The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-06-24
CHAPTER w.

3 IS i
There are a hundred passengers on
Aosrd the Astara--a large number Of
.hon Caucasians trading with Tnrkestan
ana who will be with us all the way to
4hn eastern provinces of the Celestial
Empire.
As / am going to pass the night on
= deck, I return up the cabin stairs. The
American Is there just finishing the re-
packing Of his case.
"May ask how many teeth you are
importing into China in those casesa
eighteen hundred thousand, without
counting the wisdom teeth!
And Ephrinell began to laugh at the
little joke, which he fred off on several
other occasions during the voyage /
left him and went on to the bridge be-
tween the paddle boxes.
A rather large deal case, covered with
q tarpaulin, attracts my attention. 1t
measures about yard and 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
fought to be a Roumanian, and she
was taking advantage Of this through
train on the Grand Transasiatic to get
glass forwarded Was-thls an article in
request at the shops OF the Middle King
dom? How otherwise could the fair
: fioIo thatr al nd
their elaborate hair?
The bell rang and announced the 6
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
che Bnglishwoman 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. At
the other end of the table, close to where
the food came from, was the German
with a ruddy face, fair hair, reddish
beard clumsy hands and a very long
nose which reminded one of the probosci.
dean feature Of the plantigrades.
He is not late this time" said ia
Ephrinell. do you know his name?
Baron Observation-Disclosures"
"And with that name is he going to
PekinY'
ITO Pekn, like that Russian major
who is sitting near the captain of the
Astara"
I looked at the man indicated. He
was about fifty years Of age, of true
Muscovite type, beard and hair turning
gray, face prepossessing.
You said he was major, Mr.. Ephri.
nellT"
Yes; doctor in the Russian army
and they call him Major Noltitz."
Evidently the American was some dis.
lance ahead of me, and yet he was not
reporter by profession. Ephrinell chat.
ted with Miss Horatia Bluett, and l 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 hair
Miss Horatia Bluett represented an i'm
portant firm in London, Messrs. Holmes.
Holme, to whom the Celestial Empire
annually exports two millions Of. female
heads of hair.
The pitching now becomes very VIC.
lent Inc majority Of the company can,
not stand 1t. About thirty of the pas.
sengers have left the table for the deck
i nope the fresh air will do them good
we are now only dozen in the dining
room, including the captain, with whom
MAJOR Notitz is quietly conversing. Eph.
nneli and Miss Bluett seem to be thor.
oughly accustomed to these inevitable in.
odents of navigation. The German bar,
on drinks and eats as il he had taken
up his quarters in some bier-halIe al
Mumch or Frankfort.
little way off are the two Celes.
Gals, whom l watch with curiosity. One
Wa young man Of distinguished bearing
aoout twenty-five years old, of pleasan
physlognomy, In spite of his yellow skin
ana narrow eyes. A few years spent In
europe have evidently Europeanized his
manners and even his dress. His mus.
taehe is silky. his eye 10 Intelligent, his
nalr Is much more French than Chinese
Hls companion, on the contrary, whom
ne always appears to be making fun Of
OF the type of the true porcelain dol
with the moving head; he is from fifty
70 nfty-tve years old. like a monkey In
tne face, the top of his head half shaw.
en- the pigtail down his back, the tradi
uonal costume, frock. vest, belt, baggy
trousers, many-colored slippers; a China
vase of the Green family. He, however
could hold out no longer, and after q
tremendous pitch, accompanied by q
long rattle of the crockery, he gave ur
ana hurried on deck. And as he did so
Sne younger Chinaman shouted afteI
nlm' "Cornaro! Cornaro!" at the same
Ime holding out little volume he had
left on the table.
what was the meaning of this Italian
WORD In an oriental mouth?
~, Madame Caterna arose, very pale. and
;monsleur Caterna, a model husband. fol
lowed her on deck.
CHAPTER v.
is half-past ten when sit down or
one OF the seats in the s+Orp ne III,