window, Cissy did not
for a moment comprehend him; then, strangely enough, his act of rude
courtesy for the first time awakened her to the full sense of the
situation. This house, her father's house, was no longer hers! If her
father should NEVER return, she wanted nothing from it, NOTHING! She
gripped her beating heart with the little hand she had clinched so
valiantly a moment ago. Suddenly her hand dropped. Some one had glided
noiselessly into the back room; a figure in a blue blouse; a Chinaman,
their house servant, Ah Fe. He cast a furtive glance at the stranger on
the veranda, and then beckoned to her stealthily. She came towards him
wonderingly, when he suddenly whipped a note from his sleeve, and with
a dexterous movement slipped it into her fingers. She tore it open. A
single glance showed her a small key inclosed in a line of her father's
handwriting. Drawing quickly back into the corner, she read as follows:
"If this reaches you in time, take from the second drawer of my desk an
envelope marked 'Private Contracts' and give it to the bearer." There
was neither signature nor address.

Putting her finger to her lips, she cast a quick glance at the absorbed
figure on the veranda and stepped before the desk. She fitted the key
to the drawer and opened it rapidly but noiselessly. There lay
the envelope, and among other ticketed papers a small roll of
greenbacks--such as her father often kept there. It was HIS money; she
did not scruple to take it with the envelope. Handing the latter to
the Chinaman, who made it instantly disappear up his sleeve like a
conjurer's act, she signed him to follow her into the hall.

"Who gave you that note, Ah Fe?" she whispered breathlessly.

"Chinaman."

"Who gave it to him?"

"Chinaman."

"And to HIM?"

"Nollee Chinaman."

"Another Chinaman?"

"Yes--heap Chinaman--allee same as gang."

"You mean it passed from one Chinaman's hand to another?"

"Allee same."

"Why didn't the first Chinaman who got it bring it here?"

"S'pose Mellikan man want to catchee lettel. He spotty Chinaman. He
follee Chinaman. Chinaman passee lettel nex' Chinaman. He no get.
Mellikan man no habe got. Sabe?"

"Then this package will go back the same way?"

"Allee same."

"And who will YOU give it to now?"

"Allee same man blingee me lettel. Hop Li--who makee washee."

An idea here struck Cissy which made her heart jump and her cheeks
flame. Ah Fe gazed at her with an infantile smile of