Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-09-14

ApNs.RgtSlNt. HNTUS.
SEVEN KEYS To A SAFE.

SEVEN KEYS To A SAFE.
Il tel YOU what" said. Il shan't
come for the account any more
This makes six times | have called
for that four hundred and seventy
dollars, aud | shall put it in my law
yer's hands
No. no; quite rightrc you. sabbee
Pay dollar all soon. Call again
was reminded Of all this by see
ing the Chinese Ambassadors the
other day, and it carried mo back 10
San Francisco full five years ago,
where | was dealing largely in vari
ous commodities which were much af
fectcd 10y the Heather Chinec.
found them n patient, civil, in
dustiious class Of people, ready to
bargain and get things as cheap!y as
possible; but scrupulously honest
and ready Ia pay with the greatest
promptitude as long as l dealt with
one man. When l had to do the
work with partnership concern, it
was terrible matter.
For instance, had trusted one firm
10 the amount Of five hundred dollars
and no money was forthcoming.
i bullied iny collector terribly. for
he always came back with an excuse
instead Of money. and the same tale,
that the firm was perfectly honest
and Trustworthy. and that the money
would be paid
Then, why don't they pay. John
sonr exclaimed.
Il wish you would give them call
yourself, sir" said johnson.
And | said l would, and did. going
10 the Hohger Mercantile Company
seven times, and always being put
of.
Ii was always the same; they were
perfectly willing to pay, and messen-
gers were sent, but to return, some
times 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 aE obstacle in the
way, in TIE shape Of the absence of
that Heathen Chinese.
At last expressed myself as have
said at the beginning Of this story.
and was gong out OF the place when
q asmiling Chinaman came up TO me,
and, holding his head on one side, he
exclaimed
"lngly Hong man, come again to-
morrow. Payee them all payee eb
berry dollar, oh, ciss.'
"Well, look here" / said. II will
come ia Eere to morrow, at eleven
o'clock. and shall expect TO be-
"Oh, ciss, payee all dollar Give
long. biz order, lot. Goodee thousand
dollar"
I'll talk about taking your order,
my Chinese friend. when you pay for
tho last" said gruffly, and / went
away.
The fellow looks honest" l said /;
shut there's no trusting these foreign
ers. They take delight in tricking
an Englishman or Mclean man, as
they call it, Perhaps tomorrow.
when ! go, they'll all have pulled up
stakes and gone east.
II was with some satisfaction, then,
that on reaching their great shed
warehouse, the next morning, / found
Mr.. Pigtail, in his long blue gown
and bland smile standing at tho door,
ready 10 salute me with "a dose Of
pigeon English, which Icould hardly
understand
We'll, Mr.. All Rec" / said. as 1
followed him into the bale-crowded
warehouse. which certainly looked as
prosperous as the great iron safe in
the corner was substantial --"well.
Mr.. Ali Rec. l hope you are prepared
toIay my little account this morn
mgr
'Ciss. ciss readee payee,. he said.
And placing wicker chair for me,
he went of aud dispatched a couple
OF messengers, with urgent orders in
his barbarian toague, to each. This
looked bad. for il was only a repeti-
ton of the tactics followed on former
occasions tactics which always re-
suited in put-off. l looked terribly
gruh; but MIR. All Rec, who was the
serior partner, smiled and rubbed his
hands as he beckoned mo TO follow
him into the farther parts Of the
warehouse, and then showed me
specimens Of silks AMI sample teas,
with coarse Chinese pottery. well"
l said TO myself, growing little
more easy in my mind, ''there's plenty
10 seize. nj all events"
The result was that after my bland
Trend had talked To me for about a
quarter OF an hour. | booked thous-
and dollar order fon what an English
man would call sundries.
There" said I, closing my book
with slap, "this order shall be OK
ecutcd ns soon as your last account is
settled"
~'iss. 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 bland. smooth way.
"iou mean mischief" | said to my
sell, and my hand went involuntarily
10 my pocket. where, in accordance
with San Francisco customs. 1 carried
arevolver. "Yoy mean TO get rid of
me and your debt together. my
friends. Very good: but if you do