H. Bedford-Jones

“ This sounded like Crayton, who acted for a number of millionaire clients in Japan, where almost any price will be paid for Chinese works of art that are rare and authentic.
"The Nagasaki Herald refused to publish some of my verses," said Toptit reflectively. "Ever since I have been prejudiced against Japan. Well, this screen is wonderful! I can imagine old Chang Mow sitting on a bridge and sketching this scene—the old syce propping one foot on a gnarled root and delivering his Samuel Weller philosophy, and the horse dozing nearby." ”

“ I must thank you for the tip—that screen is a wonder!"
"Good! Old Wing will sell it to you?"
"Not yet" Toptit smiled wryly. "Crayton is after it. And there seems to be trouble in the home. Now, old man, I'm here for help."
"I'm darned glad!" exclaimed the yellow man beamingly. "The more help I can give, the gladder I'll be. Looks to me as though the Japs had old Wing in a bad mess—perhaps your friend Crayton is behind it. Regular bully, isn't he?"
"Rather," and Toptit smiled. "You mentioned the mandarin's daughter in your letter——"
The other nodded soberly. "She disappeared yesterday." ”

“ Every agent and dealer in China was on the qui vive to get something from Wing's treasures.
You must understand that there are various classes of dealers. Some ship imitation junk to interior decorators, who value only color; others supply wholesale bazaar dealers; the aristocrats of the profession seek really artistic things, museum pieces. Under this last head fell Crayton, who was a business man, and Toptit, who was a poet. ”

“ You don't realize Crayton's ability, I'm afraid. He's a brute to have for an enemy. What's that about his wife in Chicago?"
Toptit regarded me, and there was a peculiar shadow in his wide gray eyes.
"Nothing—for publication," he said curtly. "What'd you do in my place?"
"Leave China tomorrow," I answered with sober emphasis. "I mean it! Crayton is wealthy. He is agent for several big dealers back home, also for a number of millionaire Jap clients. He sends out more antiques and museum pieces than the rest of you chaps combined. He has influence."
"Ah!" said Toptit with an inane grin. ”

“ Toptit did not go on the club on the hill, nor did he turn to the right toward the consulates. Instead, he turned to the left and entered the crowded business quarter. Though there are no distinct groupings of foreigners in Fuchow, the Japanese largely predominate south of the custom house. With them, too, congregate many natives who are Japanese subjects—and hence immune to Chinese law. In China it is very handy to be a Japanese subject. ”

“ If I might bore you with the fragment——"
"My dear sir, the pleasure will be tremendous," averred the mandarin with sincerity. "By all means."
"Very well," said Toptit, opening the notebook. "We must imagine Chang Mow at work, you know. ”

“ It was like pulling a tooth.
Wing had once been a diplomat in London, and was an educated gentleman. with cultivated appreciation of occidental things, combined with passionate love for the artistry of his own people. ”

“ They went into the corridor, passed the dead man, and came to the head of the stairs. From here they had a view of the entrance below. Two Japanese were standing there, shouting something to the outside air. They saw Toptit and Miss Tsing and hurriedly decamped. An instant later the door was burst in, and two Japanese soldiers appeared, a frock-coated man behind them. ”