The Washington times., 1935-06-01


for each using, could not pos
sibly have given this uniform
effect, if the entries had been
made on different days. These
must be the books prepared for
Burnham and left with the
thought that they would fool
any other stupid foreigner,
causing him to consume days
in the city trying to collect the
accounts.
There is but one thing to
do" said Stephen. Make use
of the deeds we hold as Sc
curity. Sell the land"
There's better way" Ho
went on. According to the
good custom of my country,
the family Of Lin, If they are
worthy, hold themselves re-
Sponsible."
It was late afternoon when
Ho learned where the family
of Lin lived. Thirty Ii away in
the country. Only ten miles,
but the chair coolies could not
make it before dark. Stephen
felt he could not wait until
morning, so they started.
Darkness had long since
fallen when they reached the
great farmhouse and Ho
knocked on the outer gate. In.
side there was barking of dogs
and a murmur of consultation.
Then, at Hos second knocking,
a voice called through the
heavy timberS of the gate.
What man is Without"
But even when Ho gave his
name, there was no slipping
back of the bolts. But at last
the gate was opened a crack;
and when the man within saw
it was indeed the great Ho,
known throughout the prov
ince, the halves Of the gate
were pushed back on their
wooden hinges.
A very old man, leaning on
a stick, beckoned them to come
inside. Walking ahead Of them
he led them across a court and
into a dimly lighted room,
where two old men with thin
white boards sat in armchairs,
one on each side of a table.
The long negotiations that
went forward through the
night seemed a kind of dream.
At first only the two old men
took part in the conference,
then other men, younger, but
all in blue homespun, stepped
out of the shadows of what
must have been an inner court,
and entered into the discussion.
Family Affair
The ancient who opened the
gate joined in the talk, whether
as a member Of the clan, or
simply as a privileged servant,
Stephen did not know. But he
knew that the imperious old
woman who finally hobbled in,
seating herself in one Of the
group, was the most powerful
person in the room.
For a time she sat without
speaking, leaning forward, her
gnarled yellow hands resting on
the back Of the wooden bird that
made the top of her cane. Then
all at once, when Ho was telling
them that the account books
were counterfeited, she raised
her head, and, in voice vigor-
Gus and shrill, harangued the
men of the household.
One of the old men spoke
gravely now. IF the Keepers of
Light will give us three days Of
time, we will bring to them the
full sum Of our indebtedness"
When a few details had been
arranged, Ho rose to go, saying,
Until then we hold the deeds"
Until then the great Ho may
hold our Deeds" they echoed.
Stephen was passing through
the great gate, following Ho,
when he turned with the sud-
den motion of the Westerner,
realizing he had left behind him
his stout stick, which he always
carried when he was in the
country.
And there in the room which
they had just left, in a streak
of gray light where a shutter
had been taken away from the
opposite wall, in the midst of
the assembled clan, stood the
Scapegrace himself, Lin, the
agetn of the company.
Ito Be Continued