Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-09-15

ecuted rs soon as your last account is
settled"
''Ciss, ciss-payee alice dollee," he
said, smiling and pointing to seat.
Meanwhile, by slow degrees, five
respectable looking Cinnamon had
come into the warehouse or store;
and they come 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, carried
revolver. "You 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 re-
ceipt." l suppose my face did not
betray what I felt, for they closed
around me in the calmest manner,
making excuses, and asking me to be
patienI a little longer, for their mes
sengers were out, as l understood
them, to collect the amount l needed.
It seemed to me that they were get
ting me farther and farther from the
door into the gloomy obscurity of the
warehouse, under the pretense of
showing me fresh goods, till at last /
felt that the time for action had come.
In fact, one of the biggest of the
party whispered something to his
companions, and seized my revolver
and was about to draw it as a fresh
Chinaman entered the building, and
they hurried to meet him with look
of relief.
Lucky for some Of you, my
friends" I said, drawing breath OF
relief, and following them toward the
door. meaning to take the first oppor-
tunity that offered to make a run for
it. 10 my great surprise, though,
Mr.. All Rec came, and taking my
arm, led me tow1rd the great safe.
Iron coffin, eh?" said to myself.
"Countee out de dollar" said MIR.
All Rec
And the last arrival of his six COM
panions went up to the safe, placed a
key in hole and turned it. Then a
second did so with another key in an
other hole, and so on, till six had un-
locked six locks of the 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 Chi
namen. 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 a
drawer. he drew forth bag marked
four hundred and seventy-the
amount in dollars of my account
and handed the bag to me.
'sNo trustee no man." he said, smil-
ing, as he shut and locked the door,
his six partners locking it in turn.
mo trustee once mans: all come at
once, open door-all right"
From which l understood that, as
to our trading communities, two or
three, or even four partners have to
sign a check to make it negotiable,
my seven Chinese friends, all part
ners in their Hong or trading COM
munity, could make no payment
without every man was present to
help unlock the treasure safe. /
laughed at the plan. for the heavy
dollar bag made me feel in very
good temper. They laughed too, and
shook hands very warmly, after the
English fashion, as 1 took my de-
parture.
mo once man run away all dollar"
he said laughing.
II see," I said, laughing. "You
shall have your goods in soon."
/ sent them; and for long while
after the Hong of All Rec and / did
a good deal of business; but it al
ways took seven keys afterward,
when 1 wanted money, to open that
safe.