41 Lure O Gold 1904

"
"
"
"
The
"
Tai-Fung
to the indignity, for that s what it is, and you know it,"
We ll see about that," said Mr. Nason.
"But
you musn t touch it."
Mustn t I ?
contempt.
repeated the first officer in a tone of
"
No. What do you want to get into it for, anyway ?
"
"That s my business," said the officer, curtly.
But you have no right,"
insisted Trust, in a tone
which I recognized as that of the bluffer.
Looking
at
him closely,
I could hardly believe that he really cared
whether his trunk was opened or not. But he must
needs make this righteous
fuss about it
for reasons of
his own. "The trunk is my private property."
"What of that?" said the officer. "I see you ve
got it pretty well locked up with all this chain and
Hand me the keys, please."
things.
I had been watching Trust s face, but now I looked
at the trunk and saw that the chain, which had been
taken off the night before, was securely fastened about
the trunk again.
"The
keys, sir," demanded Mr. Nason, stretching
out his hand to Trust.
"
I don t see why - "
began Trust.
"
Well, then, I ll tell
you blurted out the why,"
officer,
[131]