"Too much bird's-nest soup an' too many sharks' fins for supper, I guess," scowled the man, rearranging himself for slumber. "Pah!"
Tsan Ti peered across the aisle. The seat occupied by his servant, Sam Wing, was vacant. Sam Wing, the mandarin thought, must have become thirsty and gone for a drink.
The mandarin heaved a choppy sigh of relief. How real a dream sometimes is! Now, if he——
His hand wandered instinctively to the breast of his blouse, and he felt for the little lump contained in the bag suspended from his throat.
He could not feel it. Pulling himself together sharply Tsan Ti used both hands in his groping examination.
Then he caught his breath and sat as though dazed. A slow horror ran through his body. His blood seemed congealing about his heart, and his yellow face grew hueless.
The red jewel was gone! The front of his blouse was open!
Then, after his blunted wits had recovered their wonted sharpness, Tsan Ti leaped for the aisle with another yell.
"Say," cried the man in the forward seat, lifting himself wrathfully, "I'll have the brakeman kick you off the train if you don't hush! By jing!"