Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-24

| g. taken Bob Thurston
| MI 10y for an assduous law
!. !. {: !. !. !. !.
| Ur-A INA breaker. as he lazly
| ,y>kSSSEM lolled back in the
| M l. w M depths of an ease
| p1 fNA giving chair. OF
| W n, lynn slight, graceful build,
| CA ~ and possessing a
| Ili M frank, handsome and
| II M almost boyish face,
" he looked like one
| who had been born
| with and had retained the proverbial silver
spoon. His abode, too-a luxuriousIy fur
nished suite in one of the best hostelries
on Vancouver Island-might have seemed
at variance with his occupation to one ac-
custcmed to associate the name "smuggler'
with some lonely beach or dark and
gloomy cavern. Yet Bob had solved both
the opium tariff and the Chinese exclusion
| questions in a manner highly satisfactory
| to himself
There was an easy expression on his fea-
lures, as he gazed from the window. at the
| busy throng of teams and pedestrians in
| the street. His eyes lighted as with the
| pleasure of anticipation whenever they
wandered to the tempting display of viands
| In a restaurant opposite. Although small
clock on the mantel was about to chime the
hour of noon he had not yet breakfasted.
| With the stroke of the clock he rose, slowly
and as if half reluctant to exchange the
contemplation for the realization. Then he
dropped quickly back, and his brow knitted
with an expression of annoyance. as a
knock sounded upon the door.
| There was a sign on the outer side of
| that door which read: Robert Thurston,
| Buyer of Seal Skins" Below it a small
card Informed the public that Mr.. Thurston
was sojourning in Alaska for a few weeks.
True. the card was always there, but Bob
was always 'in Alaska" to those who did
not possess a key to his room.
| He kept perfectly still, waiting for the
! visitor to retire. But he was not to escape
thus easily, for the knock was repeated,
with violence that bespoke a determine
ton to elicit some response. Bob muttered
something beneath his breath, and, rising,
| turned the key in the lock-
| "Well?" he said gruffly
There was no immediate reply in words;
but with the turning of the key the door
was pushed open and Chinaman hastily
entered, closing it behind him. Bob re-
| garded him for a moment with an angry
| look, then his face relaxed into a smile.
That's right he said dryly. Make
yourself perfectly at home. Shall / ring
| for anything to adj to your comfort?"
You sabe takee Chinaman 'Nited States
sixty dollar?" the intruder asked with a
stold look.
Possibly Bob returned laconically. II
sabe lots of things 1 don't tell other folks.
| But what If 1 do?"
The man made a gesture of impatience.
| You needn't be 'fiaid O. me-" was his re-
ply Il sabe you-sabe lille boat go puff,
ruf. catchee sixty dollar, you takee
me?'f
Bob eyed him with suspicious glance.
why do you come to me instead of
Wong Chung?" he asked, naming the Chi
rese contractor who generally supplied him
with the coolies in bands, as if they were
so many cattle.
mo likee Chung no same tong the man
promptly replied.
You belong to the other tong ehr' Bob
muttered; and he carelessy walked toward
the window. Suddenly he hurried back
How much will YOU get for dumping
me?' he asked sternly. and with startling
abruptness.
But the Chinaman smiled blardly and
with childlike innocence.
mo sabe." he returned ''Sabe lille puff
pun, sixty dollar, you catchee stuff.
catchee Seattle"
Despite his suspicious, Bob laughed. The
man certainly knew about the puff, puff
as they termed Thurston's small steam
launch, and he appreciated the fact that an
exchange of stuff would land him in the
United States. Nevertheless there was
something about him that Bob could not
understand. His clothes were the usual
| loose blouse and overalls of a Chinese la
borer, and his cue hung from beneath a
soiled and well-worn hat, but his hands,
half concealed in large parcel which he
carried, were very small, and although far
from clean. they yet seemed unused to
work. There was something strange, too,
| in the expression of his face.
With a careless step Bob left TIE window
and approached him; then, reaching quick
! ly forward, he sn;.tched the Chinaman's
hat AT the result of his own act he start
ed back. The head which had seemed to
be closely shaver, and ornamented with a
cue, was covered with mass of long dark
! hair, which, thus released, fell in stray
Cling confusion about his-or rather about
her shoulders. For 1t was plainly evident
that this visitor was woman.
Bob's eyes flashed angrily. Turning, he
locked the door. and placed the key in Eis
pocket.
Possibly you sabe more than puff. puff. ;
now, he said coldly.
/ The WON made no reply. Her eyes were
/ fixed upon him with look of despair Yet
! there came no change in the hue of her face
| Netting his finger, Bob drew it gently
| across her cheek.
'Bah!" he calculated, as ii left a line
upon her skin. Go into the next room and
wash your face. L may want to recognize
you again"
The woman still made no reply but pick.
ing up the bundle which had fallen to the
| hoor, she silently entered the room adjoin-
ing.
With her disappearance Bob resumed his
/ former seat beside the window. Lighting a
/ cigarette, he again stared at the passers by.
AS the minutes slowly passed, and the wo-
| man did not return, he drummed impa-
/ tently upon the glass. and at last rose and
/ tapped upon the panel. For several mo-
/ mentS there was no response; then the door
opened and he drew back III astonishment
His visitor was no longer a nondescript
/ half woman, half coolie but a young girl,
clad in n plain, well-fitting gown, whose
clngirg folds displayed a tall, graceful anG
| eXquisitely rounded figure. Her dark hair
| mad been brushed back and neatly rear
| ranged. Her face, bereft of the slanting
| lines about the eyes and the yellow coloring
OF the skin, was of the dark. Spanish type
! and but for a wan, haggard look, would
have left no impression but one of remark
able beauty
| Bob FASTENED to place a chair before her.
| seeming to forget for the moment the scorn-
| ful tone in which he had told her to wash
her face Even after she was seated he