Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-11-10


l as often assured her that he left
nothing to be desired, whereupon she
would pat his shoulder in approval,
and they would converse in their own
language, all g's and ms apparently.
One afternoon, toward the end of
June, there entered the Office an old
Chinese merchant, Quin Leng by
name, who long before had lived in
the Philippines, but who now resided
at homo in Hongkong, and came
across the troublous China Sea occa-
sionally on business trip.
After the usual long drawn greet
ings, we proceeded to business and
were deeply involved in the prices of
hemp and sugar when his glauce hap
pened to fall on Miguel, pensively
laboring at the punka-cord, and he
stopped arguing with an abrupt
"Wah-pia!"s the Chinaman's usual ex-
clamation of surprise.
Then, with an apology to me, he
rose, waddled across the room and
held out his hand to Miguel, saying,
Como va,-how goes it,-Senor
Ortiz?"
Miguel aook the prohered hand
with stately bow, and replied, quiet
ly, "Muy bien, gracias, very well,
thank you,-senor. l trust it is well
with your grace, also?"
All this was very much out of or
der. How came high-class "Chino"
merchant, and a mandarin of the blue
button at that, to be greeting thus
cordially an old punka-coolie, infinite
ly beneath him in that social stand
ing which the Chinaman holds SO
sacred?
My bewilderment was probably vis-
ible in my face as Quin Leng resumed
his seat, for he smiled like yellow
half-moon, and said, in his queer
pidginSpanish
"That man, Miguel Ortiz, years
and years ago was the chief clerk and
'majordomo' of Augustin, Ramon Y
Ca"-a famous old Spanish house in
Manila, long since failed and gone.
Did you know that?"
shook my head, and he went on:
HE was discharged for stealing
money, they said. What q pity! 1
never believed it. All, Miguel and 1
We're good friends in the old daysp'
'How did it happen?" 1 asked.
81 cannot say" he replied, "but the
story was that Miguel was left alone
in the Office all that afternoon, and
afterward could not account for three
hundred silver dollars which had been
brought in. 1t is strange, also," he
added, looking around. "This is the
very same Office they had then!"
"How long ago was it?" 1 asked.
"Let me sect was tho third OF
June OF the year IS. [ have reason
to remember it we'll, for it was the same
day that my godown-warehouse-was
sadly damaged by an earthquake, and
had to pay eighteen pesos for the
| three coolies that were killed in it."
Oar business was soon concluded,
and as Quin Leng went out he laid his
long-nailed hand on Miguel's shoulder
aud said, smiling, Back in the sane
old nest, old bird, eh?" And Migue
replied with quiet, ''5i senor."
So this was the story of my queer
puhkefo, L rejected surely he haC
peeh amply punished by all these
years OF poverty ans. degrauatlon-re
oueed from position OF trnst' witt
comparative wealth, to living IN a nlpi
hut among the lowest class OF natives
How lie mad managed to i've IN the
meantime never knew; but 1t troubled
me Soou 9$al during the next lev
days To see .''e pauent OLD fellow a
ms mechah.'al' lll-pald labor-wltl
that cripple son to support, too, re
nected'
couid hot pay MN more than othel
puhka-coc iles received without getting
all the other business men down OF
me- Although wanted to give hin
some employment more worthy OF hi
aoiii'y' was only the agent OF grea
house at home, and my responsibilities
were too heavy already to justify m.
placing IN position OF any trust r8loi
accused OF thelt. knew none OF tn.
other houses would take him, Tor