The Afro-American advance., 1900-04-28

Chung had again ruined the tish-sin
Yerguenza. But Missee wanted some
hot tea in 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 E.ghly her
nice fried chicken and hot tea, Toy
dared leave the room to speak for
moment with Jim Sing What did
he mean BY his idiotie behavior? Sure
ly, one would believe the restaurant on
FIRE. or mans wife on her death-bed
what in the name of Confucius was
the matter?
Jim Sing, weeping Indignantly iD
the midst of several white-faced China
men. explained brokenly that Chona
and the buii-fghter Juan .Iimenez had,
bali an hour earlier, been seen cross
ing the Rio Grahde bridge; both we're
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.
spectisely. and the Central would also
go out within another ten minutes
He TOY Leel WAS dishonored man,
along with his kindred. and all on
account of the American Missee's teal
But for her there would have been time
to stop the runaways. Now IL would
be too late, confusion TO their sOulsl
in some matters the Chinese have very
nice and delicate feelings; otherwise
any one of the dozen Chinnmen who lis
tened 10 Jim Sings tale OF woe could
have gone after and oyertaken, half
an hour ago, the erring and fleeing
wife. As II was, only the aggrieved hus-
band could avenge himself and the loss
Of the precious $4,000. For a 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 fnct that. never having
taken out passports, Toy Lung Lee
could not. according to the law, pass
over the Rio Grande bridge into Amer
lean territory. Up to the flagstaff that
held proudly aloft the American stars
and stripes he could walkno further.
with a faint thought of this. whirling
though his brain aud senses were, poor
Toy hastily dressed himself In Ameri-
can clothes. with tall silk hat crown
ing his fiat. snub-nosed fnce-the sob
bing Jim Sing had suggested 'Melcan"
clothes and tail hat ns the most posi-
tive OF DISCUSSES. Dressed as an Amer
ican 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 IL was who braeed up Toy =
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. clatterinR footsteps
were heard. Nearer and nearer they
came until IA man loomed up out of the
gray adobe-ncss of the night, aud stood
painting before hima small man.
dressed accurately in American clothes
and u 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
10 cross; IL seemed, somehow. that
something was wrong But he was
sleepy. and what did IL matter after
allP lie 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?
\ pg-tail, and its owner must he a
Chinaman trying to dodge the United
States law.
In Ave seconds the customs man had
caught the Celestial. knocked Oft his
tall silk hat, and was staring scrutiniz-
ingly into white. twitching Chinese
face, with agoniKed eyes and cold. blue
lips, that made supplicatlons In a
strange language. \ Chiuaman, sure
enough. The disguise had been care
fully gotten up, too. but for the for
gotten pig-tail, which dangled nncon-
craled far below the waist.buttOns OF
the American coat.
Americans generally know only
the American language. and China
men hardly ever know more than
their own cultural tongue; there
was, besides, no interpreter. Other
wise (for II was an important mat
teri the customs officer. in the
goodness of his heart. might have
allowed the passage into American ter
ritory OF this trembling, imploring lit
tie John Chinaman. As II was, he only
said. patronizingly, with "a shove of his
big. strong hand;
NO. no, Johnny Heap good little
man. Uncle Sam no wantee. You go
home no have papers. Next tlmee
have papers. Johnny sabe2"
Jus then the southern passenger
train whistled loudly. and through the
dark stiffness ot the night the putting
OF steam and cIanking of heavy wheels
could he heard. The train for the south
had started, and il was too late, Truly
Toy might as well 20 back home. for his
wife, her lover. and the savings OF ten
years were all beyond recall now.
Next morning Toy Lung Ice was