The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-06-10

A"ti"hh"t WV "f Wv ~ Ni"tttAH
the boat fast
clark SAW that tho launch wac
shut on from Wow OF the river. that
q was hidden where mo- pHInE eyes
mirht zee,
For tho nrf time he became
ware ~ thr presence OF another. "a
chinese gilL scarcely more than "a
child with larEo, ni eyes, aud face
white Rs marble,
She looked bt him Hke a fright
cnei deer ana then d1rtoi away The
sight 90 her, like "a creature risen
from thC dead disturbed him
Go on. said the younger
man. roughly. Aud then. in CHI.
nrsc. he uttered an imprrCaiion.
lie was aware CLARK had seen
The Girl.
clark picked his way over "a
slightly worn trail that uF agFed
nto the tangled growth % Toe delta
land
The roof ~ a shack and OF other
shacks appeared ono hy one ana in
a partial clearing be saw small
settlement n appeared devoid of
lie.
60 In there" commanded Tho
young Chinese. pointing to the open
door OF "a rDmsuacklg one andu.ha
story house with several doors. but
no windowa,
Clark obeycd without com,
mrut lie was at the mercy of
these men, He went La and found
q room crowded with chairs and
tables and on thc tables half
touched food over which sWarius
Of flies craWicd
Weakly CLARK tat down, The half
ught uf coming day pierced tho
shadows ot tho dirty room,
40 rlbucci nerouHly al tho RING
upon hls finger ana then az his
watch. The passing hours were cut
ting short his iire soon the men
would come and would release him
frum this bond % death. sc, upon
him while he slept there on the sand
at Moclipa
Minutes passed. minutes that
dragged like hours. aud then
four men. Chinese. filed Into the
room an were young and well
dressed Ia the fashion OF mid.
summer.
CLARK looked NJ them IN amaze.
meut. They were buak and business.
like ono Of them closed tho door
behind them Another lighted an
oil lamp.
Now. said tho last man 10 enter
tho room. coming close and locking
into Clnrk'a faee Now. let's get
down 70 business"
Clark felt no vas very much alone
and very much az their merry just
uow-drcp In the rcccssca 81 the
Columbia river island junElea. hidden
from tho world u white men. wear.
lng upon hls finger a hand OF death.
unfortunately for us all. you
learned tho secret Of tho drag.
on's eye thru the late and unia.
mcntrd brother" continued tho
spokesman.
Clark knew he referred 20 the
"house hoy" one % the council ~
five az the time who had showed
him how 10 work tho dragons eye
In tho tong house and who had paid
Tor ais trrachcry with his NE.
Clark spoke IT'S voice was firm.
He realized he was on trial for his
life.
What I learned that night
was not thru any curiosity on
my part or with intent 10 do any
OF you gentlemen harm" no
said. cit was TO save tho life
Of my fIanccc"
The Chinese lighted clrnrtt ana
glanced 1T His fellows. CLARK con.
tihued.
DO you think for a moment I
would reveal the secret OF the
dragons eye 20 any living soul I
am thru with 81. wish TO blot out
Of my life all tho things that hap.
pened that might"
Clark held out hiH hand.
II beg OF you gentlemen 10 take
this rink of my finger Trust mo
and let me SO
Drops Of Precipitation stood on his
brow. He knew ho stared death In
the face. Anxiously he searched the
fnces Of the men who were 20 decide
hls fate. fio knew. somehow. from
The manner in which they watched
him, that they had not quite made
up their minds. that within nil prob.
ability one, or more Of them might
~. Just as satisfied IL he did not
leave this place.
Another Of tho Chinese spoke:
What shall We do with this fcl.
iow7" he asked. lie is here. Now
we must decide And In the mean.
time. Mr. Clark. II you will he 20
Kind ns to wet your finger and pull
Off the ring yourself you will sayo
us the bother"
Clark arose, dumbfounded.
But nm old Chinaman on The
mountain told me no one could
remove IL but you, that II was
poison ring. deadly poison
he cried.
The Chinese grinncd.
The ring Is harmless" he anld.
THAT poison story was Just a little
idea OF thine. wanted you TO be
sure 10 come
Continued in the next issur)
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