“My Dear Bentham: Am seizing the first opportunity since my return from China to tell you I have succeeded in getting hold of the secret records of the organization known as the ‘Yellow Tong.’ That the tong means mischief you will see by the papers that I am sending you by safe hands. You will not get them for a day or two, perhaps, because I am fairly certain there are agents of the Yellow Tong in New York now who are ready to go to any extreme to get those records. In fact, I have been told that Sang Tu himself is in the city—doubtless in disguise. As you know, he is the head of the tong, and as unscrupulous as he is able. When these records come to you, keep them safely until you see me. No one knows that I intend to transfer them to your custody, and because of that I feel they will be safe with you until it shall come time to transfer them to Washington. Until I see you, for a long talk, I remain, as ever, your faithful friend,
Andrew Anderton.”
That was all. It was evident to Nick Carter that the writer feared to trust too much to paper and ink, and that he had a great deal more to tell which he meant to communicate by word of mouth.
“The records have not come, I suppose?” asked Nick.
“Not yet. Moreover, I don’t know how he is sending them. I shall be glad to get them, for he has told me just enough in this letter to assure me that the rec[Pg 38]ords will be full of important information, both to the government and to science. As for Sang Tu, I never saw that individual. I am told he belongs to a powerful Manchu family, and that, before China became a republic, he exercised great influence at Peking. Now that my friend Anderton is dead, I suppose I shall have to take the responsibility of handling these records.”
“And the danger,” said Nick gravely.
“You mean from the Yellow Tong?”
“Yes, and particularly from Sang Tu. By the way, do you happen to know a certain Professor Tolo, a Japanese?”
“I never met him, but I have heard of him. He has not been in New York long. I hear that he is a very able man, and that his knowledge of the whole Orient is regarded as wonderful. Do you know anything about him?”
“I have seen him,” replied Nick carelessly. “Well, I won’t stay any longer, professor. I knew that these records were not to be found in Mr. Anderton’s library, and I also had heard that he brought them with him.”