The Colfax chronicle., 1900-06-02

fused 10y Lung Lee, the tintricau
Mister was hard to please, and every
thing must be just SO for him. On
the table-cloth was wee brown spot,
brought about through Missee's care
lessness in helping herself TO gravy,
and this Toy was endeavoring to hide
when entered to him the Mister and
Missee, very hungry and impatient after
"a long walk; likewise Jim Sing, the lat
ter wearing very white and dunn
founded face and shaking hands. Some
thing must be the matter, Toy thought,
as he glanced at his cousin; doubtless
a pie had burned or that careless Foo
Chung had again ruined the tish-sin
verguenza! But Missee wanted some
hot tea ''in a hurry" and Mister was
cross about his soup Jim Sing, in
spite of his urgent, almost frantic ges-
lures, would have to wait.
Twenty minutes later. Missee being
fully appeased and enjoying highly her
nice fried chicken and hot tea, Toy
dared leave the room to speak for a
moment with Jim Sing. What did
he mean by his idiotic behavior? Sure
", one would believe the restaurant on
fire. or a mans wife on her death-bed
what in the name of Confucius was
the matter?
Jim Sing. weeping Indignantly in
the midst of several white-faced China
men, explained brokenly that Chona
and the bull-fighter Juan Jimenez had,
half an hour earlier, been seen cross
ing the Rio Grande bridge; both were
fitted out for travelling, both carried
pistols, and were evidently prepared
for ''liberty or DEATH" Two trains
had since pulled out on the American
side for Sierra Madre and Sonora, re-
spectively, and the Central would also
go out within another ten minutes.
He (Toy Lee) was a dishonored man,
along with his kindred, and all on
account of the American Missee's tea.
But for her there would have been time
to stop the runaways. Now it would
be too late, confusion to their souls!
In some matters the Chinese have very
nice and delicate feelings; otherwise.
any one of the dozen Cinnamon who lis
tened to Jim Sings tale of woe could
have gone after and overtaken, half
an hour ago, the erring and fleeing
wife. As it was, only the aggrieved hus
band could avenge himself and the loss
of the precious $4,000. For hurried
investigation showed that every cent
of poor Toys savings had been stolen.
In the confusion and hustle the
American couple were forgotten, like
wise the fish, likewise the milk-custard,
likewise the fact that. never having
taken out passports, Toy Lung Lee
could not, according to the law, pass
over the Rio Grande bridge into Amer
ican territory. Up to the flagstaff that
held proudly aloft the American stars
and stripes he could walk-no further
With faint thought of this, whirling
though his brain and senses were, poor
Toy hastily dressed himself in Ameri-
can clothes, with tall silk hat crown
ing his fat, snub-nosed face-the Sob
bing Jim Sing had suggested ''Melican"
clothes and a tall hat as the most posi-
tive of disguises. Dressed as an Amer
lean, he might perhaps elude the vigil
ance of the dreaded customs officer on
the American side. During part OF
the costuming Foo Chung had been
present. He it was who braced up Toys
trousers, and even pinned a Mckinley
button on his coat lapel before hastily
departing to attend to the custard.
At about five minutes to eight the
American customs officer at the bridge
was preparing to turn over to his night
relief, when quick, gathering footsteps
were heard. Nearer and nearer they
came until man loomed up out of the
gray adobe-ness of the night, and stood
painting before him-a small man,
dressed accurately in American clothes
and tall hat. His face did not show,
but he looked American. and his care
fully kept hand extended to the GUS
toms man an American coin, covering
the bridge toll. At first the gringo
thought of disputing this mans right
to cross; it seemed, somehow, that
something was wrong. But he was
sleepy, and what did it matter after
all? He took the coin and returned
ten cents in change, upon which the
man plunged hastily past him. To
haste the American was accustomed,
but the feeling that something was
wrong caused him to look after the
stranger. What was that long. ropy
thing dangling down from his silk hat?
A pig-tail. and its owner must be
Chinaman trying to dodge the United
States law.
In five seconds the customs man had
caught the Celestial, knocked off his
tall silk hat, and was staring scrutiniz-
ingly into white. twitching Chinese
face, with agonized eyes and cold, blue
lips. that made supplications in a
strange language. A Chinaman, sure