“Nothing, except that the man who owns them demands that I recover them.”
“And who is this man?”
“I don’t know his name.”
“That won’t pass. You tell me who he is or I’ll turn you over to the police.” 81
“I am an honest man,” replied Ling Foo with dignity. He appealed to the manager.
“I have known Ling Foo a long time, sir. He is perfectly honest.”
Ling Foo nodded. He knew that this recommendation, honest as it was, would have weight with the American.
“But you have some appointment with this man. Where is that to be? I demand to know that.”
Ling Foo saw his jade vanish along with his rainbow gold. His early suppositions had been correct.
Those were devil beads, and evil befell any who touched them.