The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1885-08-20
A CHINAMAN OUTWITTED.

aioof from b gang OF noisy laborers
crowding the pier at Batavia. "Did
YOU ever see a thinner specimen
Looks as though 1t had been some
time since he had even heard the men,
ton of food"
Charles Powell, a young New York
er, and his friend Ralph Somers, an
Englishman, had, just the day before,
met in Batavia, the former being on
his way to Hong Kong, while the lat
was returning to England on leave of
absence.
The Malay in question fully quail
fled by his appearance the remarks of
the young American. He was a thin,
spare man, half-clad, and with a tur-
ban wound around his crisp, black
hair.
He stood for a moment gazing
modify into the water, and then, as
if understanding the %jocular remarks
of the young man, he turned toward
him with a look upon his face half
sheer, half frown, and the next in
slant sprang from the pier and disap-
peared beneath the surface of the
muddy water.
In an instant Ralph cast aside his
coat and sprang after him, and in two
minutes the man lay upon the wharf.
At first he preserved a logged silence
when questioned by his rescuer.
"Come, come, now! Brace up,
coolie! L say, now, don't get SO
dreadfully hipped, man," said Ralph.
He finally confessed that it vas pow
erty that had led him to an attempt to
take his own life. 1t was the old
story! A pair of willing hands, but
more applicants for places than there
were situations to fill.
Out of work and out of money, with
a sick wife starving before his eyes,
despair had driven him here in the
hope of getting even the poor en-
ployment that would earn a few cents
a day, and failing in this, he had mo-
mentarily lost his reason.
"Cheer up, man. said Ralph, hand
ing him a silver coin. ''Here is some
thing for your present needs. Don't
try to feed the fishes again"
The poor fellow but half compre-
hended the words the Englishman
spoke. He gave one doubtful look at
the coin and at the giver, and then
murmuring a blessing upon the young
man, turned and disappeared.
Ralph, dripping wet, sought the
nearest house, which proved to be that
of Chan Fong, a rich Chinese mer-
chant of Batavia.
As our friends entered Chan Fong
was seated upon one of the porcelain
stools in front of the counter. He half
turned as they entered.
''Yung Faa, as I'm a sinner!" ex-
claimed Ralph, as his eyes fell on the
Chinaman, who, however, returned
his gaze with an unmoved counten-
ance.
care you not Yung Faa?" question
ed Ralph.
mo" said he; Il am Chan Fong."
And cody asked: But who RI
you?"
"Well, if you are not Yung Faa,"
said Ralph, disregarding the inquiry,
''You are his ghost"
81 am Chan Fong," sententiously
replied the Chinaman.
Ralph apologized for his hasty ex-
clamation, and dismissed the subject.
He called for a draught of brandy to
keep the cold out, and the young men
departed for the Hotel Buitenzort.
THAT man is Yung Faa," Ralph
earnestly said to his friend, when out
of ear-shot of the Chinaman.
'But for heavens sake who is Yung
FaaP" asked Powell.
young Faa," said Ralph, ''was
about a year ago the shroff, or paying
clerk, for the house of Gilbert & Ma
SON, of Hong Kong. His bond was
$50, 000, which vas deposited in bank,
according to custom, when he first
received the situation. He was intrust-
ed with the expenditure of large sums
of money, and also had charge of the
Hong stamp or seal of the firm.
About a year ago he disappeared. A
week afterward a body was found
floating in the harbor, which the Cor
oner decided vas one other than
Young Faa. The firm of Gilbert &
Mason, deeply regretting his loss,
gave him a magnificent funeral, and
the bond was returned to his Distress
ed family.
"You can imagine the chagrin of
NllpcIl " ul1SOh WHOh tAOy uiSCOfcI-
ed afterward that Yung Faa had been
guilty of numerous thefts. The credit
of the firm demanded silence on the
subject, and many debts, contracted
in the name of the firm by Yung Faa,
were paid, rather than to allow the
damaging truth to be known. The
firms losses aggregate nearly 500. 900,
and none now mourn more sincerely
the death of Yung Faa than his too
confiding employers.
"You can imagine how astonished
was to see him here--for if that is
not he, l viii eat my hat! But come,
/ must get rid of these wet clothes,
and wen take a turn through the Bo-
tanical Garden"
No sooner had Ralph disappeared
than the Chinaman followed him,
Keeping well out of sight of the
young men, he satisfied himself where
they were stopping, and then made
all possible haste toward the Malay
portion of the city.
Threading his way through one of
the narrowest streets, he finally paus-
ed before a wretched howell; then abb
ruptly pushing back the mat which