The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-02-01

| in Foo Chow to which Mr.. Wells had
| letters from here and have them in
struct him to take the steamer direct
from there to Shanghai. He must on
no account return to Annoy. His pres
| ence here would thwart all my plans
and be almost certain to start up an
| inclpient anti-foreign riot. The sooner
ne is out of sight, the sooner will this
unfortunate purchase of his be for.
gotten As for the rest, leave every.
thlng to me. No matter what rumors
or reports come to You of the officials
treatment of the compradore. I will
bring him back to you myself, safe and
well on the thirtieth of the month. If
you attepmt to interfere in any way
through the Consulate or otherwise
1 Will not be responsible for his lifes
There was something in his voice
ana manner that inspired confidence
and trust and the merchant pledged
| himself to comply with his every re.
quest
On the morning OF the last day Of
the month, true to his promise, Wang
200 appeaed at the office OF waring
q Co, and by his side smiling and
Well walked the familiar form OF
Hoo-Sam- Lok, the compradore. Amid
| the rafting noise of packs Of fire.
| crackers they were welcomed into the
hong and all sat down to the joyous
| feast OF welcome which the staff of
native employees and servants had
provided.
We'll. Eoo.v said Mr.. watsford. az
ne extended his hand, the old firm 10
certainly glad to see you back, Here's
| to your health and happiness and may
1 epress the hope that the whole gen.
Grafton of globe-trotters and tiger
hunters will hereafter leave Annoy
alone; for they have certainly made us
trouble enough"
There's just one thing I would like
to ask you. Mr.. Wang" said the Con-
sui as he babe the detective goodbye
On the returning steamer. land that
is: how did that fellow ever pass
through that ordeal and live? My
! chair-coolies tell me that he was
'snaked' and 'cangued' and 'bcmbooed'
they saw some of it themselves in
the Tao-tars courtyard-and any one
OF those is enough. the Lord knows, to
finish an ordinary mortal"
Wang smiled and answered, ION,
that Is simple enough when one knows
the inner methods and secrets. You
see the copper snakes around his
arms which were supposed to be filed
with boiling water were really cold"
But my coolies saw the steam com.
ing out of them?"
They thought they did. but It was
only tobacco smoking in the spouts."
But the circular scars upon his
arms?'
"A little and red blue paint made
that look very natural"
And the wooden cangue or collar of
hundred pounds ?"
The wood was all carefully hollow
| ed out and the collar was really no
| more uncomfortable than some of the
| stiff linen ones you foreigners wear"
We'll. how about the sixty blows of
| the hctors' bamboo? They say that
sometimes half that number will Grip
pie a man for life?"
That depends upon the weight of
| the bamboo. Some are natural wood;
some are laden with lead-these are
| the deadly kind-and others are SO
| carefully split open along their length
| that though they sound like heavy
weights they are really no more pain
| full than tappings with the lightest
cane"
THE whole thing. then, was really a
farce from beginning to end. wasn't
| it
That depends upon the point of
| view. 1t was necessary for the popu-
lace to be convinced of the culprit's
innocence and this could only be done
| by testing him in the way they UNDER
| stood They would never have taken
the Tao-tai's verdict. so he had to
convince them. and he did it,
One question more-the lacquer
cabinet; what of that? Did Spotty
really steal his ancestral cabinet and
sell it to the tourist? You know,
| have my doubts"
mo. he did not really steal It He
borrowed it. intending to return It I'm
the morning. but the poor chap was
| drowned by the sinking of his sam
pam"
And was that proved?"
Yes, the boat-man told the story at
| one of the tea-stands on the river
| bank"
What was 1t then that was packed
| with the baggage on the boat?"
"Oh, that was an imitation. skillfully
substituted for the original in the
| cabin"
Then If Spotty had lived, he would
| probably have never been found out ?"
Probably not. for he would have re.
placed the cabinet in the morning"
And what would you say was the
| real value OF the treasure which Mr..
| Wells took away and for which he paid
FIVE hundred dollars?"
1T would be hard to tell should
say five dollars. possibly ten; who
knows? He is happy with his curio.
Let US be happy also and leave well
| enough alone"