San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-10-22
Copyrighf, 1928, NEA Service

his feet and extended welcoming
hand TO a stout, elderly Chinamal
pausing on the threshold.
Monica Whey, delightfully."- at cas-
in cane chair, raised her eyes from
her book to observe the newcomer
His attire seemed to be a studied com
promise between Eastern and Western
fashions, for he wore white tunic
baggy trousers of black silk, and blacl
boots with elastic sides. Across hi
chest stretched gold watch chain
the links of which were peculiarly
massive, and the third finger of hi.
left hand displayed a ring set with ;
large green stone.
You sent for me-" he announced
with a harsh information that, fol
some reason, struck terror into hel
soul.
"That's right" agreed the commits
sioner cordially. Come in and sill
down. This is my sister, Mrs. Whey
Monica. / want TO introduce you Ia
the wealthiest and most respected Chi.
nese gentleman on the island - Mr.
Chai-Hung."
How do you do?" murmured Mo-
MICA sweetly. She was about to rise
when movement of the Oriental's
hand checked her.
| "Please don't move, Mrs. Whey. !
cannot tell you how delighted | ain
TO make your honored acquaintance.
i understand you arrived in Borneo
only a short time ago."
Monica flushed.
Il came from Singapore three days
ago-in the Jelandang," she replied.
1T was a wonderful trip. / was
practically the only passenger in The
| first-class saloon"
ChafHung lowered himself into a
chair.
Practically" lie echoed.
"Why yes. There was only myself
and Mr.. Pennington"
Hewitt looked up sharply.
"Of course you'll stop to tea, Mr..
Chai-Hung?"
The Chinaman shook his head
slowly.
II never take tea, at least, not
what you Western people term tea.
You'll pardon me. l know, if / say
that our national beverage suffered
considerably when it came. into your
hands. You diluted it with milk
and spoiled it with sugar."
The commissioner crossed his legs
and held his cigar case toward mis-
guest.
Chai-Hung helped himself.
Hewitt slapped each of his pockets
in turn, accepted the Chinamans box
of matches. lit Chai-Hung's cigar.
then turned his attention to his own.
With blissful unconcern he dropped
the box into his tunic pocket.
Monica, keenly observant. watched
with amused interest the almost pa
thetic expression with which the
Oriental followed the cool annexation
of his property. A ripple Of laughter
escaped her lips.
'"Didn't you know that?" she dc.
manded. II thought everybody lid.
| don't believe he's ever bought
matches in his life! Jack, give Mr..
Chai-Hung his matches"
The commissioner started guiltily.
"By Jove! I'm frightfully sorry. ]
hadn't the least intention-!" He
handed them back.
The eyes of Chai-Hung positively
twinkled.
81 must remember that" he said.
81 sent for you. Mr.. Chai-Eung."
Hewitt began, "because / am serious
ly in need of help. Your amazing
insight into affairs that concern your
own people has been of great service
TO me in the past: / am hoping that
it will serve to lift the veil from
mystery of which the non-solution
may enforce my resignation of my 10.
sition here"
"As bad as that?"
The commissioner nodded.
Lord Stornaway and his wife
dined here last night and left this
morning for Sandakan.
Il wanted their visit to be devoid
Of unpleasantness. While we were at
dinner. her ladyship remembered she
had left ean unusually valuable lia-
mond pendant on her dressing table.
/ suggested that my sister should
fetch it. She got there just in time
to see Lady Stornaway's diamonds
disappearing through the open win
dow"
He paused and glanced at his sis.
ter.
She began speaking very quickly.
AS | opened the door. current OF
air met me. sending something flut-
tering to the floor. stopped to re-
cover it and a sound from the win
dow attracted my attention. 1t was
open and, through the aperture, l
saw a long, brown arm, its fingers
passing rapidly along the wooden sur
face until they closed over the case
that held the pendant. A second later
and both arm and pendant had dis-
appeared. believe l screamed, Tor
the next moment Jack and Lord
Stornaway followed. l felt the room
going round me-. The next thing /
remember is finding myself in tins
chair, still holding the piece OF card
that l had picked up before saw
| the ARM"
She shuddered and Chai-Hung rose
! to his feet.
"a distinctly unpleasant expert:
ence," he commented suavely. AID
the piece of card-what was it like,
Mrs. Viney:"
at was as long as my index fin
GER" broke in the commissioner, with
rounded corners. On one side it was
| black, on the other yellow-with seven
black dots, four of them above FAINT
dividing line that ran halfway-and
three below"
| Monica, leaning over the arm OF
her chair. wrinkled her forehead. She
could have sworn that the habitually
unruffled Chai-Hung had started vio'
lentlv.
AN ordinary Chinese playing
card" he suggested. q,
The commissioner shook his head
at was possibly intended to !oos
like one. but the coloring was differ
ent. The background is. l believe
invariably white. This was yellow,
am inclined TO attach a good dea
of Importance to this card. Mr.. Chat
Hung. / fancy this theft was rc
nnrnr,,nr thnft the nernetratOr no or