Into Wo Cheng's beady, squinting eyes, as he addressed this word to the
Russian, there came a look of malignant cunning which Johnny had not
seen there before. It sent chills racing up and down his spine. It
almost seemed to him that the Chinaman's hand was feeling for his belt,
where his knife was hidden.

For a moment the Russian turned his back to Wo Cheng, and so faced
Johnny. Behind his screen, the "Yank" could observe his actions without
himself being seen.

From an inner pocket the Russian extracted a long, thick envelope.
Unwrapping the cord at the top of this, he shook from it three shining
particles.

"Diamonds!" Johnny's eyes were dazzled with the lustre of the jewels.

The Russian, selecting one, dropped the others back into the envelope.

"Bet he's got a hundred more," was Johnny's mental comment. Then he
noticed a peculiarity of the envelope. There was a red circle in the
lower, left hand corner, as if a seal had been stamped there. He would
remember that envelope should he ever see it again.

But at this instant his attention was drawn to the men again. The
Russian had turned and handed the gem to Wo Cheng. Wo Cheng stepped to
the light and examined it.

"No need cumshaw my," he murmured.