Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-05-26
CHAPTER w

CdAIIbh Nv.
There are a hundred passengers on
board the Astara-a large number of
them Caucasians trading with Turkestan,
and who will be with us all the way to
the eastern provinces of the Celestial
Empire
As l am going to pass the night on
deck, return up the cabin stairs. The
American is there just finishing the re-
packing Of his case.
May l ask how many teeth you are
importing into China in those cases?"
Eighteen hundred thousand, without
counting the wisdom teethv'
And Ephrinell began to laugh at the
little joke, which he fired off on several
other occasions during the voyage. l
left him and went on to the bridge be-
tween the paddle boxes.
A rather large deal case, covered with
a tarpaulin, attracts my attention. 1t
measures about a yard and a half in
height and a yard in width and depth
1t has been placed here with the care
required with these words in Russian,
written on the side, "Glass-Fragile-
Keep from Damp" and then directions,
'"Top-Bottom," which have been re-
spected. And then there is the address,
"Mademoiselle Zinca klork, Avenue Cha
Coua, Pekin, Petchili, China
This Zinca Klork-her name showed
it-ought to- be a Roumanian, and she
was taking advantage of this through
train on the Grand Transasiatic to get
glass forwarded Was TINS an article in
request at the shops of the Middle King
dom? How otherwise could the fair
Celestials admire their almond eyes and
their elaborate hair?
The bell rang and announced the
o'clock dinner. The dining room is for
ward. Ephrinell mad installed himself
nearly in the middle. There was a va
cant seat near him; he beckoned to me to
occupy it.
Was it by chance? I know not; but
the Englishwoman was seated on Ephri
nell's left and talking to him. He in
troduced me-
"Miss Horatia Bluett,'' - he said.
Opposite / saw the French couple con
scientiously studying the bill Of fare. Al
the other end of the table, close to where
the food came from, was the German
with a ruddy face, fair hair, reddish
heard, clumsy hands and very Ions
nose which reminded one of the probosci
dean feature of the plantigrades.
HE is not late this time," said 1 t,
Ephrinell. "Do you know his name?"
Baron Observation-Disclosures"
"And with that name is he going t,
Pekin?''
"To Pekin, like that Russian majo
who is sitting near the captain Of tn,
Astara."
l looked at the man indicated. H
was about fifty years Of age, Of tru,
Muscovite type, beard and hair turnin,
gray, face prepossessing.
"You said he was a major, Mr.. Ephri
nell?"
eyes; doctor in the Russian army
and they call him Major Noltitz."
Evidently the American was some dis
tance ahead of me, and yet he was no
reporter by profession. Ephrinell chat
ted with Miss Horatia Bluett, and 1 un
derstood that there was an understand
ing between these two perfectly Anglo
Saxon natures.
In fact, one was a traveller in teeth
and the other was a traveller in hail
Miss Horatia Bluett represented an i'm
portant firm in London, Messrs. Holmes
Holme, to whom the Celestial Empir
annually exports two millions of femal
heads of hair.
The pitching now becomes very vic
lent. The majority of the company car
not stand it. About thirty of the pas
sengers have left the table for the decl
l hope the fresh air will do them goo(
We are now only a dozen in the dinin
room, including the captain, with who1
Major Noltitz is quietly conversing. Epl
rinell and Miss Bluett seem to be tho
oughly accustomed to these inevitable il
cidents of navigation. The German ba
ON drinks and eats as if he had take
up his quarters in some bier-halle {
Munich or Frankfort.
A little way off are the two Cele
tials, whom watch with curiosity. Or
is young man Of distinguished bearin
about twenty-five years old, of pleasal
physiognomy, in spite of his yellow SKI
and narrow eyes. A few years spent
Europe have evidently Europeanized b
manners and even his dress. His mu
tache is silky, his eye is intelligent, b
hair is much more French than Chimes
His companion, on the contrary, who
he always appears to be making fun g
is of the type of the true porcelain d.
with the moving head; he is from fif
to ffty-6ve years old. like a monkey
the face, the top Of his head half sha
en-, the pigtail down his back, the trad
tional costume, frock. vest, belt, bag,
trousers, many-colored slippers; a Chi
vase of the Green family. He, howeve
could hold out no longer, and after
tremendous pitch, accompanied by
long rattle of the crockery, he gave
and hurried on deck. And as he did {
the younger Chinaman shouted aft
him, "Cornaro! CornaroH at the sa1
time holding out little volume he b.
left on the table.
What was the meaning Of this Itai
word in an oriental mouth?
Madame Caterna arose, very pale. a.
Monsieur Caterna, model husband, f
lowed her on deck.
CHAPTER V.
1t is half-past ten when sit down
one of the seats in the stern of t
Astara But with this increasing wi
1t is impossible for. me. to remain the
/ rise. therefore, and make nv Way f