But Belle persuaded him to await Katura's explanation. It came within three or four days.

Toruma called at the hotel. Dave met him with cordiality, then the j.a.panese said:

"I have come on account of my friend, Mr. Katura. Mr. Katura's regrettable challenge grew out of the affair of the medallion."

"Under the circ.u.mstances," said Dave, "I can not blame him for suspecting me of stealing it."

"Not stealing it! He thought it an inconsiderate joke! An American told us that he had seen you slip your hand into Katura's pocket and take out a lacquer box. That box belongs to Katura's mother and is very precious to her."

"An American?"

"Yes; Simmons. But he was working for a man, English or American, named Pembroke."

Then Dave understood. Pembroke, angered by the humiliation at the yamen and more so because he himself had confessed when he thought he was about to die, had hired this man to help him in his scheme of vengeance.

"This Simmons is a criminal and has keys that open many doors, so, after delivering the package to Mrs. Darrin, he later entered the room and secured the note that had gone with the box."

"Why did they not sell the medallion?"

"That would have been impossible. It is too well known here for anyone to handle it safely."

Katura called and tried to apologize, something that Dave Darrin would not allow. He asked Katura and Toruma and Hata to dinner to meet Belle, and the officers parted as friends.

It was a year later that Dave and Dan heard that Bishop Whitlock and his missionaries had gone back to Nu-ping and that a new governor had been appointed for the province. They learned, too, that "Burnt-face"

was dead of cholera and that Miss Chapin was married to her missionary lover.

The ensigns' leave was up, and, parting regretfully with Belle, they returned to their ship. There they found new honors awaiting them. On their arrival the Admiral sent for them and read them a despatch, signed by the Secretary of the Navy.

"'The President directs that you extend to Ensigns Darrin and Dalzell his thanks and commendation for their conduct in preventing the a.s.sault on the Emperor and Empress of j.a.pan. At appropriate time you will publicly commend these officers.'"

They learned too that as soon as they expressed their willingness to accept the honor they would be commissioned as lieutenants, junior grade.

"Accept! You bet we'll accept!" said Dan, but not in those words before the Admiral.

One other honor was to come to them. The Emperor bestowed on them the decoration, second cla.s.s, of the Order of the Rising Sun, a decoration that Congress allowed them to accept.

But now Dave's ship sailed away under sealed orders, leaving Belle to wonder when she would again see her husband. When this time was and where, will be told in another volume: "Dave Darrin and the German Submarines; or Making a Clean-up of the Hun Sea Monsters."

THE END