The Penn's Grove record., 1882-09-30
PENIS GROVE SALEM COUNTY, N J.. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 30. 1882.


"Ciss,~ ciss-payee alice dolce" ne
said, smiling and pointing to q seat
Meanwhile, by slow degrees, five re-
spectable-looking Cinnamon had come
into the warehouse or store; and they
came around me, smiling and talking
in a bland, smooth way.
"You mean mischief" / said to my
self, and my hand went involuntarily
to my pocket, where, In accordance
with San Francisco customs, I carried
a revolver. "YCu mean to get rid of
me and your debt together, my
friends. Very good but if you do III
take one of you by way of receipt" 1
suppose my face did not betray what
1 felt, for they closed around me in the
calmest manner, making excuses, and
asking me to be patient q little longer,
for their messengers were out, as l un
derstood them, to collect the amount i
needed. It seemed to me that they
were getting me farther from the door
into the gloomy obscurity ofthe ware
house, under the pretense of showing
me fresh goods, till at last 1 felt that
the time for action had come. In fact,
one of the biggest of the party whis-
pered something to his companions,
and 1 seized my revolver and was
about 10 draw it as a fresh Chinaman
entered the building, and they
hurried TO meet HIM with a look of re-
lief.
LUCKY for some of you, my
friends" / said, drawing d breath of
relief, and following them toward the
door, meaning to take the first oppor-
tunity that offered to make q run for
it. To my great surprise, though,
Mr.. All Rec cane, and taking my
arm, led me toward the great safe.
"Iron coffin, Ell 2" said / to myself.
"Countee out de dollar" said Mr..
All Rec.
And the last arrival OF his six COM
paDions went up to the safe, placed a
KEEP in a hole and turned it. Then q
second did so with another key in an
other hole, and so on, till six had un-
locked six locks ofthe great safe, when
Mr.. All Rec took out q similar key to
his companions and went up to the
safe smiling, as he said to me:
"Great Hong Company poor China
men. Big safee- big dollar. Seben
partnee take seben key, open, get de
dollar"
AS he spoke he unlocked the safe,
and turned the door on its massive
hinges, and then, pulling out adrawer
he drew forth a bag marked four hun
bred and seventy-the amount in dol
lars of my account-and handed the
bag to me.
mo trustee no man, i" he said, smil-
ing, as he shut and locked the door,
his six partners locking it in turn.
mo trustee once a all come at
once, epen door-all right"
From which 1 understood that, as to
our trading communities, two OF three
or even four partners have to sign a
check to make it negotiable, my
seven Chinese friends, all partners in
their Hong or trading community,
could make no payment without every
man was present to help unlock the
treasure safe. l laughed at the plan,
for the heavy dollar Gag made me feel
in a vely good temper. They laughed
too, and shook hands very warmly,
after the English fashion, as / took
my departure.
"No once man run away all dollar"
said All Rec, laughing.
81 see," 1 said, laughing. "You
shall rave your goods in soon."
1 sent them and for a long while
after the Hong of All Rec and l lid a
good deal of business; but it always
took seven keys a~fterward, when 1
wanted money, to open that safe.