“Then he resolved to make one last stand. He spoke to the prince, called him aside, offered to stake his wife against a sum equal to one hundred thousand dollars. The prince quietly accepted. The cast was made, and again my friend lost. Perhaps that was the real reason why he put a bullet in his head. Before he died he gave me this stick, and told me all about it—that is, he told me all he knew about it. Not everything can be known by a person outside the mysterious order to which it belongs. I have heard that not everything can be known in the order, save to a very few high priests. But every member of the order is sworn to protect and guard the stick with his life, and they believe a failure to do so means ever-lasting torture for the one who fails.” “That explains the queer actions of the two Chinamen,” said Merry. “And makes me dead sure they were reaching for weapons when their hands went under their coats,” nodded Starbright. “I was watching their every move,” asserted the stranger. “I feared they would attack you with knives, and I was ready to chip in if they did.” “But if they did not——” “I preferred keeping in the background, for I did not care to have those Chinamen discover I was the real owner of the stick.” “But you are not the real owner!” exclaimed Starbright. “It does not belong to you at all! You have acknowledged that!” The stranger looked surprised, and then frowned darkly. “If I am not the rightful owner, there is no rightful owner in this country. I am an American, and I lost that stick. I presume you will give it to me, Mr. Merriwell?” “It seems to me that it is Frank’s duty to return it to the society from which it was stolen in the first place,” said Dick grimly. The stranger looked startled, but there came to his face an expression of sudden savage determination. “I hope Mr. Merriwell will not agree with you,” he said instantly. “I have proved that I lost it, and——” “You have confessed that it was stolen, in the first place.” “Well?” “A receiver of stolen goods——” “Be careful, sir!” Frank saw that Dick was willing to get into trouble with the stranger—that he was seeking it. It is probable that the stranger understood this, also. “You are going a little too far, Starbright,” said Merry sharply. “This gentleman has satisfied me that he lost the stick. Whether it rightfully belongs to him or not is not a question for me to decide. I know no members of the secret society——” “The two Chinamen.” “May or may not be members. It is possible they are enemies of the society.” “That is true,” nodded the stranger, “though it is not likely.” “If enemies of the society,” pursued Frank, “they might wish to get hold of the stick in order to obtain a power over the rightful owners.” “Even if they are members of the society,” said the stranger, “that is not a reason why Mr. Merriwell should return the stick to them.” “Why not?”