The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1905-07-20

garden near Los Angeles. and had GUS
toners whose tables for years had
known no vegetables but those supplied
by him. Moreover. he was an exen-
plary Chlnaman. He often shook his
head over the troubles OF his other
countrymen and proudly called atten-
ton 20 his own Rpotless career. which
had not a ripple Ia the peacefulness OF
the years Of his sojourn In America.
As 10 why he was always so blessed
he had an invincible answer: Me good
Mclean. Ne dress Mclean. Cut of
him queue. Ne mindee veg'able; no
locke trouble" was Gees reply.
When little ong Wang was left an
orphan NJ 2 years old, Geo III adopted
him with all the legal forms required
by American law.
The small Ong's father had been
cook I'm n downtown restaurant, where
the queer little child attracted great
deal OF attention. and became quite
friendly with many OF the customers.
thus acquiring a better understanding
OF the American language than his
father.
II was the AmericanIsms az his
speech that won the admiration of Gee
X while carrying vegetables into the
restaurant kitchen. and later opened
the door Of hts affection TO the or
plan.
Ong frequently accompanied his new
father ia the vegetable wagon. orouSiug
interest all along the route. aud when
he was occasionally left nj home To
work In the garden. motherly women
aaNiously inquired about him. much To
Gees delight. who would murmur rs he
drove on.
"Ah. ah! lie good Mclean"
One OF Gees best customers was Mrs.
Ashbury. the detectives wife.
Gisg
nese mission. but SO far her cndeaNors
I'm Gees behalf had been useless. He
would not go To the mission.
The Chinese child. however. aroused
her missionary zeal more strongly than
the Older Cinnamon. and she begged
Gee TO allow him 90 remain and play
with her little son. While. which he did
many times Willie was we'll pleased
with hts new playrcllow. and they had
great FUN together. hut weeks passed
and Ong did not attend the mission
Sunday school.
Detective Ashbury was ut home later
than usuni one morning. and happened
to be on the back porch when Gee and
his adopted son came with the
vegetables. Odd. Indeed. was their APP
pcaranCc. The child's fat young face
above hia grotesque clothing was n
pleasant sight. Gee would have pre-
ferrcd 10 dress him like American chill
ducn. but Oug's father had asked that
lis child be- clothed according TO the
Chinese custom aud wear queue, ut
least until he became a man.
Gee KRIS appearance almost oailled
description. He was short and stout,
and was proud ga the possession OF
sparse muStaChe.
His lcathery face was network ~ q
thousand wrinkles. with a deep chan
mel above the right eye, which might
have been n mammoth wrinkle or
scar from the long, twu-hIudlei sword
that plays It's part among the murder
Gus secret societies ~ China. Age was
prowcss before such q face. IL WAS not
youthful certainly. hut 70 might have
been anywhere from 30 10 40 years old.
The detective regarded the duet with
an amused smile which soon changed
TO keen interest.
We'll. John" he asked. have you 81
twin brother living down on tho
dumps"
Gee III talked Mclean" but twin
brother" was n new word To him. 80 he
only looked az his Questloner with an
infantilc smile and did not reply.
His name Is Gee. not John" cor
rected Mr.. Ashbury. who strongly OBJ
jected 10 the nppcllation OF John or
Charlie" TO any and all Cinnamon.
II beg your pardon, Gee said the
detective laughing. but isn't Jim
Dumps q relative ot yours? would
almoGt say that you were the same
man"
Gee has no brother" ons volun-
teered FOR him.
While Mrs. Ashhu-y gave the order
for vegetables IN" detective studied the
face OF the Chiupw1u.
"A most rcmarka bic resemblance. he
said. as Gee carried the yrGrtahl In
20 the kitchen. III 10 were not for that
scar over the eye | should say lac was
the Chinaman that lives In n little
skanty down on the dumps as Is con-
stantly qunrrel!!ng with an old white
man. who Is also encroachiug upon the
city dumps"
Little ong Wang was an attentive
listener. but all OF Gees faculties were
required In the vegetable transaction.
and he understood nothing that the de-
tectlve had said.
Friday afternoon OF the same week
Gee was drlvin' home In a very cheer
ful state OF mind. Sales had been
large OF late. When n short distance
from his neat gardens and small house.
Ong Wang stepped out from a patch OF
tall sweet corn and called I'm the shrill
staccnto OF his native language.
Gee stopped TO help him into the wag-
on, but before he had started up the
horse, and almost before Ong had made
him understand what had happened, n
policeman. followed by n big black
wagon. turned out OF the road that led
TO Gees shanty. and walked straight
10 the spot where Gee and his little
companion were chattering like birds.
Gee was SO badly frightened that he
forgot all that he had ever known OF
the AuNrlcan language. until the magic
word murder" was spoken.
Me no Murder. Me good Mclean.
See. cut of him queue. Me good Nell
can"
"Oh. come long here" said the po-
lIcemnn. You murdered the old miser.
Newman. that lived down on the
dumps There cannot be two such fun
NY looking Cinnamon as you. SO come
along peacefully"
The policeman did not wait for this
peaceful compliance. but strongly az
sisted the terrified Chinaman. who
could only repeat:
Me no murder. Ne good Mclean.
Mclean"
OnE Wang sat alone In the wagon
after his benefactor had been uncere-
monlously transferred to the patrol.
He was too thoroughly oriental TO
scream and wall a. an ordinary child
would have done. Blank fear possessed
his mind for n short time. but he drove
UP To the barn. tied the horse To n post
and stood motionless. looking down the
road where the policeman and Gee had
disappeared. But for only a moment
did Iva remain innrtiye A bright liphf