The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-06-06
HI CHANG AND THE CUR.

HI CHANG AND THE CUR.
The Prominent Part They Played
In q Domestic Drama.
Locality-a valley in the interior of Cali
fornia, described in real estate prospectus
rs the "loveliest of earth's favored spots,
where mere existence is perpetual de-
light, but presenting to the unappreciative
eye the appearance of very thinly popu-
lated, treeless and CRASHES region.
A farmhouse stands some distance back
from the public road. The chief advantages
Of its situation seems to be exclusiveness
and open air. A disorderly picketfence
surrounds front garden, in which Nature
blooms unrestrained in thistle and tar weed.
Enter through the gate rotund China
man with very long cue A small terrier
dog, apparently in transitional state be-
tween the blue blooded Skye and the blind
alley cur, follows, per force of string at
tachcd to his collar. The dog, as he ap-
proaches the house, walls dolorously and
tugs at the cord.
The Chinaman darts side-glance at him,
look ow now; you 60 back.''
A middle aged female person rushes out
OF front door, grasps the dog and infolds
him in ecstatic embrace.
She cries out, "And you are here again.
are yOu?-my jewel, my blessed one!''
Hi Chang, serenely smiling-:Yes, me
come"
Response, in excited, slightly Hibernian
tones-"You think it's you that I'm a-talk-
ing to-you, indeed, and you're an ignorant
heather. What is it you're meaning, to
keep the dog, knowing all the country was
being searched for him! May be it's starved
he is-Waggy-my own poor dog"
Waggy walls af1irmativelv.
Hi Chang. tranquilly-''Me dive him
way; he no go: me bling him you this time,
next time he come, he goodbye YOU" Hor-
ribly significant wink of left eye.
Female party, frantically wrought up
"You are not daring to mean you'll kill
him!"
Pagan. oracularly-'Velly bad dog. no can
all time live. He come my boss place, xiii
him one day the chickcc, bleak him leg one
duck, and not for eat, for play! You think
my boss buy chickee make play for your
dog?'
Volcanic emotion on female visage
Hi Chang continues, with solemnly warn
ing voice-'My boss say come gain he
house, may be so not come any more.'
Female. with air of an avenging goddess
"1t's q God forsaken man that would take
the life of mite of a senseless beast that's
the sole protection of two lonely women.
Well set the law ON him.
Hi Chang, placid triumph shining out of
his eye-slits-''My boss Itch man, do all
same he ikc.'
The other party, in naughty scorn-''Rich,
and cares so much about a chicken or 80?
Wen pay for his precious chickens''
Hi Chang, with equally lofty scorn-"He
no care chickee, got plenty money buy
chickee. He care howl! Dog come make
Next time''-an impressive pause-"you not
see gain. Goo -byc.'' Turns away.
Female with pursuing shrek of expostu-
lation-'Here, YOU Chinaman! we'll pay
amy thing, tell your boss
Chinaman, with three unrelenting shakes
Of head-''No can pay for howlv' Closes
gate, and trips away, while Odelia makes
fierce gestures at his disappearing cue
Languid voice from interior of house
"Odelia, what is all the talking and noises"
Odelia, rushing in direction of voice-s'It's
our own Waggy that Pm just after taking
from the clutches of a murderous- hearted
pagan"
Voice within, full of keenest anxiety
10. tell me, tell me, is he entirely safe!"
Odelia, in choking voice-"For this time,
yes; but for the next time he goes he's the
same as dead. All because of few chick
ems" And she crouches in Niobe pose on
the porch near window.
Voice through blinds-"But Odelia, we
will pay for any wretched chickens Wagner
may KILL
Odelia, despairingly-"Andw wasn't tell
ing the sinner just that! And don't he ans
wer me that its the howl his Turk of mas
ter makes murderous talk about What's
q little noise!''
Sigh from within-"The poor man may be
nervous may have trouble on his mind :;
most of US have. But, Odelia, if Wagner
will go there and make noise, what can we
do?''
Odelia, mphatically-"Wecan make haste
to get out of this pagan country, all alive
with devils walking around in pigtails''
Voice within, querulously-"We can not
Odelia, we can not. You know that only in
a far-off, hidden place like this do 1 find
peace of mind. Bring me Wagner; he un-
derstands.''
Waggy at that moment struggles for the
freedom of this place, and has to be COM
PEELED into the arms of his sympathy-crav-
ing mistress.
ii
A farm house, painted into glaring fresh
ness, general environment indicating re-
Gently expended money. A gentleman sits
on the porch, his feet on the railing, his hat
far down over his eyes. Hi Chang ap-
Proaches, accompanied by the ubiquitous
Waggy, attached as usual to string.
Hi Chang, addressing soles of feet on
failing-"Me chatchee him-dog-one time
more"
No response.
Chinaman, in higher key-"This time he
kill tee looster, one little chickee''
No answer.
Hi Chang continues, categorically- "Lun
him sheep, dive in corner fence, bark, bark
till sheep no can stand, make sick.''
Rambling voice under hst-"Feed the
beast on chickens, mutton, Durham bulls
Jersey pigs and other vermin. It's just =.
profitable . way Of disposing of the truck a.
any I have found"
Long, reverberating howl from Wagner
Feet ON railing come down with . thunder
ing clap. +.%
sHang the demoniac brute!"
Hi Chang, sententiously and approving
ly-"Al nght-hang him light away
Soliloquizes Is he drags the resisting
Wagner on"He too muchee thinkee-in
side him; no good thinkee:''
Gentleman tosses half.smoked cigar
aside, and entering the house, he partakes
Of something out Of bottle. He looks at hi.
watch.
uT7>lf,,a.& <n,,r on,v. %ho,,oh+ ia haa.