The Argosy, Vol. 76, No. 3 — page 103: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE ¥HING THAT WAS CAESAR’S. monsoon should blow away the plague when they headed up again on their course. “T’d like to stay out the full ten days,” said Innes when Oakes asked him what day they would head up for the coast. “ But we can’t stay out any longer and that’s a fact. The chief reports that one of his water conden- sers has broken down beyond any chance of repair and we'll run short on water if she stays out any longer— No, sir—we’ve got to run in an’ take our chance of the quarantine—They aren’t much on it along the coast this year anyway.” So they turned the Atlanta’s nose northwest and finally ran into their. place off the Shanghai Bund. CHAPTER III. “ But why in the world should you leave us here? Isn’t the good ship Atlanta good enough for you to go to Taku in?” asked Oakes. Miss Downs had packed her trunk and was about to request a quarter- master to call a sampan when Oakes asked the question. “You see, Miss Downs,” he went on, “ both Hemingway and I are go- ing to Taku. The Atlanta has to touch there to get a permit from the Chinese Government as well as from the Japanese Government to take Chinese coolies into Korea, so why not go with us to Taku? From there on we will see that you reach Peking in safety. “T really do not think that you need worry about the rest of the trip. We have surely paid our debt to Fortune in the death of the Chinese bonge. What do you. say? Will you go with us? You will not be able to get a steamer out of Shanghai anyway for several days—How do I know ?— I see that there’s nothing in here now but a French Messageries, and she doesn’t run any further north. You'll save all kinds of time. Do.” ~ 573 “Are you sure you will not regret it if I say ‘ Yes’? ”’: queried the girl smilingly. She had grown to like the two men exceedingly. Of the two, Oakes seemed the more dependable but there was a certain fascination about Hemingway that she could not explain. Always pleasant and courteous in his demeanor, thoughtful and consid- erate in his actions, he had made what might well have proved a tiresome trip a veritable pleasure jaunt for the girl and she turned to him instinctive- ly. Qakes noticed this anid bit his lip with yexation as he repeated his question. “Very well, then. Since you are so kind as to allow me, I shall certainly take advantage of your good nature and—stick by the Atlanta—What is that, Mr. Hemingway? ” It was a package that he was hold- ing out to her. “Just a little farewell gift that I had brought up on deck to give you before I knew that you are to stay with us as far as Taku. Rather thought you'd like a bit of a keep- sake, you know. It’s not much, of course. It’s the silver box that the old bonze said caused the trouble. Would you care for it?” “Care for it? Of course I would. But I mustn’t take it. You value it yourself, do you not?” “It is simply an interesting relic to me,” said Hemingway thoughtfully. “ Shall I acknowledge it? I am just a little bit superstitious about the thing, I fear. Will you think the worse of me for that, I wonder? Really, Miss Downs, I will appreciate it if you will take the thing.” “Til tell you what I will do,” she said laughingly. “I will go with you to the wonder house, as the old priest called it, and we will find out what we can about the box and its history.” “Tf any one in the East can tell us anything about it, it will be Dr. Emlen, the curator of the museum,” said Hemingway. “He is probably COMmiicloo S CO@