Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-08-26

women who carried the papers over
looked, nor the postal authorities who
forwarded them by mail, nor the rail.
way officials down to the engineer, for
they all had assisted in bringing it be-
fore the public.
This, however, made only 1870 accus-
ed persons, and more were needed. But
Chi Hung Lang, with long, long head,
was a man of resources. He then indict.
ed the cheese and sausage merchants
who had wrapped their wares in this
number Of the paper, the manufacturer
of the paper on which the edition was
printed and all his establishment, in
Guiding his travelling statesmen, the man
who delivered the ink; also his mother
in-law, for it was plain that these all
had had hand in the affair.
Next on the list were the walters at
the restaurants who had handed this
copy of The Dragon Claw to the guests,
a street car conductor in whose car
passenger had read the paper, all opti-
clan who had sold eyeglasses to near
sighted man and so helped him to read
the wicked article, the family Of the
physician of the editor who had cured
the latter of influenza three days before
and made it possible for him to return
to his work and break the law as he had
done. Fifty-seven men who had read
the article to their wives was quite
respectable addition to the list, and in
natural order followed 81 wives who,
with malicious giggling, had heard the
news thus read.
Finally the parents Of the editor were
indicted for bringing such monster
into the world and the EDITORS brother
for not having exercised better influ-
ence over him.
This brother, however, was released.
He was deaf, dumb and blind.
Eight hundred and thirty two persons
were sentenced to various terms Of i'm
prisonment and to more or less severe
fogging with the bamboo. The fine new
prison was now filed to the roof with
the exception of a single cell. In this
one the writer of the scandalous article
very properly belonged, but, unfortu-
nately, after all these legal proceedings
he could not be found.
The viceroy came The inhabitants
Of the town, as many as were out Of
prison, crowded the streets and cried as
if possessed: "Hurrah! Hurrah!" for it
had been announced that those who did
not shout and those that remained in
their houses would be properly punished.
The viceroy inspected the prison, saw
a man Or woman sitting in each cell
and was highly pleased. The automatic
fogging machine worked without sin
gle hitch, and the hydraulic gallows
exceeded the highest expectations Of the
illustrious inspector. He had heard Of
the wholesale conviction, and, delight
ed with Chi Hung Lang's sagacity, he
handed him the second peacock feather
and the red button. Then he said:
"But tell me, tiger Of the lawbook,
why is this cell empty? One more would
have made very little difference.
Chi Hung Lang was not only law
yer Of the shrewdest kind, but also a
diplomat, so he answered: "We knew
no one else that could be indicted with
out the appearance Of slight injustice.
Perhaps you wisdom, o most noble one,
is able to name still another who de-
serves punishment.
The most noble one slowly closed his
left eye, and with very cunning look
he said:
'Tell me, Chi Hung Lang, tiger Of
the lawbook, lion Of the paragraph,
how does this atrocious article read?"
Chi Hung Lang carried the paper in
his pocket and made haste to read it to
his noble master. As he finished read
ing the viceroy said with smile u:
"That is not so bad, for between you
and me, you know your wife wears No.
9. But here we have another who has
helped spread abroad this wicked article,
and he must be imprisoned.
"And who is it, o most high one?"
asked Chi hung Lang as he bowed in
amazement at the wisdom Of the viceroy
until his cue curled on the ground be.
tween his feet.
"You yourself, tiger Of the lawbook,
for you have just read the paper to me.
About IS days and IL blows on your
feet, I think, eh?" said the imperial in
spector jovially.
"You are the wisest Of all wise ones :;
your wisdom has no bounds, replied
Chi Hung Lang, triAe disconnected.
Then he bowed again to the earth, took
hold Of his cue, led himself into Il '
only vacant cell and with his own hands
took off his Shoes From the German in
Short Stories