The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-09


merits in heaven"
81 am your excellencys idotic slave"
1t may be taken fer granted that | was
not unmindful of the. presence of Nj
Wing Lee. Indeed, my scrutiny of hin
was only equaled by his scrutiny of me
So concentrated and fiery was the look Of
his deep-set eyes that, in order to avoid
suspicion, l had to turn aside. But ever
while my eyes were wandering round the
shop | knew that his gaze Was concen-
tratod upon me.
Processing that money was no object
and also an entire ignorance of any
knowledge of collins, | asked him if he
had any in stock, and he mme diately LED
me through the shop to little room at
the back. the walls of which were lined
with gruesome shapes.
Here" said he, ARE few cf my con-
temptible collins. Would your cXceilency
prefer the plain polished wood. or the
white or the black covering? Your eX-
cellency must understand that the cloth
but conceals the poverty of the wood.
Precisely so. The person to whom
am going TO present the coffin. relative
of mine, is a high official. You viii see
that l do not outrage his susceptible
ties
Your cxcellency understands that it is
pnt Il question oil money.
Name your own price, and do the work
in your own honorable style By the way,
is this the whole of your stock?"
Not the whole, your exceliency, but
the gems of my collection
Well" said l. looking round, where
arc the others?'
He griuned rather curiously as he re-
piled, Beneath your excellencys illus
trious feet
l stepped back. an unaccountable shud-
der sweeping through me. The little
wretch saw the movement and smiled.
May see them?''
1T is but dark cellar. your exccllen-
cy. There is nothing to see"
Very we'll. You know what 1 want.
When will you have it ready for me?"
I'm week, excellency."
THAT will do nicely. l suppose you
are to be found here at all hours?"
AT all hours, excellency."
Then l will look in whenever / hap
pen to pass"
With that I took leave of him, giving
him the address Of one of the Governors
secretaries, to whom, once l was out in
the street ! despatched note acquaint
ing him with the arrangement. And, as
it happened. l had acted none too
promptly. Some quarter of an hour after
the secretary had received my note the
coffin maker, Wing Lee, called to make
enquiries.
The note despatched by messenger.
made all haste to the clearinghouse where
had left the young man with the flushed
face, and when l entered the room he was
still sitting before the same table. For
tunately for my purpose. the other tables
were full: SO, making direct for him, /
hnwal and hot 10
would excuse the presumption Of my
daring to sit in his illustrious presence.
Again he favored me with the same inso-
lent look, but / only smiled in return,
and was more profuse with my apologies.
If had not wished to mollify the young
brute l would have kicked him off his
seat.
During the meal he sat staring at me
through the clouds of smoke which he in
cessantly drew from his Manila, smiling
inwardly, l could see, at my attempts to
propitiate him. Remark after remark /
made, to all of which he either returned
a grunt OF assent or dissent. or maintain
ed stolid silence. The only thing that
the wall above the door. When he was
not staring at me through the smoke he
i:attered it with anxious glancss
When / called for the bill his interest
in me awoke little. and when, for rea-
sons of my own. showed a considerable
bundle of bank-notes. the young mans
Indifference rapidly vanished. He shook
himself together, as it were, smiled, and
took the trouble to ask few civil but
questions. J. nothing loath
at once entered into conversation with
him. 1t suited LIE to forget his inso-
lence.
In few minutes we were deep in anil
mated conversation, and by an insinua-
ting piece of cross-q questioning he learnt
that 1 was native Of Pekin; that my
father was ricn banker there. and that I
was stranger in Hangchow. knowing no
one, AMI absolutely at my wits ends to
know how to kill time To all of which
he replied that Hangchow was his ma
tive city: that he was Wah Foo. the
son Of Ming Hi, the tea merchant. and
that he would be willing TO place himself
1t my honorable disposal l at once
sealed the bargain over a bottle of wine.
. Once he grew confidential Wah Foo
disclosed the deplorable fact that he was
'ne of these sad dogs who. knowing only
he worst side of things. hay, little sa..n
n the better. His conversation, sound
ng me as it were, ran the whole gamut
If frivolous or discreditable proaigacy.
Yet when he learnt that | had a weak
less for games OF chance he spoke in a
over key, and looked from side to side
Is though he did not wish anyone to hear
lin.
Would you like to try your luck?" he
sked.
/ smiled as I patted my breast.
Il have few taels here that I should
ike to fluttcr.'
Il know place where you may ,lutte-
hree hundred Of them at time"
But, unfortunately. ! do not"
Yet / may introduce you"
Well, the bargain was struck. Nv friend
Tas TO take me to the place; |. ON the 9Th
r hand, pledged myself to the utmost ee-
recy. We waited for another half-hour
r SO chatting and smoking, and then be
nnounced that 1t was time for US to start. |
was with no surprise, once we were in |
he street, that | saw him turn in a GER |
ain direction. In fact, / was sure he
'Ould only go one way. Therefore l was |
OF In the least astonished when teheld |,
i'm stop before the door of Wing Lee,
he coffin maker
a cautious rat-tat. sound d in a peculiar |
lanner. was followed by singular |
queaking as OF rusty hinges, and then |
ny companion knelt to the keyhole and !
ihispercd There shall be laid UP in !
Ieaven ten thousand merits for the friend |
man"
In strange contrast to the Former |
lueaking of hinges. the door opened soft
:, giving us admission into the dlmly-
GIFTED workshop of that friend of man.
ling Lee. Wah Foo, who seemed to know
is way about. Immediately crossed the
hop and entered the little sanctuary at
he rear. This, like the outer shop. was
t dimly by Il lamp which smelt horribly:
ut crossing the floor with a rapid stride.
~ companion made for the opposite
ght hand corner. and slowly knocked
We times upon the wall. A strange inter- |
al Of silence followed. during which |
anticipated some answering signal; but