Argosy and Railroad Man's Magazine, Vol. 107 No. 3 — page 87: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

HE SWALLOWS GOLD. “If he did not,” said Li Mow Gee, pour- ing himself another thimble-cup of wine, “I should be a most wretched and unhappy man!”’ III. A CHINESE candlestick is meant to hold, upon a long, upright prong, a candle paint- ed with very soft red wax, so soft that the finger cannot touch the paint without blurring and marring it. Otherwise, it is like Occidental candlesticks in general respects. Reginald Carefrew, who had plenty of money in his pocket, but who had left Singapore in something of a real hurry, walked into the Benevolent Brethren Bazaar in search of silks and pongees to take home to Europe. The bazaar, which bore no other name, confined itself almost exclusively to such goods. In the front of the shop, which was upon one of the half-Dutch streets overlooking the harbor, were strewn about a few objects of brass, bronze, and the cheap champlevé cloisonné which are made for tourists. Almost as he entered the place, however, the vigilant eye of Carefrew discovered a very different object, placed in a niche which concealed it from view of the street. It was no less than a candlestick of three arms, a most unusual thing; also, it was made chiefly from jade, highly carven, while the upright prongs and the trimmings were of brass. Altogether, a most extraor- dinary and wonderful candlestick—priced at-nine florins. Carefrew, naturally, thought that his eyes lied to him about the price. With ex- citement twitching at his nerves, he walked back and bought several bolts of silk, or- dering them sent to him at the residence of Huber Davis. Then, casually, he inquired about the candlestick of the smiling clerk. It was, he learned, a worthless object, left here for sale long years ago by some now forgotten Hindu native, or maybe Arab; one could not be certain where years had elapsed and the insignificance of the object was great, but of course the books would show, should it be desired that the affair be looked into. 429 Naturally, Carefrew did not desire the affair looked into, because some one was then sure to discover that the candlestick was real jade. There was no doubt about that fact, and he was too shrewd to be deceived. A passing wonder did enter his mind as to how yellow men, especially men of T’ang from the middle provinces, could have supposed the candlestick to be worth- less; but, after all, mistakes happen to all men—and other men profit by them. The candlestick was not a wonder of the world, but was worth a few hundred dollars at least. So Carefrew laid down his nine florins, and carried his purchase away with him, wrapped in paper. Carefrew found the bungalow deserted except for the native boys; the -siesta hour was over, and Huber Davis had departed to his office. After a critical inspection of his purchase, resulting in a complete vin- dication of his former judgment, Carefrew set the triple candlestick on the dining- table and swung off to Chinatown again. It was the most natural desire in the world to want to complete that princely candlestick with appropriate candles; par- ticularly as Carefrew was now on his way to Europe and would have little further chance to get hold of the real articles. Being down-town, Carefrew dropped into the office of Huber Davis, and found a letter which had come in that morning by the coast steamer from Batavia. The letter was from Ruth, confirming her passage on the next fast Royal Mail boat. Upon the fourth day from this she would be at Sabang, having taken passage as far as- Colombo for herself and Carefrew, whose loose business ends she -was arranging. “IT suppose,” inquired Huber Davis in his cool, semi-interested fashion, “ you did not take her into your confidence regarding your late financial ventures?” ‘Why in hell would I want to bother her about finances?” retorted Carefrew, with his bold-eyed look. stand such things.” ‘“* Damned good thing she doesn’t, per- haps,” reflected the other. ‘‘ Well, see you later! By the way, here’s the receipt for that thirty thousand you laid in my safe.” ‘She doesn’t under- - NOO Co S Co mM