The Adair County news., 1921-11-15

"You Are Not Hating Me Because You
Are Californian and Japanese"
He Said.
friendlineSs. They belonged in his un-
wrinkled face, they were altogether
neutral. Yet they seemed covertly to
suggest to Rainey that they might, on
occasion, flame with wrath or hatred,
or show the burning light of high in
telligence.
"Tamada," he queried, "you think
am your friend, that l would rather
help you than otherwisef"
II think that-yesT answered the
japanese without hesitation and with
out servility. You are not hating me
because you are Californian and
japanese" he said. Il know that"
There was little time to spare. and
there was likelihood of interruption,
so Rainey plunged into his subject
without Introduction.
AThey promised you share OF this
treasure, Tamada?" he asked.
''They promised me that, yes"
"They do not intend to give 1t to
you. You may have guessed this, but
1 am sure of it. I, too, am promised
some of the gold, but they do not in
tend to give it to me. They will offer
Mr.. Lund only a small portion of what
was originally arranged, the same
amount as the rest Of them are to get.
He will refuse that tomorrow, when
a meeting is to be called. Then there
will be trouble. shall stand with
Mr., Lund. If we win you will get
your share, whether you help us or
not. If you help us l can promise you
at least twice the amount you were
to get"
"How can 1 help you? If this is to
be talked over at a meeting | shall
not be allowed to be present. do not
think it will help you for me to join
l do not see how you can win. If you
can show some way out will do what
/ can. But l like to see way out"
He mollified the bald acknowledg,
ment of his neutrality with a little
bow and hissing-in breath. Back OF
it all was a will that was infiexible
thought Rainey.
'If we lose, you lose" he went OF
lamely. He had come on a FOOLS er,
rand, he decided.
Il think shall get my money" said
Tamada. The Oriental gave a swift
cDiIp +bot hold no ninth No f,iap6
ship, rather, a sardOnic appreciation
of the situation, without rancor.
''They are very foolish" he said
''They make me cook, they eat what
serve. They say Tamada is very goOC
cook. But he is Jap, d-n him. Sup
pose l put something in that food
that they would net taste? l could
send them all to sleep. 1 could Kill
them. l could do it so they never
suspect, but would go to their beds
and never get up from them. 1t would
be very easy. Yet they trust me-"
The statement was so matter-Of-facr
that Rainey felt his horror gathel
slowly as he stared at the impassivt
Oriental.
A thought suddenly flashed ovel
him. Was Tamada in league witt
Carlsen? Had he mistaken his man
! Did Carlson plan to have Tamada un
dertake a wholesale poisoning to sc
cure the gold himself, providing thu
drugs? Was it a friendly hint from
the japanese?
When Rainey's watch was endet
and he was closeted with Lund in thu
latter's cabin, the giant prompt!
quashed all discussion of Tamada'
attitude.
'Pn put no trust in any slant-eyed
yellow-skinned rice-eater," he an
nounced emphatically. 'They'r
against us, race an religion. The,
want California, or rather, the Pacifi
coast, an they think they're goin' t.
git it. They're no more akin to u
than a snake is a cousin to an eel
They're not of our breed, an you can
mix the two. I'll have no deal wit
Tamada, beyond gettin' dope out o
him. If he helped US it 'ud be only t
further his own ends. Not that h
can do much-unless-"
He lowered his voice to a husk
whisper
There's one thing may slip in ou
gold-gettin', matey," he said-"th
japanese. doubt IL this island is Sc
down on American or British charts