bureau, of the Astor House, which the 75 manager had turned over to them for the moment. “Remember, the arm of the British Government is long.” 75 Ling Foo shrugged. “Being an honest man, I do not fear. She would have given it to me but for that officer. He knew something about jade.” Cunningham nodded. “Conceivably he would.” He jingled the gold in his pocket. “How do you purpose to get the beads?” “Go to the lady’s room late. I left the jade with her. Alone, she will not resist. I saw it in her eyes. But it will be difficult.” “I see. For you to get into the hotel late. I’ll arrange that with the manager. You will be coming to my room. What floor is her room on?” “The third.” “The same as mine. That falls nicely. Return then at half after ten. You will come to my room for the gold.” Ling Foo saw his thousand shrink to the original five hundred, but there was no help for it. At half after ten he knocked on the panel of Jane’s door and waited. He knocked again; still the summons was not answered. The third assault was emphatic. Ling Foo heard footsteps, but 76 behind him. He turned. The meddling young officer was striding toward him. 76 “What are you doing here?” Dennison demanded. His own appearance in the corridor at this hour might have been subjectable to inquiry. He had left Jane at nine. He had seen her to the lift. Perhaps he had walked the Bund for an hour or two, but worriedly. The thought of the arrival in Shanghai of his father and the rogue Cunningham convinced him that some queer game was afoot, and that it hinged somehow upon those beads. There was no sighing in regard to his father, for the past that was. An astonishing but purely accidental meeting; to-morrow each would go his separate way again. All that was a closed page. He had long ago readjusted his outlook on the basis that reconciliation was hopeless. A sudden impulse spun him on his heel, and he hurried back to the Astor. The hour did not matter, or
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