share in a pretty chunk o
crystal that's worth around invent,
thousand pounds"
How long we thus contemplated
each other | don't know; but botf
Struber and Strang were conscious
that the situation was become tine
tured with a new and potent -influ
ence. Both grew FESTIVE and the
recital proceeded swiftly to its con
clusion.
Accordingly, therefore, before
starting from Tao-fu, Lao Wing Flu
tattooed the symbol upon little
Marian's throat, his purpose being
to place her under the protection
of a seal that would render hei
safe during the long journey.
Then, with the acme of cunning
the ring in it's ivory reliquary was
kept constantly concealed upon
the innocent baby's person until
the little party was we'll within
zone of safety.
When, with the diamonds disap.
pearance, Lao believed my father
and Strang were trying to defraud
bi,,, ~ b;o q haro in tho cyayp ba ra.
solved to retaliate by placing Ma
jor Hector Sylyester's daughter be.
yong the reach of whomever might
be interested in settling her faith
er's estate and finding his heir.
Steve Willetts' flight with the
stolen diamond fell in admirably
with Laos plans and, incidentally
with Steve's. Steve was not adverse
to getting possession of what he
looked upon as another rich prize
especially when Lao was willing tt
defray all expenses of his and the
child's transportation to America
which included a nurse for little
Marian, who was now nearly three
years old.
Then shortly followed Laos owr
political difficulties and his hur
ried flight to America.
your father believed Lao knew
more about the diamonds disap
pearance than anybody else,
Strang added by way of explana
ton, 80 he seized every scrap o
his personal belongings he coult
lay his two hands on. Among then
were two o. the ivory boxes, one
containing the ring, which Peter B
kept; | got the other, which wa.
empty. The diamond later wa!
mailed to you in it."
Several years elapsed before Lac
Wing Flu was able to begin 6
search for Marian, and in the
meantime Steve's crimes had land.
ed him in prison for life. Lao was
unable to discover any trace Of
Lois Willets, Steve's and Sans sis.
ter, who, of course, was now Mrs
James Fox and no longer living in
San Francisco.
And then, by and by, his influ-
ence began to grow and expand
even as it had in China and with
it came increasing opportunities to
pursue his quest.
Tao-fuism had been spreading
not alone among the Pacific Coast
and other Chinese colonies of
but with changing condi-
tions, 1t was once more coming In
to it's own in China. Laos rank
made 1t imperative that he recover
the symbol of his authority, which
my father had seized at the time OF
the others flight from China, and
remove all others that we're being
carelessly left to the disposition of
chance.
But Peter B. Ferris was dead,
and what had become Of the ring?
Occurred then Charley Yen's death
and the trail was indicated to him.
though for a time he hesitated to
approach me, and did not do SO
until obliged to.
With true Oriental patience and
Lao bided his time.
The fact that the diamond never
between the time of its
loss and the meeting between Lao
and Strang at Johore Bahru in No
vember, had prepared the minds
Of each for openness to conviction
regarding the others innocence.
The two then directed their
toward Steve Willets, a
life prisoner In San Quentin, and
the situation from this
point of view. They traced Lois
as his daughter, and from the first
believed her to be Marian.
When Strang wrote Hardwick
him to be cautious about
Lois and when this warning was
followed Immediately by another
from Lao to the effect that Lois
presence might be part of a black
scheme that threatened all
sorts of dire calamities to Kenton-
Hardwick, Meyer Hardwick was
thrown into a panic which was
openly manifested by his blunt dis
missal of the innocent and unsus-
pecting girl.
Strang and Lao became reason
ably certain that Steve had taken
the diamond to California along
with little Marian. Lao immedi-
ately resolved upon starting the
conspiracy which was soon to eff
feet the bandits escape; q degen-
crate and irresponsible Steve will
let's at liberty to pursue his erratic
inclinations, would in time expose
what Steve Willets confined
could SO easily keep concealed.
Strang was In possession Of facts
that Lao Wing Flu did not have. II
Steve had stolen the diamond, the
fact that 1t had not since reap
peared argued that he had hidden
if:if 30, where?
James Strang thought he know,
Through his connection with fse
firm he waA u
formed about Lois and
He came to Aurr
Republic, on