The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-09

iBtrate had been bribed 70 release him /
secretly, and that the knife and the |
bloody paper were all part Of we'll
thought-out plan to deceive the public |
Second: Those who insisted that the
accompanying officer had released him
and had bribed or drugged the coolies
while on the way from the yamen to |
the international boundary. Third:
Those who attributed it all to "Tien
Ming" or Heavens Decree" and be- |
leved that the demons of vengeance
had spirited him away to the Court of
70 Wang, the Ruler Of Hades- Revolv-
ing these all over IN his mind. he de-
cided to refer them to his venerable
friend and counsellor the Abbot. for no
one of them was at all satisfactory to
himself. although the Inspector and the
police had practically settled their
minds as to number two and laid tho
guilt at the door OF the officer and the
chair-carriers. whose sudden departure
and flight only served to confirm their
decision.
There was knock at the outer gate
and the voice Of old Chang was heard
calling: "Open from within!" The Alb
/ bot entered and the Venerable Grand
One received him with due solemnity.
'Is the Master within the Palace
! Courts?" he asked.
HE awaits your HignesS' presence
under our cottage roof" was the reply.
| Wang Foo at once descended the little
stairs and after the ceremonial tea and
| pipes they mounted together to THE
Hall Of Quiet Meditation" which was
one Of the euphonious titles Of the Con-
| fusian scholars study.
WELL what progress have we nader
began the ecclesiastic.
Here are the three lines Of public
opinion replied the host. as he handed
over the notebook with his comments.
The visitor drew out from his sleeve
an ancient spectacle-case of shark-skin
and slowly opening a pair Of crystal
goggles adjusted them to his eyes. He
read slowly and carefully and then said,
as he laid the book upon the table. mo
one Of these is correct. No one OF them
satisfies my mind. There is something
underneath all this which neither the
public nor the police know anything
about. You noticed the red cord which
was tied about the knife-handle? How
many brass cash did it have upon it?''
Exactly five"
you have here the upper curtain OF
the sedan. have you not?"
Yes, 1 borrowed 1t from the police
yesterday as you requested"
"Goodi Let me examine it carefully.
You notice the small cash embroidered
in the corners? They are also exactly
FIVE. Now look very carefully at the
red seal in the center of the paper
through which the knife was plunged
do you not see the dim outline OF five
separate cash?"
Wang Foo looked up and his eyes
met the Abbot's- He knew from hi.
tone that they were on the eve of Q
great discovery. Speak on, speak on
Venerable Father" he cried in hi.
eagerness, tell me, pray you. what
secret is in your mind
The Abbot hesitated a moment and
glanced around the room. I'VE are safe
here?"
Absolutely So"
CLOSE the window and draw the cur.
tain. for we know not where human
eyes and ears may Turk"
He took a brush and dipping II in tn,
ink, traced upon the paper before then
the Chinese character for cash. H,
divided the two halves apart with an
other brush Of red, and as he did s,
said: ut is KO. the same sound al
brother, the meaning is clear 1t is tn,
secret order OF the Five Kos o,
Brothers and the five cash constitut,
their mystic sign. This whole thing il
the work Of the Brotherhood and i
only remains for us to find out exactl,
who are in it and why they released
Ling TOXIN
You believe, then, that the sedan 1.
the special property of the Brotherhoo,
and is used for their secret meetings :?
Most certainly L do. It is used Il
= carry the trusted ones to the place O
meeting and there is some way by which
they can enter and leave 1t without de
lection, and"-he added with especia
temphasis-"it 1Cds By that lcdy thai
Ling Took escaped. Go to Headquarter,
tomorrow and examine the base of tn,
chair ana especially the fioor-boardi
and report to me in the evening at tn,
Temple"
1t was late in the evening Of the fol
lowing day when Wang Foo entered tn,
= Abbot's private apartment and reported
d to him the results of his investigation
IT He had found that instead of bein,
n securely nailed on as usual, the entir,
l. hoor-boards were in a solid frame an,
s. that on releasing two wooden pins
l. which could be easily pushed out Will
e. the hand the entire inner chair couI,
Of be removed without touching the res
10 Of the sedan. He explained it all care
ID fully to his host
D Exactly what supposed So II tn
: sedan were placed over a trap-door tn
N chair and its occupant could slip through
N it without disturbing even the curtains
s. could they not?"
k. Venerable Father, It is as you say.
K. The Abbot went on: Now. some
IS where between the Magistrates yamel
Sc and the Bridge of the Silver Cloud, tina
N sedan was stopped and"-he adde
3 most significantly with gesture of hi