The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-08-24
SEVEN KEYS TO a SAFE.

81 tell you what" said, 81 sha'n't
come for the account any more. This
makes six times / have called for that
four hundred and seventy dollars, and I
shall put it in my lawyers hands"
mo, no; quite rightee you, sabbee.
Pay dollar all soon. Call again"
was reminded of all this by seeing
the Chinese Ambassadors the other day,
and it carried me back to San Francis
co, full five years ago, where 1 was
dealing largely in various commodities
which were much affected by the Heath
en- Chinee.
l found them patient, civil, indus
trious class of people, ready to bargain
and get things as cheaply as possible;
but scrupulously honest and ready to
pay with the greatest promptitude as
long as dealt with one man. When l
had to do the work with partnership
concern, it was a terrible matter.
For instance, had trusted one firm
to the amount of five hundred dollars
and no money was forthcoming.
bullied my collector terribly, for he
always came back with an excuse in
stead of money, and the same tale, tt at
the firm was perfectly honest and trust
worthy, and that the money would be
paid.
Then, why don't they pay, John
sonP'' / exclaimed.
Il wish you would give them call
yourself, SIR" said johnson.
And l said l would. and did, going to
the Honger Mercantile Company seven
times. and always being put off.
1t was always the same; they were
perfectly willing to pay, and messen-
gers were sent, butto return, sometimes
with one, sometimes with two, or even
three or four of the firm; but when these
Chinese Spenlows proffered themselves
as ready to pay, there was always an
obstacle in the way, in the shape of the
absence of that Heather Chinese.
At last l expressed myself as / have
said at the beginning of this story, and
was going out of the place when smil-
ing Chinaman came up to me, and hold
ing his head on one side, he exclaimed:
''lngly Hong man, come again amor
row. Payee them all-payee ebbery
dollar, oh, ciss."
"Well, look here" 1 said, 81 will
come in here tomorrow, at eleven
o'clock, and shall expect to be-"
''Oh, ciss, 'payee all dollar. Give long,
big order, lot. Goodee thousand dol
lar.n
"Fll talk about taking your order. my
Chinese friend, when you pay for the
last" l said gruffiy, and went away.
1.-THE fellow looks honest" l said;
''but there's no trusting these foreign
ers. They take delight in tricking an
Englishman or Mclean man, as they
call it. Perhaps tomorrow, when 1 90,
they'll all have pulled up stakes and
gone east"
1t was with some satisfaction, then,
that on reaching their great shed ware
house, the next morning, | found Mr..
Pigtail. in his long blue gown and bland
smile standing at the door. ready to sa-
lutte me with dose of pigeon English,
which | could hardly understand.
''Well, Mr.. All Rec" l said, as l fol-
lowed him into the bale-crowded ware
house. which certainly looked as pros
porous as the great iron safe in the cor
ner was substantial-'' well, Mr.. All Rec,
l hope you are prepared to pay my lit
tie account this morning?"
''Ciss, ciss-readee payee," he said.
And placing wicker chair for me,
he went off and dispatched a couple of
messengers, with urgent orders in his
barbarian tongue, to each. This looked
bad, for it was only repetition of the
tactics followed on former occasions
tactics which always resulted in a put
off. looked terribly gruff; but Mr. All
Rec, who was the senior partner, smiled
and rubbed his hands as he beckoned
me to follow him into the farther parts
of the warehouse, and then showed me
specimens of silks and sample teas, with
coarse Chinese pottery.
WELL" l said to myself, growing
little more easy in my mind, there's
plenty to seize, at all events"
The result was that after my bland
friend had talked to me for about a
quarter of an hour, l booked thousand
dollar order for what an Englishman
would call sundries.
There" said /, closing my book with
b slap, ''this order shall be exec uted as
sool as your last account is settled"
''Ciss, c;ss-payee alice dollee," he
said, smiling and pointing to seat.
Meanwhile, by slow degrees, five re-
spectable-looking Cinnamon had come
into the warehouse or store; and they
come around me, smiling and talking
in bland, smoot!. way
You mean mischief" said to N.Y.
self, and my hand went inyoluntarily to
my pocket, where, in accordance with
San Francisco customs, carried re-
Yolyer. .Fou mean to get rid of me
and your debt together, my friends.
Very good; but if you do I'll take one
OF You by way of receipt" suppose
my face did not betray what s-'
.ney Closed around me in the calmest
manner, making excuses, and asking
me to bs patient . little longer. for their
messengers were out, as I understood
them, to collect the amount / needed.
1t seemed to me that they were getting
me farther and farther from tha door in
to the gloomy ohscurity of the ware
house, under the pretense OF showing
me fresh goods, till st last i felt that the
time for action had come. In fact, one
OF the biggest of the party whispered
something to his companions, and l
seized my revolver and was about to
arsw It as fresh Chinaman entered the
huiidlng, and they hurried to meet him
With g look of relief. =
" n"Ev for some Of you. my friends"
-