Jade Dragon by Maxwell Grant & Walter Gibson

Author:Maxwell Grant & Walter Gibson [Grant, Maxwell & Gibson, Walter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Espionage, Fiction, Thrillers
Publisher: Street & Smith
Published: 1948-08-20T08:00:00+00:00

Margo left the window open and the light off. She preferred darkness, since it offered quicker communication with friends. This business of being bait for a tribe of Chinese bandits gave her the shivers. She began to wish she hadn't gone through with it, even to help Lamont.

Her shivers continued after she had discarded her own clothes and found her way into the costume that Royce had given her. Even a well-dressed Javanese princess wasn't equipped to meet the breezes that wandered into a fourth-floor New York window.

But when she stepped through the door, into the warmer studio, Margo managed to repress her shudders before Royce noticed them. He was busy mixing paints, and his back was turned.

ROYCE heard Margo reach the table where the jewels were. He turned, came over to help choose adornments that would elaborate the simple costume. As they proceeded, it became apparent that Royce intended to load Margo with all the jewelry she could carry.

Indeed, both girl and costume made a fitting background for a galaxy of gems. The short tunic was sleeveless, and after Margo's hands were embellished with rings on every finger, her arms looked very bare. Royce corrected that by supplying three heavy bangles for each arm; large ones, that slid above Margo's elbows. Next came as many smaller bracelets, which fitted Margo's wrists.

While Margo was putting on a pair of large cameo earrings, Royce girded her with an elaborately jeweled belt, wide enough to cover the gap in her costume. Margo sat down and extended each foot, while Royce fitted her with anklets, much heavier and larger than the arm bangles.

Studying herself in a full-length mirror, Margo was quite pleased with the result. Instead of clashing, the garish ornaments produced a mass effect that a skilled painter like Royce could develop to perfection. Still, when Margo turned around, Royce shook his head. The jewels weren't too many; they were not enough.

"You represent barbaric splendor," declared Royce, "but there must be something more. Some trinket that will strike a delicate touch. I have the very thing we need."

From the glitter on the table, Royce chose a ruby necklace, but it wasn't the ornament in question. Going to a table, he brought out a small box, and from it dumped some pieces of jade. He showed the largest carving to Margo and she was intrigued by its appearance.

The jade was tooth-shaped, and had two tiny prongs extending from the corners above its points. By those prongs, Royce attached it to the ruby necklace, which he slipped over Margo's head. As the rubies settled around the girl's neck, the jade carving slid down from her throat, stopping just above the

V-shaped border of her tunic.

Contrasted with the deep olive hue of the costume, the apple-green jade gave the final effect that Royce desired, though he did not discount the crimson of the ruby necklace. While Margo was mirroring herself and approving the result, Royce looked across her shoulder and nodded.

"Red and green," he declared. "A splendid contrast, in this particular arrangement.

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