The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1905-07-21
How BQX nN!}v 7w
Zl6kSHZE5zMz
ETMYNpE ER0NA1

Copyright. 1905, by w. II. Hearst)
Gee Iii owned Il profitable vegetable
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 eXem-
plary Chinaman. He often shook his
head over the troubles of his other
countryinen and proudly called atten-
ton 10 his own spotless career. which
had not a ripple in the peacefulness of
the years of his s%ojcurn in America.
As to why he was always so blessed
he had an invincible answer: Me good
Mclean. Me dress Mclean. Cut off
him queue. Me mindee veg'able: no
locke trouble" was Gees reply.
When little Ong Wang was left an
orphan at 9 years old. Gee Hi adopted
him With all the legal forms required
by American law.
The small Ong's father had been a
cook in a downtown restaurant, where
the queer little child attracted a great
deal of attention, and became quite
friendly with many of the customers,
thus acquiring q better understanding
of the American language than his
father.
1t was the Americanis.ns of his
speech that won the admir:rSi5n of Gee
nj Mlllle carrying NtSttdpitS iito llc
restaurant kitchen, and later opened
the door of his affection to the or
phan.
Ong frequently accompanied his new
father i'm the vegetable wagon, arousing
interest all along the route, and when
he WAS occasionally left at home to
work in the garden. motherly women
anxiously inquired about him, much to
Gees delight, who would murlnur as he
drove on.
"Ah, ah. He good Mclean
One of Gees best customers was Mrs.
%.Ashbury, the detectives Wife.
She was also a teacher in the Chi
nese mission. but so far her e~ndeayors
in 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 To remain and play
with her little son. Willie, which he did
many times. Willie was well pleased
with his new playfellow, and they had
great fun together. but weeks passed
and Ong did not attend the mission
Sunday school.
Detective Ashbury was at home later
than usual one morning, and happened
to be on the back porch when Gee II
his adopted son came With the
vegetables. odd, indeed, was their APP
pe;tl'allce. me cHl!d S lal SoulS lace
above his e~rotesque clothing was a
pleasant sight. Gee would have pre-
ferred TO dress him like American chill
dren. but Ong's father had asked that
his child be clothed according to the
Chinese custom and wear a queue, nj
least until he became a man.
Gee his appearance Amos oaf1ed
description. He was shor and stout,
and was proud in the possession of a
sparse mustache.
His leatlery face was n network of a
thousand wrinkles. with a deep chan
mel above the right eye, which might
have been n mammoth wrinkle on Il
scar from the long, t~wo-handled sword
that plays it's part among the murder
u secret societies of China. Age was
prowess before such . face. 1t was not
youthful certainly. hut it might have
been anywhere from 30 to 1850 years old.
The detective regarded the duet with
an amused smile. which soon changed
TO keen interest.
We'll. John" he asked. have ycG i
twin brother living Town ON the
Dumps"
Gee III talked Melican,'' but twin
brother was a new word to him. so he
only looked al his q%ucstioner with am
i%nfantile smile and did not. reply.
His name is Gee, not john cor
rected Mr.. Ashbury. who strongly OBJ
iecte1 TO the aDpellation of John" or