Evening star., 1925-06-07

the young man hesitantly explained,
and his voice was edged with embar-
| rassment. Il picked II up three years
ago from a Chink in Nakawn Sawan,
who probably stole it out Of the ruins
at Angkor. At least, it looks Cam
| bodian."
| II don't agree with you, Sammy;
don't agree with you at all" the doctor
answered in so excited voice that
Judy gazed at him with surprise. 1T
doesn't look Buddhistic to me. My
! guess is that it's a flake from some
other religion. perhaps some forgotten
| one. From the workmanship, I'd say
a thousand years old, at least. These
markings on the base look Arabic, but
they're too worn to say for sure. Ill
have DR.. Billings examine it when
he returns from Japan"
THE natives had a great deal OF
awe for it," Sammy Bonifer added.
| DIR. Dill fondled the amber princess
lovingly. I'll give you fifteen hun
dred ticals for it," said he promptly.
I'm sorry, Doctor. I'd like you to
keep it for me, though"
Il never saw such lovely thingS!
Judy said.
What is that fiat piece of jade?"
Sammy Bonifer's face became bril-
liant with an uprush of blood why,
that" he began and halted.
It's a love charm. Judy," DR.. Dill
helped him out. "The Lao and Morn
| girls wear them at the throat so the
man they want will fall in love with
them. Those three little inlaid copper
ideographs stand for chastity, intelli-
| gence and congeniality."
"Will you sell it to me?" Judy cried.
| "Oh, please do,'
Sammy Bonifer wrenched his eyes
from the vivid beauty of her face. He
gathered up the objects and replaced
them in the little casket. He then
closed the lid and laid the casket in
her hands.
please take them. I've had good
fun collecting them. Now I don't
know what to do with them"
| II wouldn't dream Of it!' Judy ex-
| claimed. drawing back and looking
hastily at her father.
| Certainly not!' he snorted. Put a
fair price on the lot, Bonifer. and III
| take them off your hands"
The young man looked hurt. He
shook his head. No: / don't need
money. I made up my mind coming
down that this box and everything in
1t but the amber goddess was to go to
the first American girl / saw. You
are the first American girl I've seen. "
"But-but / can't accept it-can /,
daddy"
|
| course notr'
1T strikes me-" DIR. Dill put in i'm
patiently, that you are spelling your
appetites over a handful OF trash.
Judy my dear, accept the casket in
the spirit in which it is offered and be
thankful to Buddha that you are not
| the second American girl Sammy has
| seen"
DR.. Dill sharply clapped his hands.
| The number one boy glided in.
| SHOW the mai hong to that topside
garden side ROOM he directed briskly.
You'll find clothes there to fit, Sam
my. Come down to the dining room
| when you're ready. We won't wait. y
The trader darted a half frightened.
half triumphant look at Judy and
withdrew.
Handsome scoundrel." Mr.. Van
Dorm commented judicially. Re
markable eyes-like a light shining
| behind them; and was unaware of
| the rapturous sigh with which Judy
confirmed him. You moderntsts
would label him a queer egg, wouldn't
you. Judy?"
No" Judy snapped. He is not a
| queer egg"
The ruby spark of the doctors che
root frightened in the purple dark
ness. He's been in the Lao for five
years Considering that, Sylvester. I
| wouldn't call him queer. This is the
| first time out
another fugitive from justice,
suppose"
| Not a bit of il. Sans a fine,
straight boy. Old New England stock.
| He came out here soon after the war.
| a disgruntled idealist, and begged for
| a post as far from civilization as l
could put him. 1 gave him hill sta
| ton in the Lao. That's why he's so
| healthy Sans really an exceptional
man."
I'm what way?" Judy promptly
asked.
Generally the country gets them;
| but you can see it hasn't got Sammy.
He's levelheaded. And he's a go-get-
| ter
Judy nodded approvingly. ANY one
! can see how real he is"
! II can't" Mr.. Van Dorm muttered.
''I think he's half baked
| X
Judy was nibbling Siamese olive
as big as a plum when Sammy
Bonifer, handsome and distinguished
as any soldier of fortune who ever
donned white duck, entered the din
! ing room, sat down. and smiled shyly
at her across the unf1ickering candles.
| The whitenesS of his new clothing
made his skin seem almost the color
| of mahogany. Against that dnsky
| background his eyes were blazing
blue, his teeth startlingly white. Judy
noticed that his jaw was square and
firm and that the line sweeping down
| from ear to chin was long, an indica-
ton, she had always believed, of cour-
| age. He would look we'll, she decided,
with a small mustache.
| He had evidently overcome some of
his terror of her. but he was still
struggling to be at ease. He twitched
| his bleached eyebrows when she look