Evening star., 1921-02-27

the local authorities to settle and
would not have had any reference to
Hongkong (seven miles away had
some one not started the story-which
masters sedan, and the messenger
from the temple was told that Wang
Foo would himself convey the answer
to the abbot. In less than an hours
time the Man of Mystery and the
Venerable Ecclesiastic were closeteo
together and discussing the contents
of the letter. The officers of the
colonial government and the general
public were alike ignorant OF thelr
meeting. and yet upon the decision
and action of these two quiet men
depended the peace and security OF
tactful diplomacy on the part OF anna
teur diplomats has headed OF many
an international outbreak.
1--WE must find out at once four
things" said Wang Foo. as the in
terview drew to a close and he re-
viewed the notes in the little leatnel
book.
Yueh Shan (Pale Moon Hills) and
find out whether the relic OF the
Sacred Tooth really disappeared, OF
whether it was merely a cunning de-
vice on the part of the prieSts-Wltn
an ulterior object in view.
"Second-We must ascertain ex-
actly who the foreigners were that
visited the temple on that particular
day, and then.
"Third-We must manage to get out
of them a confession as to what they
really did do. if anything. Did they
actually buy the Tooth. or did they
carry it away with them for joke
intending to return it, or did they
hide it, or what?
"Fourth-We must-and this will be
the most difficult OF alive must get GET
started the rumor in the tea house
here"
LAO sien sang swo tex hao. ming
tien hwei" (-The elder-born speak
eth well. May he return upon the
hrishtening day ie;; tomoErow1 IN ,5o .snot, vas
as he bade his famous host good
night.
Now, as a matter of fact. the four
~ members of the Merry Brothers
touring party had actually gone on a
trip to the Pale Moon Mills Gas Wang
Foo easily ascertained from an exam
ination OF the hotel register) on the
very day that the Buddha's Tooth dis
appeared, so the second question in
the above mentioned list was an
swered at once, and it only remained
for him to be made perfectly sure
that they had not tampered in any
way with the relic.
In the absence, on weeks vacation
and a visit to old friends in Macao. of
the redoubtable Smallkins. the trip
had been engineered and carried out
by Ching Ming, the head hotel boy,
who already had great reputation
as a popular guide for tourists to
Hongkong and vicinity.
More better you go Palee Moon
Hille nessetee (next) Fliday." he kept
urging them again and again, with
transportation and his personal es-
cort. "E,ulopean man velly good look
see, one piece Buddha Tooth. long
time no can see cause hav' lockee dat
temple side: dis one day can see.
Plenty pliestee him cally dat street
side all samee lidee sedan-chair-
'Or. in other words. our oriental
friend desires to announce to US that
on Friday next. at the Pale Moon
Hills. there will be the annual festi-
val when the great relic of the Bud
dha's oToth. which is usually con-
cealed in the inner shrine. will be
carried in open procession through
the streets. He also impresses upon us
the fact that it will be an unusual op-
portuity for US to gaze upon this
famous treasure and he will be de-
lighted to escort us. in the absence of
Mr.. Smallkins." kindly interrupted
Miss Mosher. who was already begin
ming to be very pround Of her ability
to interpret pidgin English into the
language OF civilized beings.
We'll, as / shall have pretty well
done UP this town by Friday" said
Col. Champion. when the question was
presented to him, Il suppose l might
as we'll go along. otherwise Smallkins
viii be sure to make the rest of the
trip miserable for me by telling me
morning. noon and night. that 1 have
missed the great sight of my life"
And l need hardly say that OF
course you will be with us. Mr.. Apple
ton. in spite of the fair attractions at
the tennis party that afternoon?
chimed in Mrs. Fairbanks.
oh. sure. you can count on me TO
stand BY the ship, every time an
swered Freddie; "in fact, you know.
think these English tennis rackets
as our friend at the consulate calls
them. must be regular bores from
what they tell me. And I am sure
that fifteen miles on horseback will
be awful-ly jolly. don't-cher-know." {"
Imitating as best he could the high
Anglican accent)
"Oh, We won't have to ride the
whole fifteen. Ching Ming says he