Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-01-08

secretary letting him out the side
gate. He carried bundle; also a
| short and heavy club, which he flung
| away"
HAS the club been found?" queried
Benson frowningly.
mot yet, l regret to say" was the
soft response.
The secretary was examined this
, afternoon and denied his guilt until
he was brought to know the infinite
mercy of the old Buddha-then he
confessed. He aided Mr.. Hanecy in
| the murder"
by the way" said Benson, I'D like
to ask that secretary a few ques-
tions."
Justice is swift" smirked the
Chang-chun blandly. HE was exc
| cuted at sunset. The evidence is clear
and without flaw. is 1t not?"
Benson assented, COMPRISING his
| lips in restraint. Perhaps Benson.
who was no fool. suspected that all
| this evidence of witnesses was re-
markedly complete. He must have
realized that Wu's secretary had been
tortured into a confession and then
summarily executed with a really as
! tonishing swiftness Of justice. But
he assented.
you did not see WI this after
noon" inquired the mandarin.
mo" Benson flushed. HE refused
to have me admitted"
A slight detail. this seven a
humiliating detail! Benson never
dreamed how important it was.
IF Mr.. Hanecy is apprehended."
went on the mandarin, slipping his
! whisky, ''you think the evidence will
warrant my sending him to Chung.k king
for trial before his consul?"
"Of course"
"Unless duty is clear" said Benson.
II will witness the evidence. Besides,
America will never bother you"
Eyes. Every one knows that our
sister republic bothers no one. II
Hanecy were a British subject. OF
course, it would be very different.
Now, I have sealed the villa Of the
unfortunate WI LANG. and his ef-
fects have become the property OF the
state. In few days we will go over
this collection, and certain ooJects
may be sold to you.
'aThe ring was not found?' inquired
Benson. did you get a description
of it -
The mandarin smiled blandly. On
his finger was a gold circlet adorned
with a green jasper, In which was
cut a lizard. It glowedf DULY against
the cup of aubergine porcelain.
1.-THE ring was described by the sec
retary," he answered. TT was a ring
of bronze, in which was an oval red
Jade inscribed with the seal of Ling
I'll, Undoubtedly 1t will be found on
Mr.. Hanecy, and I shall turn 1t over
to you as a gift Of friendship"
Benson, who had never seen the
ambassadors ring-since he had not
been admitted to Wu's villa-nodded
his, satisfaction and poured more
Scotch into the cup Of aubergine.
The paper screen Of shutter that
closed the windows behind tho man
darin's back moved very slightly. so
slightly that neither man observed
the movement.
'This is truly liquor blessed by
the virtues O1 uedNSA. SoAO sAio SSA
low man, with a suave significance.
IF there were more OF 1t in the
world-well, It would be worth
much!'
, "As much" queried Benson. who
] had craftily introduced this usque-
I baugh to the taste Of his host, "-as
much as the treasure Of WI Liang's
coIlection?"
seTRULY, It would bear great infiu.
ence, my friend! Is 1t not writ
ten of the great master in the Ch'un
Ch'iu that honor is more worthy than
much profit?"
'If you will pardon my Absence -
and Benson rose, smiling. II will look
through my. boxes. Possibly could
find a bottle or two Of this liquor
which might be worthy your accept
4nce."
The mandarin acquiesced eagerly
! enough. Benson left the room-his
boxes were stored in another Of the
rear chambers:
Holding up against candle that
delicate shell Of aubergine porcelain.
the mandarin smiled, The ring was
very pretty on his finger; also, it was
tremendously valuable. Far above
such value, however. this suave OH
cial ranked the beautiful fashion in
which he was tricking this astute
white man-tricking him to his very
face!