Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-01-25
A JEWEL OF 4 BOY.

AnglO-Chlnese banging cOrpOfhuoh,
was sitting one morning IN his room at
the London head Office, sitting the huge
pile Of letters which the homeward
mail had brought To him enters the
chief manager, MacDavid, with blank
look on his face and a telegram III ms
hand, who said "Seen this, William
son ?--pretty go-read it." And then
the submanager read. "Hankow,
May 90. Agency robbed; probably by
Cinnamon. Eighty thousand dollars,
notes chiefly. Com prador murdered.
Send Inspector Mt once"
''By Joye it's CO." exclaimed Jack
with a long whistle; Gust IN the mid
die of the tea season. What's 10 be
done?" "Why, you'll have to go out.
When can you start. To-day's Mon
day. GATEWAY leaves Graveaend on
Friday. Can you do itW Now, Jack
Williamson, the last ten years Of whose
life Lad been spent in travelling all over
Asia inspecting the various branches
and agencies of the bank, needed but
little preparation, 80 accustomed was
nc to he called upon to start for n dis
tant point at all sorts of odd times, so
he merely said "All right, III go, and
resumed his letters,
So on Friday next Jack walked on
board the =. & O. steamer GATEWAY at
Gmvesond, with II big cigar in his mouth
az coolly and unconcerned ~ If he
were going to Margate or Hastings, IN
stead of 900 miles into the heart Of
China.
Favored by wind and weather the
good ship made an eXcelentrun touch
ing as usual ut Port Said, Suez, Alden,
Point dc Sale and Singapore. At the
last named place he went ashore
TO the branch, OF which the manager
was an old chum Of his. "Hello, jack.
Come about the Hankow business |
suppose? lis a rum job, isn't il? What
the police call Irregular put up job "
Can't find trace of either of the muf-
derers or the stuff, which was half notes
aud half specie. Haven't even q rus-
picion, 30 guess you've got your work
cut out for you. Then the police out
there are such fools, and / don't think
our people could have been much bet
ter. Anyhow / wish you good luck,
you've shown yourself more than once
as good as detective; | suppose you
have brought one with your Not |;
what's the good of a London detective
in China2 Besides, ! like to 20 to work
about these things in my own way,
without being bothered by anyone elses
ideas and notions. Too many cooks
spoil the broth, and in case like this
one head il better than two. But look
here, | want a boy none of your rascals
that rob you and cheat you, and get out
Of the way when they're wanted, but Il
good, honest, sober, industrious fellow,
who doesn't whimpor ut being taken
hundred miles from home, and who
doesn't mind being sworn Mt now and
then Jack, as an old China hand,
know that Singapore boys were the best
ms rule; ~ don't mind what | pay
him, SO long "a he's u good one"
The manager called IN the compra-
dor-that is the head of the native de
partment of the bank, man nocesspr-
lily Of some standing and good educa-
ton. Now, Singapore comprsdors
pride themselves on being very differ
eut from their brethren in China, mas.
much ~ they are more Europeauized,
and having attended European schools
have learnt to speak, not the childish
sounding 'pidgin" of Hong Kong and
Shanghai, but the English of johnson
and Macauley very much more John
sonian and Macaulayian, in fact, than
that spoken Ivy average Englishmen.
"Comprador,' said the manager,
Mr.. Williamson wants good boy IN
g5to Hankow with him. DO you know
anyone who you think would suit
him2' Il will retire, sir" said the
great iunctionary, land maturely con,
slder your question: Ia an hour or
so he returned. 81 dare To imagine
sir, that | have succeeded in discover.
ing the type of individual you require
His appellaton is All Moon: he enjoy,
very good character; IS, in fact, q
man of some position, who is willing 4
act in the capacity Of boy for uoml
nal compensation. He does not speak
perhaps SO we'll as you could wish, hu
then he has not had the advantage o
4 Singapore education; but that is hi
misfortune, sir, and scarcely his fault
"Saow him in, comprador," said Jack
and Mr.. An Moon was introduced. IL,
WAS "a slim, oily looking man of thirt,
or thereabouts, with serene, Budhs
like expression OF face, which Wa
married only 10y fearful wound which
assembled the right cheek, and CAV
hlm rather sinister appearance whel
he laughed He was spotleSsly clean
and looked altogether a very pr9mis
ing retainer. "Iou are willing TO e
ms far as Hankow and back aske,
Jack. Ties, sir replied All Moon il
respectful tome. "WhAt wages 81
you wants Twelve dollars moul
can do, sir said theboy "Mojerat
enough, anyhow whispered Jack; q
il wasn't for that villaiuous scar y
might pass Cor mandarin;" and alou
ne added, Very well; that piscv ia
Ghsh steamer sails 1T midnight. ca
be ready Can secure, sir, reptile,
Al Moon and with an obeisarc ert
tired.
When Jack Williamson returned s
board that night he auud uis py
jsmahs neatly land ont in his berth
clean white clothes ready flr The IA,