The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1896-06-20
THAT TEAPOT.
Asherfas whfA

1oNing at my tea-psL" Aus
un remarked with, a twinkle OF the
Eyes, as he glanced at his friend. who
occupied ns cosy armchair I'M front
OF the open wood fire
well, yes replied Summers: .of
course 1 doi't want to be too curious.
but 1t does strike me it's an odd niece
Of bric-a-bac."
] irs not inquisitlve, old chap" with
nand on Summers shoulder. "You
are the best friend have in the world.
AMI I'll tell you its story" and the
unes that made his face almost stern
and somewhat cynical when In repose
vanished from Henry Austin's face as
he leaned against the mantel and care
lessly knocked the ashes from the
bowl Of his neerschaum.
"You know I'd be glad to hear II,
Austin" the younger man replied.
THAT pesky mining business has shut
me OF from the world for three years,
Sut 1 have not forgotten my friends,
lor ceased 10 be interested In what
soncerns them" 90.
Summers looked frankly up into the
face of his friend. His was pleasant,
open countenf nee, and through the
| bronze which Idaho sun and wind had
given a hearty sunshlny nature assert
ed itself.
You were no archeologist three
short years ago." he laughingly con-
tinued, NOR do / remember any lurk-
! Ing fondness in your heart for crock
ery In q state Of dismemberment; but
this-you don't mind my touching II,
do you, or Will 1t drop to pieces IL an
unhaIlowed finger is laid upon it?' and
Summers lifted it gingerly and turned
II around with cautious touch and with
Increasing merriment. "Well, spout
half gone, both handles ditto, top much
battered and many pieces missing;
covert had a cover once, / suppose
now lacking entirely. Now, in Its
original beauty and splendor 1 should
saw, Judging from its texture and the
STYLE of decoration, II must have been
worth at least so cents. I've seen
something similar, IL l mistake not, In
all the Chinese stores down town. At
q bargain you might get 1t for two
bits Now, Austin, in its pristine
beauty / might imagine its appealing
TO YOUR fastidious taste, but In Its pres
emit condition, and in this room" he
paused and gave a cursory glance
about the luxurious bachelor apart
mant. at isn't q legacy from some
Iong-forgotten grandaunt, is itr'
mo" reylied Austin quietly, not re-
senting at all his friends banterlng,
shut It has its associations"
We'll, 1 give 1t up" remarked sum
mers, replacing the object In question
and reseating himself. "As you were
about to say" he continued nquir-
ingly.
.Do You know Jim LeeT" asked Aus
fin as he settled himself In the fellow
lounging chair and gazed Into me nre.
aStranger of mine" laughed Sum-
mers. Resident Of this burgT
eyes" was the reply; "he Is the pro-
rrietor Of the high-class restaurant Oh
Second street"
what? ChinamanP
yes replied the narrator, "and
very decent sort OF fellow, too. Wen,
4 was at his restaurant one night tnaI
/ first made the acquaintance OF the
tea not. Cranhin made up party one
night to see the sights Of Chinatown.
Tic was interested In entertaining Ms.
Starford's niece who was visiting ner.
He asked me to join them ana we olu
the usual thing, took In the JOSS
house, packed TO suffocation and smell,
ing TO heaven with their confounded
iocense: looked into the shops, also
FRA grant with vile cigarette ana opium
sncka sandal wood and punk went
20 tha theater and had our nearing
moro or less injured with the un.pan
evmphouIes and the squeaklng nooles'
and finally wound mp with the res
taurant. II was during the 1east Oh
lanterns. and the Celectials were OUT
In fuIl force, packing the streets anu
making pedestrianism through lneiI
,uorter almost impossible. AS we
turned TO climb the stairs to Jim Lees
7 had the ill-luck to punch an ugly
looking old Chinaman with my elpoM'
7 wss escorting the niece ana trylns 10
make way for her. he glowered al ine
a,,d nnuttered some Of his heatnen Jar
gon I gave the matter no tnougnt a.
tho fine, You must 60 up there VIII
mo some light" Austin broke on IN
his narrative; really it's worth seeing.
Those inlaid tables and chairs OF jim
-,-St he worth a small fortune, ana ne
has some ola Chinese embroidery thar
is wonderful. His collection OF Gag,
80 and vgords, wrought In olo
bronze, woaId be oonanza
49, mnsexm. He Is an intei-
I,aent fellow, you know. and de-
lights in entertaining cou we o aan
- arroneed il all beforehand, SO we
1 1Eoni a not be interrupted. When IL
came came time to 60, Jim, in bis usual usua,
Courteous fashion bf ssss1tt tnf f ISorg
iaay - fan as n souvenir Of the oc-
na.ion She refused, but, seeing TINS
teapot q t s1 s sas , sass '' s@
= somewhat at the suosutS
Pr Init she would have that or notn,
,on' e 40 the tea pct was wrapped up
md s e sss 9r s.n sss1i lit 'n e.r.s.
sce1n The young lady persisted In
ssrrni the tea not herself Tnars
:! Ear N ne sse-it Is an 90 singular a
A r -