The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-30

and we must be silent and Sagacious
as the sages say before fixing our sus-
picion upon anyone. You understand
me and promise to obey?"
The humblest crystal ladder bows
to his venerable fathers wishes. May
the King of Hades. who Furnishes all
disloyal ones on earth, grind me to ten
thousand grains Of powder in his NOR
tar IL either hand or tongue disobeys
thy august commands" was the Secre-
tary's pledge to secrecy.
Within three days after the discovery
Of the theft, word had been quietly
conveyed to Wang Foo that His Ex-
cellency wished to consult him on
matter of the utmost Importance and
would be glad to have him come UP to
Canton at his earliest opportunity. AS
1t was necessary to avoid even the
slightest suspicion. could he not come
in some suitable disguise? A sentence
Of nine words in which the fifth and
sixth words could indicate the particu-
lar dress would be expected as an an
swer.
Wang Foo. who appreciated this
native mode Of conveying a secret cor
respondence, mailed the next day to the
Viceroy a slip OF red paper, without
any heading or signature, and contain
ing merely these words:
'Tow Shu Tux Yiu King ShiW Tou
TIE MGnc".
CThe scholar with his spectacles re-
pairs the defects Of nature)
His Excellency duly received It.
marked mentally the fifth and sixth
words, "apectacles-repairs". and knew
that ere long the most skilful detector
of crime in all the Empire would knock
at his door in the disguise Of vendor
| ~ 81 ~ 10 ~
Tell the second gate-keeper," he said
to his personal servant as he arose
from his morning rice, that II q travS
cling optician should happen to come
along today. have a pair or two Of
spectacles that need attention"
/ 1T is already done as the Great
Man says" was the reply: I'VE humbly
announce that the repairer of glasses
is sitting in the outer court"
Bring him to my inner apartment
without 6elayi"
THE Great Man speaketh well-it is
already done according to his august
wishes"
81 can At your ExceIlency's glasses
much better in the darkened room than
in the strong light of day." remarked
the optician. as he motioned towards
the inner apartment. and, gathering up
his boxes and his tools, he followed the
Viceroy into the secret chamber.
When all the coast was clear, Wang
Foo and Chang the Viceroy sat down
quietly over their tea and pipes to dis
cuss the mysterious vanishing Of the
Coral Button of the Ming Dynasty. All
the circumstances of the loss and its
discovery were gone over and the names
Of all the possible culprits were softly
whispered between them, as also the
different means that might have been
used to dispose of it. The detective
asked his usual careful and leading
questions and made copious notes in
his little leather-covered book. One
important thing was not mentioned un-
til the end Of the interview, namely:
the Coral Button was in two pieces, Mt
ting so perfectly together that the joint
was never noticed and held in place by
a delicate and almost invisible wire OF
gold-the imitation one Of glass was
simply one solid piece. Who had taker
them? How had be been able to do 1t
What disposition had he made of them
These were the three upperrnost CUES
tons in Wang Foo's mind as he sat or
the forward deck of the returning
steamer and saw the net OF suspicion
and guilt drawing closer and closer
around the form of Crystal Ladder
the Secretary.
Good morning. Mr.. Westinghouse.
said a Chinese caller as the hall-bo,
ushered him into the office at the Con
sulate.
"Ah! Good morning. Mr.. Wang.
replied the Consul as he rose to gree
his visitor. What new and interestin:
discovery have you got to report Thu
morning? You know have come I,
look for something startling now ever!
time I see you coming down the patti
to the Office door"
You fiatter me. sir. I have moth
ing especial to report on, but
e have come to ask a very peculiar an
o very special favor OF you and
( looking significantly in the direction c
y the Consular residence-"of your goo
Is wife. SIR
e well. what may it be? Always de
r, lighted to accommodate you when I car
= you know"
t. 1T is simply this: I have come {
e ask you to allow me TO purchase Of 70
} the silver cigarette case which Mr.
d Westinghouse gave you for Christmas
: You want to have it 90 with your
e then, to complete the set. do your"
Is "Oh, not at all. sir; I shouldn't pre-
ID sumo to make the request for a purel
al personal reason or for any selfish motiy
IF whatever. As a matter OF fact, I al
e not making the request for myself 8
e all, but for an old and very dear frien
e from whom the articles were stole
ii and who is willing TO pay almost an
10 price to have them back again"
e We'll, Of course, Mr.. Wang, Meth,
he Mrs. Westinghouse nor wish to be II
" receivers or purchasers Of stolen PROF.
N erty. and II you are quite positive
m to the facts. why here is the case nov
Il. and you can take it away with you (,
ID exactly what We gave for II. I presun
&c you will add your own to It so as
Re ing the moment he stopped at Il
lg kitchen sink TO wash his hands, ef