The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-01-22
THE JADE FROG
BY ISABEL FROST.

He had only seen her once before
at Haskell's studio, around Christmas
time. But she was a girl then. SIen-
der, cOrsetless with a graceful, curv-
ing body. Haskell had told him brief
" of Miss Verney's career, and it had
interested him immensely.
Her father was a 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 in
an old temple in the interior until the
trouble was over. 1t was not until
two years ago that she came to Amer
lea.
Diggs 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
intently at something on the mantel-
piece. CHANGING around, he saw the
little jade frog. 1t was about two
and half inches long, and quite as
wide, a puffy, arrogant frog, utterly
unnatural and grotesque.
" hOI 10 1t 1C dShcu, ScStlS lldI
the girl really looked pale.
Il don't know exactly" she an
swered in a low voice. "It is all too
strange and horrible. 1 wonder whom
that frog belongs to-
"Tll ask Haskell" he said.
Haskell shook his head doubtfully
when Diggs found him.
You've got me, old man. I sublet
these rooms when l got back from
France, and that thing was here. It's
Chinese, isn't it? There are some won
derful embroideries in that pearl in
laid cabinet in the corner. They prob
ably all belong to Doctor Yoy, the for
mer tenant"
He carried the information he had
cleaned back to Leonie,. She said lit
tie, but asked him to call a taxi for
her, as she was leaving early.
81 can't explain tonight" she said
as they parted. "Come tomorrow at
eleven and I'll tell you all know"
The morning mail brought a brief
letter from Haskell.
"Wire from Doctor Yoy announces
arrival in Frisco Monday. He re-
quests me to place the little jade frog
in safety deposit vault without tell
ing anyone. Thought I'd let you
know"
Diggs called him up on the tele-
phone, asking him to wait until copy
of the inscription could be secured !;
then he got in touch over the wire with
certain civil engineer friend and col
lege classmate who had spent some
time in China. Wallace was perfectly
willing to help him out, and though it
made him a little late for his appoint
ment with Leonie, he took the time to
carry the frog down to Wallace's Of
flee. After about an hours study the
latter gave him the translation. 1t
ran:
"Who so Seeketh vengeance on his
enemies shall ask the crystal ball for
aid. Spirit of the sacred Hu Eva, 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, was sure of it, last night"
she said. MIR. Diggs, you must help
me. I know this doctor. He was a
false friend of my fathers. 1t was he
who bore witness against him, and be-
trayed him into the hands of the Box
ers. He has had me watched ever
since left China, but never dreamed
that the jade frog was in his pos
session"
He took the frog out of his pocket
and set it on the table in front of
them. Leonie leaned forward and
looked at the little crystal ball.
As she reached for it, her hand was I'M
steady, and it fell from her clasp to
the floor with q crash. She gave
sharp cry of alarm, and knelt down
among the fragments. Diggs was be-
fore her. The fall had loosened a
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.
ST think the sacred Hu Eva has Civ
en- up his secret" said Diggs. Lets
call taxi and run down to Wallace"
mo, no, l can read it myself" ex-
claimed Leonie, bending excitedly over
the paper. After a moment she lifted
her face. "Oh, this is too good to be
true" she cried. 1T tells how the
treasures of the murdered Christians
for hundreds of years past have been
buried in the tombs under the temple.
No wonder Doctor YOy wanted the
buried treasure to further the plans
of the revOlutionists."
But how did it come in his posses
sionP' asked Diggs quickly.
Lao San was the only one who
knew of the chest. He probably muir
dered her. Oh. if you only knew Of
the tragedies hidden in the gardens in
old China. l can never thank you
enough for helping me. If it hadn't
been for you would never have found
it out. Just think what it means TO
me to be able to turn this treasure
over. in my fathers name, to the
aa11Sa tbaf he died for a."