Pueblo chieftain., 1921-04-10

dropped 1t in the bottom of tho pot
and replaced the fern and its roots
over It, Then Moll sprinkled the dry
earth with water. The deed was done.
the Mth.
While matters of this sort had been
occupying the culprits the search for
them had gone on fruitlessly for al
most a fortnight.
One fine morning Chang Lo received
a message as he stood in the entrance
OF his shop. 1t told him the inspect
or wished his presence at headquar-
ters.
This command held nothing terri
Tying even under the present ctrcum-
stances, as he and Inspector McManus
were the best OF friends. The clever.
shrewd- headed Irishman appreciated
the philosophy OF Chang 10 and re-
spected him quite as much As any
white man OF his acquaintance both
for the honesty OF his opinions and
his knowledge of precious 1ades OF
which McMahus was making collec-
ton.
| But the inspectors mind was moi
on cmeralds or milky jades this morn
ing. He was worried and angry n
his failure to unravel the Spencer
mystery and restore the necklace.
Spencer was perfectly furious at
what he called the irefficicncy Of the
police and, ns he was very strong po-
litically, his recent threat over the tel
ephone to do something himself might
mean being transferred or some other
calamity !or McManus.
He cut short Chang's elaborate po-
lite salutJltions and jumped right to
the point. ar..
"Lo.' he finished. II have a GOOD
hunch this thing was planned right
In Chinatown, and as you know every
breath that IS drawn there. will you
and can you help mo In this mat
teri"
my friend intoncd the sage in
his most dignified manner. In what
manner can l In my insisnificance be
Of help to you. the Great Onc-I who
am only poor philosopher and mcr-
chant OF triflinE curios?''
That's Just the point" retorted tho
inspector rather sharply. III this keeps
on l shall not be tho Great one much
longer-I shall be degraded much as
they degrade failures in your native
land They will cut off my head. as
far as any future advancement is con-
oerned. IL cannot produce that neck
lace. And II you call me your friend.
remember 1 shall lose much II not all
that have-and l am no philoso-
phcr Ike you TO bear It,"
Chang Lo wrapped his arms in the
wide sleeves Of his ceremonial coat
and thought deeply.
III l am n philosopher tneu HSteu
to my philosophy" he said. "1t is
better that two guilty should escape"
says Confucius, my master, than
that one innocent should suffer"
"Mcaning-?" prompted McManux-
Madden was my friend. too" an
swcred Chang Lo, land yet you sent
him most unJustly to prison"
YES / know you always said So,
muttered tho inspector nervously
playing with paper cutter. and to
tell YOU tho truth somcthing-ah-
cr--turnod up since. which made me
think perhaps you were right. But
as you would say, I must save my
face. | can't have that case rcopcned
after the positive way that l acted
Anyway. Madden is going to get out
very soon with commuted sentence
on account of good behavior-so II you
feel you can blame me on that score
lot me know what I can do to make
up"
Tho answer OF Chang Lo took the
inspectors breath away. "A life saved
for "A life ruined" quoth the aged phil
osopher. II ask only the safety OF tho
child of the man you sent to prison and
the young man who was with hcr-if
| return the necklace. Get this assur-
ancc from Spencer and give mo your
word of honor which, my friend, in all
our dealings you have never broken
to me. and tho jewels are yours.
"You know whore they arel" cried
tho inspector--thcn realizing hts help
lcssncss in the face OF oriental calm,
he became thoughtful. "As far as Spen-
Ger goes that's n pipe, and as far as
the Madden kid goes, well she has no
record so far. and because j made a
mistake about her father. I'll give her
another chance II you'll keep prooa-
tionary eye on her. But In Heavens
name why the other man, whom for
tho present we can't seem to identify?"
Chang Lo rose from his chair and
bowed with grci. dignity. "Iu order.
q my friend. that the dccrces Of the
gods may be accomplished-pcrh
hut-as you say In your langunEc-nny-
way We will Eivc them a chancc!"
you never found that sporting phil
osophy in Confuclus," laughed the in
spcctor. putting his hand into that OF