"Maxwell Grant - The Shadow - 081 - The Fate Joss" - читать интересную книгу автора (Grant Maxwell)

agreement.

"What you have said is true," declared Yat Soon. "Should you gain possession of the Fate Joss and
return it to General Cho Tsing, you would have my full approval. I, Yat Soon the arbiter, would then
declare that you, The Shadow, had been an instrument in its return.

"There are others, however, who may seek to gain the Fate Joss. Should they do so, I can not dispute
their possession. As with you, honored friend, I would be forced to say that they were instruments of the
Joss.

"No one can steal the Fate Joss. It may be carried from one place to another. Money may be paid for its
possession; but the belief will still remain that the Joss has power to go where it may choose.

"Should strife begin because of the Fate Joss; should men do actual evil, murdering those who stand in
their path, then I, as arbiter, can denounce them for their crimes. Until such time, however, I can decide
only that he who holds the Fate Joss is entitled to its possession.

"Yat Soon has spoken."

THE Chinaman's final sentence was like a formal signature. The Shadow's eyes were keen as they
surveyed the arbiter's bland face. Yat Soon's words were fully understandable to the spectral visitor.

Should The Shadow choose to take up the quest of the Fate Joss, he would have Yat Soon's full
approval. That was the first point that he had come here to gain. The Shadow knew that all Chinatown
was agog; that talk of the Fate Joss had swept to outlying districts of New York, wherever isolated
Chinese dwelt.

His purpose, therefore, was twofold. Not only did he wish to return the Fate Joss to China, as a favor to
General Cho Tsing. The Shadow desired also to remove from New York an object that might cause the
very crimes of which Yat Soon had spoken.

Well did The Shadow know that affairs in Chinatown might often produce reactions elsewhere. He was
willing to accept the task of anticipating chaos that might soon be due. The Shadow knew that Yat Soon,
with all his blandness, would welcome such measures.

In fact, Yat Soon began to speak again, now that his decision had been rendered. His duty as arbiter
finished, he was anxious to provide The Shadow with whatever information he could. Carefully, Yat
Soon studied the letter that The Shadow had shown him; then made his new comment.

"It has been told to me," he said, "that the Fate Joss was brought to America by a man named Chichester
Laudring. This man was seen in San Francisco; then in Chicago. Since that time, none have brought word
concerning where he may be.

"Not long ago, another American came here to Chinatown. His name, so I have learned, is Raymond
Roucard. Thrice did he make inquiry of different merchants, asking them to name those of their people
who might wish to possess the Fate Joss.

"I do not know what replies Roucard received. It was told to me that the man has lived at a place called
the Phoenix Hotel; but as he has not been seen since then, I have made no further inquiry. It was not my
task to search for the fate Joss. Should it be, I would look for Chichester Laudring or Raymond