The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-12-12
JOHN, THE CHINAMAN.

'oh Ai"hSioNN VIII my i"hiiiJ Al YUM
parative luxury.
Our house was OF stone and but n
single story in height. as most OF the
buildings then were. and surrounded
by well kept lawn and garden with a
stable at the back OF tho place ia
which John, my Chinaman maid-of-
all.work and head gardener. slept.
lie was faithful fellow. noat and
Industrious but very sly and though
too sharp sometimes with others in
driving bargain he was with me a
model OF goodness and often pro-
icssed a willingness TO die In my de-
Tense
suppose he was grateful for my
saving him from crowd OF hoodlums
one day who had discovered ono Of his
tricks and were looting his little shop
and getting ready to string him up for
the fun OF H.
1t was small tobacco business he
was running, and the cry OF the
Chinese must go" was then very popu-
lar, while the cigars the heather
Chinese were making were boycotted
w NhNu an tAAtEI us 10 rum the
Acknowledged manufacturers.
But John was up 20 snuiI. " and
was doing "A great trade on the sly be-
fore he was discovered.
A new brand OF cigars. bearing on
the box in bold letters the inscription
The Chinese must go, was. like the
words. in eyerybodys's mouth. and
John was fast getting rich when, TO
his loss and my gain. they found out
that he himself was FASTING the popu-
lar labels on the boxes holding very
bad cigars OF his own make.
That settled the business at once.
and would have settled John. too. il
hadn't been at hand 10 protect him
from the angry mob
Though robberies and deeds OF
violence were humorous in spite of
vigilance committees | had no fear OF
them. for ! was careful not TO display
any signs OF wealth about me. My
pile OF gold dust kept buried in tho
cellar and not even my wife or children
knew it.
Neither did tell John whom felt
to be perfectly trustworthy but | sus-
pected my secret was not hidden from
his shnrp eyes although his innocent
looks too innocent nj times. never be-
trayed the knowledge, IL he had any.
Our house was divided by a great
long hall. with bend or recess az the
back part near the kitchen. Here
had plaster OF Paris life-size statue
OF myself (made by an artist friend for
a rough model but never fnished)
standing.
IL looked in its flowing cape coat
more like n ghost than IL did like me
and though IL made people laugh in
the daytime and be frightened in the
dark. let IL stay there. just to please
or tease my young friend. who then
dreamed of some day being famous
sculptor.
In hot weather | usually slept in the
cooler, front corner room. while my
family slept in the opposite rooms
across the hall.
One night when my family forum
atcly were away, j lay there when /
imagined saw a shadow fitting noise
lessly through the dimly lighted hall
past my open door.
While | was thinking whether 20
get up and make sure or not tho
shadow glided back. sat up straight
In my bed then. but before could step
out 1t returned and stood motionless
by my door In the hall.
Instead OF being one Of my folks re-
turned as first supposed--or John
saw TO my spell-bound surprise and
fright that IL was the form appar-
emily OF man with black mask OF
Grape over his face.
Though plainly saw him, he didn't
seem 10 see me- owing 10 the mosquito
canopy over my bed, rejecting the dim
light In the hall.
After peering in my direction for
moment the figure turned and glided
into the opposite room.
As noiselessly slipped from my bed
and stole 70 the back part of tho hall,
thinking TO call my servant from the
stable. for had no handy weapon in
reach, my pistols being in the room
wherein my strange and evil appear
ing guest had vanished.
As passed the hollow plaster statue
OF myself bold idea struck me.
was in my long white night-robe.
a good counterpart OF the statue. II
my face was also white no one would
detect tho difference in the dark.
j quickly lifted my other self and
set II in the kitchen near by--then go
ing TO the -four barrel literally
sprinkled the stun over my face and