CHAPTER XVI--THE MEDALLION MYSTERY
"Hullo, Darrin; come over here just a moment. I want you to seesomething that is rather unusual, even in Japan."
Two young men, who had just entered the American Club in Tokio, turnedwhen this hail to one of them was heard.
The hail came from a group in which sat four Americans, one Englishmanand three young Japanese. The latter three were in the uniforms oflieutenants of the Emperor's infantry.
"Come over with me, Dan," urged Dave in a low voice, as Dalzell heldback slightly.
"I wasn't invited," murmured Dan.
"You simpleton, that's because Carter doesn't know you. I can introduceyou, and that will set you straight."
"How are you, Carter?" asked Dave, as he went straight up to the youngman who had hailed him and held out his hand. "I wish to introduce myfriend, Mr. Dalzell, same service and same ship." In turn Dave and Danwere presented to all in the group.
The American naval officers wore blue civilian suits. Carter belongedto the diplomatic service, and was now stationed in Tokio. Dave hadfirst met him in Washington. One of the other Americans was in businessin Tokio, and the other two were tourists.
"Mr. Katura was showing us something so wonderful," Carter explained,"that I asked his permission to call you over to see it. Will you showthat wonderful medallion again, Katura?"
The little lieutenant, who appeared to be very shy and diffident,flushed slightly as he bowed. Then, from an inner pocket, he drew out asmall lacquer box, from which he took out and passed to Dave a filigreegold plate on which appeared the delicately tinted face of a beautifulJapanese woman.
"I never saw anything so wonderfully exquisite," gasped Darrin, ingenuine admiration. "I didn't know that such beautiful work could bedone."
"No one in Japan could do it to-day," spoke up another of the Japaneseofficers, Toruma by name. "That medallion comes from the most brilliantperiod of Satsuma art."
In that face the paler flesh tints had been laid, with wonderfulminuteness of detail, from flawless mother of pearl. The hair, whichstood out in life-like accuracy, had been worked in some highlypolished blue-black stone. The teeth, as they showed in the parted lipsof that tiny miniature, were real seed pearls, worked in the exactshapes of the teeth represented.
The most striking feature of all was the beautiful red lips of the tinymouth. This red had been laid in fine rubies, not showing separately,but blended delightfully.
For fully two minutes Darrin gazed at the miniature face, fascinatedwith the beauty of the thing. Dan, standing by, admired it also.
"Now, try the effect of this magnifying glass on the face," suggestedCarter.
"It would be almost wicked to hold a magnifying glass over such atreasure," protested Ensign Dave, recoiling slightly, as though from aprofanation of an art treasure.
"Try the glass; don't be afraid," said Carter.
So Dave took the glass, focusing it over the wonderful medallion. A cryof wonder escaped the young ensign's lips.
"Can you find the slightest appearance of roughness under the glass?"asked the American diplomat.
"I cannot," Dave confessed.
"Think of the wonderful work of the artist," suggested Toruma, "who, inan age when magnifying glasses were unknown, could join all the partsof that inlaying so perfectly."
"It is wonderful," murmured Dave. "The artist's eyes must have been askeen as any magnifying lens."
For some minutes more Darrin examined the medallion, both with theglass and without. The Japanese, smiling and affable, stood enjoyinghis very evident pleasure. Their hearts warmed to a foreigner who couldfeel such real appreciation of the marvels of the ancient art of theircountry.
"Here, I am afraid that you had better take this from me," beggedDarrin laughingly, at last. "If it is much longer in my possession Ishall be under a temptation to commit grand larceny."
Smiling, Lieutenant Katura held out his hand to receive the treasure.
"It has been in our family for at least six hundred years," heexplained proudly, though without any sign of boastfulness. "It belongsto my mother."
"I should think you would be afraid of its being stolen," suggestedDave.
"Ordinarily it is kept in the Okugawa Bank, in our family vault,"explained the little lieutenant. "Once Mr. Carter saw the medallion, atour home, and to-day he begged me to bring it here to show to some ofhis friends. I am glad to have been honored with an opportunity to giveyou pleasure by the sight of it."
"But surely you don't carry such a treasure loosely in your pocket likethat," Dave almost protested.
"Why not?" smiled Katura.
"Are you not afraid of its being stolen?" Darrin went on.
"Not likely," declared the little lieutenant. "I am able to defendmyself, and I shall have my friends with me on my trip back to theOkugawa Bank."
"But pickpockets might brush against you in a crowd, and take it fromyou," Dave hinted.
"They will not have that chance," smiled Katura. "From here to the bankmy friends and I will go in jinrikishas."
As the tiffin (luncheon) hour drew near, the club rooms began to fill.There were, perhaps, a hundred newcomers.
"You'll come to our table, Darrin?" asked Mr. Carter.
"I thank you, and under any other circumstances I would," Daveanswered. "My wife will be expecting me at the hotel. She and I havenot had many opportunities to lunch together since I entered theservice. So I shall have to be going along soon."
"You'll stay, Dalzell?" asked the diplomat.
Dan decided that he would. The Japanese officers were invited toremain, but replied that they had duties claiming their attention.
So Dave left with Lieutenants Katura, Toruma and Hata. In the maincorridor these departing ones found themselves somewhat delayed, owingto the press of the crowd about one of the coat-rooms.
At last they got through. A Japanese attendant, saluting the threeofficers of his own country, ran nimbly to the end of the porch,striking his hands together and summoning three jinrikisha men, whoraced up to the steps.
"Farewell, for an hour or two, at least, American brother in arms,"cried Toruma, the most talkative of the three Japanese. Friendlysalutes were exchanged, and the Japanese trio were rushed away.
Dave's jinrikisha came around. In appearance it was an exaggeratedbaby-carriage, with shafts, between which a stout Japanese coolieplayed the part of a horse.
These curious little street vehicles are comfortable, and the seasonedcoolie in the shafts often displays great speed. The slowest he isallowed to travel on short journeys, when he has a fare in his 'riksha,is five miles an hour.
"To the Imperial Hotel," said Dave briefly. That was all that wasneeded. The human "horse" in the shafts would do the rest.
In a few minutes Dave arrived at the big, handsome Imperial Hotel. Thishostelry, famous among travelers in the East, is an imposing whitepile, built originally by the Japanese government, that travelers mightbe sure of having a stopping place as comfortable as any in the landsfrom which they came. Bit by bit the management bought over thegovernment's interest in the hotel, until now it is privately owned,though the pride of the Japanese is such that the government stillsupervises the hotel, and sees to it that the high standard is kept up.
As Dave Darrin entered he passed into one of the parlors at theentrance. Belle rose and came forward, a glad little cry on her lips.
"How thankful I am that I thought of coming to Yokohama!" she cried."It was but a step to Tokio. And you are punctual."
"It is one of the virtues--or vices--of an officer and a gentleman,"Darrin laughed, as he bent over to kiss her.
"And now are you ready for tiffin, dear?"
"I shall be as soon as I have made my toilet," Dave replied. "May Ihave your indulgence that long?"
"Certainly."
Going below Ensign Darrin washed off the dust of his forenoon'swanderings, smoothed back his hair, and with a final look in the glassdrew on his coat and started above.
Several other officers from the "Katahdin" were in either Yokohama orTokio. The former city, only a few miles from the latter, is the portof entry for the Japanese capital. In the harbor at Yokohama theAmerican flagship now lay.
Up to the present Darrin had devoted most of his waking time toescorting Belle through the bewildering Japanese shops, to Uyeno Park,to the Japanese theatres, to the famous temples, and all the othersights that attract tourists.
But this forenoon Darrin had spent in going about Tokio, meeting a fewof the people whom he had known in other parts of the world. There wasLieutenant Anstey, one of Dick Prescott's West Point chums, now on dutyat the American Embassy; there were naval officers, and two or threemen in the diplomatic service. Dave had even called at the JapaneseNavy Department to shake hands with two Japanese officers whom he hadmet in Europe. These latter two were absent, and Dave, leaving cards,had promised to return in the afternoon.
"You are going to be busy this afternoon?" Belle asked as they sat attiffin.
"I shall have to make two or three calls, but I shall come back to youas early as I can."
Two or three times it was on the tip of Darrin's tongue to tell hiswife of the wonderful medallion he had seen that morning. In each casesome remark or question of Mrs. Darrin's had prevented.
In the meantime, Lieutenant Katura, on entering the Okugawa Bank, hadmade an amazing and frightful discovery. The lacquer box, containingthe priceless Satsuma medallion, was not in any of his pockets! Theyoung lieutenant's grief was most frantic. In vain Toruma and Hatatried to comfort him.
An hour after Ensign Darrin had left the Imperial Hotel, on his way tothe Navy Department and elsewhere, Belle Darrin, going up to theirrooms, found a little package and a note lying on a table in the middleof their parlor.
Scenting some loving surprise from her husband, Belle, womanlike,opened the package first, disclosing a small lacquer box. In the boxshe found the same medallion that had so fascinated her young husbandthat forenoon.
"Oh, oh, oh!" cried the delighted girl, in as many notes of happiness.
Then, still eager, she laid down the medallion and tore open theenvelope. On a sheet of heavy paper she read:
"Dear Mrs. Darrin: This comes to your hand from one who is a stranger to you, but who is a most devoted friend of your husband. He has admired the pretty trinket which comes with this note, and I know that he had it in mind that he would dearly love to hand it to you. I am taking the liberty, as your husband's friend, of pleasing Ensign Darrin, the dearest fellow in the world. But I am going to ask of you a very unusual favor. Fearing that your husband might have the extreme delicacy to insist upon returning this bauble, I am going to ask you not to mention receipt of it until to-morrow. By that time the sender, as your husband will know, will be too far away for the immediate return of this trifle. By the time that he can communicate with me again I trust that he will have agreed to give me the great pleasure of making him happier through the knowledge that his wife possesses a treasure that I know he wished to secure for her.
With every best assurance, (Signed) X. Polemkin."
This strange note dropped from Belle's fingers to the table. There wasa clouded look in her eyes. She did not even turn for another glance atthe priceless medallion.
"Secrets from my husband?" she murmured, pouting. "I don't believe Ican do a thing like that. No; it wouldn't be right. As soon as Davereturns I must show him this medallion and the note."
Perhaps, in her heart, Belle hoped that Dave would tell her thatcircumstances were such that she might properly keep the gift sostrangely sent. Be that as it might, Belle Darrin had no notion ofkeeping any secret that might mean a wound to her gallant younghusband's trusting heart.
"I shall see what Dave says," murmured Belle, as she turned away fromthe table.
Dave Darrin on the Asiatic Station Page 17