The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-03-11


pie. He found this locked.
Unfortunately for the door. II Wa
made in California after the preva-
lent bungalow style. At the nrst
impact Of Mr.. Casey's shoulder
split up the center and ripped OH
its hinges to boot. Looking into
the dimness Of the heavily perfumed
temple chamber, Mr.. Casey observed
the senseless figure Of Enid Spar
hawk dropped in her chair-and
across the imperial ice-chest lay the
unhappy Swami, motionless.
Mr.. Casey did not wait for ex-
plantations. At this critical instant
he heard the steps Of the two as
sistants Swamis at the back door.
He found himself standing near the
Lord Budha. and within reach OF his
hand was a smaller Lord Buddha,
carved from soapstone. Swami Lal
had obtained this Lord Buddha
from Jap carver at Long Beach.
who worked in the open air for
tourists.
Taking the image by the neck with
n satisfied grunt at the way It fitted
into his grip. Mr.. Casey retraced his
steps. Tie came upon the assistant
Swamis in the kitchen. It speaks
we'll for his presence Of mind that
Mr.. CASEY made no attempt to PEN
citrate the thickly wrapped turbans.
nut smote for the chin. Lord Budd-
ha smashed at the first blow, and
Mr.. Casey did the rest with his fist.
Ten minutes later, Mr.. Casey was
sitting at the telephone In the
Swar is study.
Get a photographer here" he
was saying briskly. and send down
! Smith 10 cover the case. Give'em
time TO get here before ringing in
! the cops. see? Yes. the Swami Is
dead as a squirrel. Nope. the lady's
all right-they gave her knockout
drops OF some kind. Chloral, seems
! like. No telling what killed the
Swami. Not Il mark on him. Looks
like a class A mystery yarn. chief.'
That was exactly what 1t proved
10 be. upon later developments. The
mysterious death of Swami Chan
undra l.al still remains a riddle In
the lilcs Of the l.. A police depart
ment.
AS for the assistant Swans, they
got exactly what they deserved. AS
for Mr.. Casey, he got 4 whackinG
good story out OF it-and. as you
have probably inferred. he also got
something still better in the long
run. What would story be with
out the love interest?
Having inherited much worldly
possessions. as aforesaid, Mr.. Folsom
closed his humble law Office and
embarked upon travel.
In the course OF his peregrina-
tons, he came 10 San Francisco.
Having diligently studied the places
Of interest which he must not
neglect TO see and to admire. he
presently turned his steps to Post
streetA and sought out a certain
store Which he had been credibly
informed held many marvellous OBJ
Jccts or ar; and curiosity and his
tore interest.
Mr.. FolsCm was not married, and
had no i:!tentiun of getting married.
1t may be clrlritably dismissed az
a mystery therefore, why he pur-
, chased lupis lazuli necklace for
/, ninety dollars; this sale. however.
| established him as a customer OF
the store, and one of the proprietors
gladly took him in hand for a look
aruu!.d.
In an upper room, the two gentle.
men came upon a space decorated
Very gaudily with huge figures Of
cloIsonne. Thomas Folsom listened
; with u knowing air 10 talk Of
; Ch'icn Lung cUlorings and Kang
Ilsl enamels and Yang Lao vases.
, All of a sudden. however, he came
t, an abrupt halt and pointed with
/ his stick to a large rectangular OBJ
, jcct in one corner.
: by George." he exclaimed
, whats that hing. can you tell
me-"
His CiccrOnc expanded visibly.
All. it takes Il discerning eye to
pick out the real rarities!" he an
sWcrCd. That's an ice-chest."
} oh. IS it," Mr.. Folsom recognized
the object at once, but said moth
ing of prior ownership. What's
the price"
: We haven't priced this piece"
was the apologetic response. There
Is only one other that can touch
: it--a inner specimen. too-and II .
: in the British Museum. This Is an
. imperial ice cheSt-a block OF Ice
was placed inside and allowed to
cvaporatc, thus cooling the room.
YOU see. This particular piece 10
extremely unusual. however. 1t 10
Ming, and the four character mark
places it in the reign OF Hung Chin,
about the year 1900. 1t Is not only
an early cloisonne, however. but has
another interest
S"lOu'd Lever guess what those
tubes were for!" said the merchant
IN hushed voice. Nor would ~
= except that III cleaning the piece We
examined II thoroughly. AS tho 10
melted. you observe. the chest would
I'LL with water. When the chest was
half full. naturally the water would
reach the top Of these tubes. and
enter them"
Il understand" nodded Mr.. Fol-
som. wisely.
And what was in the tubesF
continued the other. We'll. I can
only tell you wha: we found in
,hcm-a prccipi,ate Of poison! Yes,
sir. There are a number OF crystals.
as YOU no doubt know. which emit
poisonous vapor upon contact with
water We believe that this chest
Was used as means OF killing on
persons obnoxious to the reignin1