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As long as Desire had meant money there had been an instinct in the old scoundrel which, even in his moon-devil fits, had protected the goose which laid the golden eggs. But now now this inhibition was removed, Desire, no longer valuable, was no longer safeguarded. And who could tell what added grudge of rage and vengeance might be darkly harbored in the depths of that crafty and unbalanced mind?

"You mean you can manage him and he'll be all right tomorrow?" I said. "But what is it!" The Celestial shrugged. "Muchy devil maybe. Muchy moon-devil, plaps. Velly bad." "There's a knife in that umbrella, Li Ho." But though his eyes looked blandly into mine, I couldn't tell whether this was news to Li Ho or not.... Well, that's the story. I've written it down while it's fresh, sparing comment.

The professor came to a stammering end, suddenly remembering that she did not know that last and worst of the moon-devil symptoms. "It is hereditary, of course," said Desire calmly. The professor jumped. "My dear girl! What an idea." "An idea which I could not very well escape. All these things tend to transmit themselves, do they not? Only not necessarily so. I seem to have escaped."

It was almost as informing as Li Ho's diagnosis of "moon-devil." Both have the merit of leaving the inquirer with an open mind. However let's get on. If you have had my later letters you will know that circumstances indicated an elopement. But the more I thought of eloping, the more I disliked the idea. My father was not a man who would have eloped.

Admirable Sami child also of strong appetite when last observed. Departure of Missy is well to remain so. Moon-devil not say when, but arrive spontaneous. This insignificant advise from worthless personage Li Ho." Desire handed back the letter with a hand that was not quite steady. The professor frowned. He had hoped that she was beginning to forget.

It was the one thing which held interest for Bern's Spence now. Li Ho stepped gingerly to the edge of the rounded rock. In the clear light, Spence could see how the moss had been scraped from the margin. "Him down there," said Li Ho. "Moon-devil push 'um. Plenty stlong devil!" Li Ho shrugged. Spence's clenched hands relaxed. "Dead?" he asked dully. "Heap much dead," said Li Ho.

They never seemed to exactly matter. But now," naively, "I would so much like to have a father like other people." "That is more normal, too." "I suppose," she went on, as if following her own thoughts, "what Li Ho calls the moon-devil is really a disease. Have you ever told Dr. John about father, Benis? What did he say?" The professor fidgeted. "Oh, nothing much.

He had refused utterly to enter into any connected conversation and had been restless and erratic to a degree. "Too muchy moon-devil," according to Li Ho. That very afternoon he had met them coming down from their talk upon the rocks and the ironic courtesy of his greeting had been little less than baleful.

"You saved her, Li Ho," he said. "It is a big debt for one man to owe another." The Chinaman said nothing. He was looking at the dead face a curious lost look. "He velly good man one time," said Li Ho. "All same before moon-devil catch 'um." "You stayed with him a long time, Li Ho. You were a good friend." Li Ho blinked rapidly, but made no reply. "Will you come with us, Li Ho?"

"How did it really happen, Li Ho?" asked Spence. Not that he expected any information. "Moon-devil velly mad," said Li Ho. "Honorable Boss no watch step. Moon-devil push too bad!" "And the fight in the kitchen? And on the trail?" Li Ho shook his head. "No fight anywhere," he said blandly. "And this long rip in your coat?" "Too much old coat catch 'um in bush," said Li Ho.