Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-02-06

lying on top OF the baskets. nc M
ed it off and quickly ran his hand
vegetables as IL trying to find some
thing CONCEALED there. In moment
he drew out an earthenware jug ana,
nncorking it. poured some OF its con
tents into a bottle concealed in ms
sleeve and then promptly returned 1t
to fits place beneath the green's In the
basket. without a single human eye
but his own having witnessed the
transaction. or having noted the fact
that the label on the bottle was
marked with a red letter "A.
The closing ceremonies on the even
ing of the Rubbing of the Dragon
well were Of a decidedly different.
though very interesting, nature. At
precisely 3 O'Clock the abbot him.
self appeared. in his most gorgeous
the side of the well-curh. cried out
Bring forth the Holy Rod and the
Scoop and prepare the Flask Of Jade
to receive the Dragon Scum. An
attendant handled him a long slender
rod with a small copper cup at the
med the top of the water in the well
as an English dairymaid would skim
pan of Jersey milk.
What he drew UP from it. however.
was certainly not cream, but an
unotious film with a decided flavor OF
dragon tor HSh), "nlcn was poured
from the Flask of Jade into . num-
Der of tiny bottles and sold ut a
! fabulous price to the devotees. under
the striking title OF dragon Scum-a
certain cure for every mortal ill.,
The same pilgrim who had investi-
gated the cooks basket purohs sed
with a red letter "B." slowed it away
in the opposite sleeve from it's fellow,
remarking to himself as he did so,
+, NOW for the Cave of Mystic Changes
| and the chemical analysis that shall
| establish the identity and prove that
| my theory is correct" SO wang Foo
passed one more night in the village
Inn and in the early morning re-
| turned to Hongkong.
hardly think it will be necessary
70 carry the case beyond this private
nearing, remarked Sir Evington
heecham to the crown advocate and
I w me inspector of police. who with
ang FOO and a. few others were met
IN the office of Government House.
Mr.. Wang's careful and accurate
statements have covered all the
facts. He has exposed the light
mousse cook as the real culprit and
SHOWN US that he stole the govern
ment oil from the carrying cans
while the keepers were at supper and
lrep!aced 1t by cheap native product
| that refused to blend and conse-
! Quently put out the lights The
DOOR OF the sperm oil appealed to
the temple priests to whom he sold it
ana they resold it as Dragon Scum
/ reason to question any further the
stories Of Webb and the boatswain-
they seem to be perfectly true and
| the men are released. The schooner
was undoubtedly looted by coast
pirates and all these tales about a
1 hot rSr
office and the keepers have failed to
be proven. There remains however.
one very strange circumstance vet
TO be explained and which makes the
| charge against the cook either a
very light one Of the theft of a gall
OF a deliberate attempt to wreck a
vessel and loot the cargo. VIII Mr..
Wang explain just how the light
happened to go out on the very night
that the Prince Edward sailed?"
A Ii eyes were turned toward the
great detective as he slowly rose
and prepared to solve this crucial
part Of the mystery. Your excellency
and gentlemen" he said. clearly and
without any hesitation. II am glad
that you have now given me the op.
portunity to introduce the Chinese
solution. which a purely European
mind might never have thought Of
Ny people, as you may have heard,
are very particular about the date OF
any important undertaking in life,
and the calendar of lucky days from
their favorite temple is always con-
suited. The strange thing is that this
applies to evil deeds as well as to
good. and the thief or the villain will
consult his oracle just as much as
Something like southern SPAIN" in
terrupted the governor, where the
assassin asks the blessing of his
divinity upon his efforts, before he
sets out to murder"
Precisely So" continued Wang Foo,
pleased with this Endorsement Of his
words. land In this case the good and
the bad happened to agree upon the
very same date. When Mr.. Yang Loo.
Mr.. Yung Wings partner, was asked
by him to select a lucky day for the
sailing. he remembered the festival Of
his native village and fixed it at the
cook. who consulted the soothsayer in
the temple, naturally received the
same suggestion and 30 they both
fell on the 2sth day of the Harvest
Noon! There is your explanation, gen.
tlemen. and 1t answers every point
except the fact that the light went
out exactly as the schooner rounded
the buoy-which l believe to have
been entirely accidental. and which,
with great number of the other
mysterious things OF life. 1 shall have
to ask you to leave to Tien Ming.
that is, to Chinese fate!'
Mr.. Wang" said Miss Julia Du
Bray. as she rushed up to him on the
evening Of the wedding feast Of Yung
Wing and the. charming Chin chez.
these dear people really owe this ali
to you! The betYothal feast I claimed
as mine. but this 1 yield entirely to
you'll"
II am very happy to have been in
any way the means of bringing this
joyful evening about" Wang Foo
modestly answered, land 1 am only
going to thank you now for the com,
pliment by twisting your popular saw
ing. ANS well that ends we'll into
somewhat more celestial form and
let it be-All's we'll that bubbles
we'll"
Copyright. 1921