Biff! biff!—two kicks, two howls, and two Chinamen went flying toward the gutter. “Let’s retire before we get into further trouble,” suggested Frank laughingly. “This is getting altogether too swift for me.” They turned to enter the hotel, but the Chinamen had picked themselves out of the gutter, and came running across the wide walk. The two Yale men turned, expecting a furious attack; but, instead, the Celestials threw themselves on their knees and bowed down at the feet of Frank, jabbering strangely. “Well, of all the queer things that ever happened, this takes the first money!” gasped Starbright, staring in astonishment at the prostrated Chinamen. The heathens were bowing low, now and then pressing their foreheads to the cold flagging of the walk, while they chanted in a strange, chattering monotone. “I’m in it!” laughed Frank. “I think I must be a Joss.” “Oh, gleat Melican mlan,” sobbed the one who could speak English, “glivee up to us an’ we pay heepee mluch.” “Hello!” whistled Frank. “Now the thing has a money-value! What do you think of that, Dick?” “It’s marvelous!” asserted the Andover man. “I don’t know what to think of it.” It was a very queer adventure, and Merry found something fascinating about it, for it was mystifying. The Chinaman who could make himself understood continued to implore Frank to give up the stick, increasing his offers of money with bewildering swiftness. “Glivee tlo hundal dollal—thlee—floa—fivee!” he declared. “Pay quickee! Glivee up.” “Well, it seems that I’ve found a prize,” said Frank. “Five hundred dollars for a little black stick? You are crazy, John! Get up and stop that business of wiping your face on the sidewalk.” “Will glivee?” Now, five hundred dollars was an object, but Frank was willing to give the stick up for nothing the moment he was convinced that it belonged to either of these men. If it did not belong to them, there must be something very remarkable about it to cause them to offer five hundred dollars for it. “I don’t believe the heathen has that much money to his name,” said Dick. “Yes, yes!” asserted the Chinaman eagerly, straightening up, but remaining on his knees. “Glot monee. Look!” He exhibited a wad of bank-notes and bills. The actions of the Chinamen had attracted attention, and Frank felt like getting away. “I don’t want your money,” he said. “Come to me to-morrow and bring my card. I’ll see you then, and, if you can convince me that the stick belongs to you, you shall have it.” But the Chinamen seemed filled with terror at his desire to leave them. “We glo now! We keepee with you,” they said. “Not to-night,” came firmly from Frank. “Come, Dick.” But when they entered the lobby of the hotel, the Chinamen followed like two dogs. Not relishing this, Frank called attention to them, and they were promptly compelled to leave the place.