The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1897-05-22

W uuk ~ Ut ~ NOHHuf unu An' AN'NA
smiled to himself at the mistake. He
understood English fairly well. al
though he spoke It poorly, and he COM
pretended the fact that the strange lady
OF the cab wished him TO perform some
service for money. lie nodded his
head. indicating that he was perfectly
willing TO earn five dollars-a sum
which Is not to be laughed at by any
Chinaman, and certainly not by MERGE
nary little Wee Wung.
There is no work expected Of you"
said the lady. "All you have to do Is
to come with me at once, as / am in a
great hurry"
Wee Wung explained, as best he
could, that he must be back by o o'clock.
Very we'll" his new friend contin-
ned, II promise that you shall be
brought back to your home here in the
cab by that time"
The bargain was completed. Without
asking any questions, the adventurous
Chinaman entered the vehicle with the
strange woman and was quickly driven
up Depont street toward the business
portion Of the city. Wee Wung did not
choose 10 disclose his Identity, for
shrewd reasons Of his own. In the first
place, he preferred that his new COM
panlon should believe him to be wom-
an, because If she realized the true state
OF things. he feared that she might not
give him the five-dollar Job after all.
Second, he wished to keep his curious
trip into the city a close secret, for If
that the little comedian had played
truant in order to earn extra money.
he might not approve OF the adventure
at all. So Wee Wung held his tongue,
and said not word to the lady seated
beside him as the cab rumbled along
the street, although he could not but
feel some curiosity to know what he
was expected to do IN return for the
money. The lady volunteered no infor-
nation upon the subject, however, so
the little comedian remained quite In
the dark.
In a short time the cab came TO a
stop in front of a large building, the
topmost part OF which-so Wee Wung
noted as he gazed upward-appeared to
be brilliantly lighted. The little Mon
gollan's new friend took him by the
hand, leading him into the building and
into an elevator, and accompanying him
in flying journey to the top floor Soon
Wee Wung found himself on a platform
in the brightly Illuminated hall which
he had seen from the street. His guide,
the woman Of the cab, ushered him to
one side of the platform, behind a cur
tain, where another lady seemed to be
waiting for them. A tall. straight. rath-
err handsome woman she was, and she
wore the most curious costume that
Wee Wung had ever seen upon an
American lady.
IL have found a Chinese woman for
you, Mrs. Pinkey- Creston." said Wee
Wings woman, as she led the supposed
Chinese girl into the presence Of the
strangely costumed lady.
ooh. thank you so much, Mrs. Hes
per-" replied Mrs. Pinkley- Creston, en-
Enthusiastically. I'm sure l don't know
what l should have done without your
kind assistance 1t is after s o'clock,
and must begin at once, or my audi
ence will be growing impatient"
After bidding Wee Wung remain
where he was until told to step forward
Mrs. Pinkley- Creston walked out to the
center of the platform. while Mrs. Hes
per took n seat in the audience. BY
peeping around the curtain behind
which he was stationed, the little Chin
aman could see that the hall was filled
with women. There was not a mar
among them. What did 1t all mean
why had he been brought here? We,
Wung was sorely puzzled. What kline
Of entertainment was this, and wha
part could he possibly take in It? Blu
Mrs. Pinkley- Creston had begun to talk
and Wee Wung strained his ears in or
der to hear something that might throw
light upon the bewlldering situation.
my dear friends" began Mrs. Pink
ley-Creston. IL come before you to
night to repeat my somewhat celebrated
lecture upon 'Woman's Dress in Differ
ent Nations have always been al
ardent advocate Of dress reform. and II
this sacred cause have Travelled owe
the world so that | might become thor
oughly acquainted with the costume
worn by the women of different nation
alities. l now propose to take each ma
ton. one at time. and describe to 70,
the native dress Of its women. l shall
first call your attention to the Chimes
not that they come first. necessarily
In the matter OF proper dress. but be
cause have secured n Chinese woman
b from Chinatown to Illustrate this par
of my lecture. and do not wish to TAX
up too much Of her time"
p Here Mrs. Pinkley- Creston turned he
head and smiled sweetly at Wee Wune
and beckoned him on to the platform
81 before the audience. Poor Wee Wun
was terror stricken as he stepped int
view. He had appeared upon the board
. the greater part of his life. but ha
never experienced stage fright befor;
He regretted that he had been foe
enough 10 be tempted by five dollar
into leaving his theater. He had NO
= understood the meaning Of half tn
7 L..