The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1921-04-15
The RED SERPENT
BY KATE EDMoNDs
100 0P0P0P 0P0Pc


threads Of silver In his dark hair and
an anxious look in his eye.
He took Estelle's small hands In his
big ones and looked down into her ex
pectant face. Failed. DEAR" was ali
he said.
"Failed?" the color drained out OF
her cheeks. "You poor old DEAR" she
added, patting his broad shoulder
"We will begin over again. Just think
how young we arer"
listen, dearest of girls" he sat
down and drew her to a seat beside
him, 81 had excellent chances out
there-SeniOr clerk In the DetsOn bank
with fine chance Of being sent to
the New York house. And I lost the
chance. This is the way 1t happened :
] took a short vacation last summer
Just few miles up the Huang-pu riv-
er-good fishing and did my own cook
ing. Along came q rich Chinese mer-
chant with his train of servants
somehow he managed to tumble into
the river and would have been drown
ed, only fished him out. His terrified
servants scattered and by the time
they got back the old man had been
dried out by yours truly, but I somehow
took a beastly cOld-cOuldn't get rid
Of 1t. Had pneumonia, and have been
in the hospital for mOnths--with the
result that I'll have to live in the
open air for several years and-what's
thu kA Nf hA fnr
mel" His stony face turned away
from her timid caresses.
"And the man whose life you saved?
Did he know the result to your? she
asked after a while.
He nodded. "Came to the hospital
to see me and made a long speech of
thanks. Also recited poem he had
composed on my heroism." He smiled
wanly and the girl was alarmed at the
change in him. He put q hand in his
ped In soft tissue paper. "The old beg
gar gave me this as keepsake. 1t Is
just bauble; let me put 1t on your
wrist" He opened a lacquered box
and took from 1t bracelet elaborate
ly carved from red coral. 1t was in
the form of serpent. and the open
mouth and the deadly forked tongue
were delicately carved with the fairy
touch of master carver. The clasp
was of solid gold and there were Chi
nese ideographs scatched upon it.
1T is quite wonderful, Donald. Did
he tell you the meaning Of these char
acters?"
Lawrence shrugged his shoulders.
Something about seven years-and
gratitude. skipped all the rest.
was pretty bitter about the future"
"You are not sorry you saved his
life, are you DOnald?"
"Of course not" he declared, and she
knew that he spoke the truth. There
was an echo of the old confident ring
in his tone. "But Estelle-we've got
to go away into the mountains some
where-a dry climate, and work my
way out again. l may be an old man
by the time earn enough to support
us BOTH"
'Then I shall go with you and we
will work together" she said, and he
could not turn her from this purpose.
SO at last he gave in to her pleading
and they were married and went into
the Adirondacks together. Lawrence
took charge Of the palatial scamp" of
q millionaire and there were many
months Of idleness when he bemoaned
their exile. "YOu should be nearer
your friends-nearer civilization" he
often said. "YOu have buried yourself
alive with mer'
She smiled bravely. "If you were
In my place wouldn't you count the
balance on your slider"
He could not be gloomy after that
and she could see that he was getting
better. Another year might restore
him to full health. One day he came
upon her sewing on the doorstep In
the pale spring sunshine. "Why do you |
always wear the red serpent?" he |
asked looking down at the bracelet.
He took 1t and sat down beside her.
The gold clasp was loose and sud- |
denly came Off in his fingers. He |
looked stupidity at the exposed end of |
the bauble-the bracelet was hollow
coral tube and from 1t poured q little
stream of blazing diamonds, seven in |
all. Further search revealed soft paper
with Chinese characters brushed upon
It. Lawrence slowly read the hidden
message: THE gods have decreed that
am to live seven years longer
you have given me back these preci- |
sus seven years and give to you sew
I'm precious stones, one for each year
Of the life you saved"
"You are sure that there is no mis-
take about it2" asked Estelle, still
that this good fortune
rould be theirs.
ave will write to the old fellow"
declared Donald. and he went in and
sat down ut his desk. Months after
ward came an answer from the Chi
nese merchant-a big box covered
with strange Chinese characters, and
his. when opened, displayed q beauti-
ful Chinese rug and rich embroideries.
"FOr the bride across the sea-"