The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-06-01
he Son OF
a w aPpfOP
Q OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES,
Copyright by Joseph b. Dowles.)
BY PHILIP vERRILL MIGHELS


Copyright, by Joseph d. Dowles)
There were seven kinds Of Indians
at the rear of the largest hotel of q
FAR western town. Dirty and dirtier,
which is two; young and old, which is
four; male and female, making six;
and one little clean papoose.
The mother Of the wee papoose was
sitting on a stone chewing gum and
exchanging Indian gossip with a
healthy collection OF Washoe ladies'
whose faces were painted with reck-
less colors and in desperate designs.
Presently, around the corner. came
a trotting, smiling Chinaman, ven
dor of vegetables.
AS the Chinaman halted within the
gate of the high broad fence, he light
~ swung the receptacles to earth, rest
ed his polished pole conveniently near,
lifted mat, containing the days sup
plies for the cook within, and carried
| II off to the kitchen. The little pa
| poose was very much fascinated by
the resting baskets. They were nearly
res
Now II not very strangely befell that
the vendor of vegetables fingered q
time in the kitchen, for that exceed
lngly tempting and sayory seat of gov
eminent was under the personal su
peryision of another little yellow man,
who called his countryman Wong, and
gave him to drink of tea.
While the two engaged each other
with inharmonioua gutterals, Il dusky
Uranium and equally ebon countenance
prptruded from another door Its
owner was the negro porter. grin
ming fellow whose mania for Jokes Of
the practical" genus was developed to
q degree uncnnuy.
He was rolling his eyes at the time
in manner suggestive Of very bad
dreams. No sooner had he made him
self certain that The yard was free Of
observers and occupied alone by the
wee papOose, than he stcalthily slipped
from his place AMI grabbed the scared
little fellow by the tail OF his wholly
inadequate shirt.
The Chinaman'5 basket had q shall
low tray in the top filled with bects,
then an inside yeccptacle-als shall
'ow-filled with celery. Below this
last were cabbages down in tho bot
tom.
These extra insi!es the negro quick
~ elected with his unemployed hand
then a couple OF cabbaGes, as large to-
Gcther as the wee papoose, and quite
o. heavy, came forth with a jerk In a
second more the silent Indian baby
had been dropped within, the extra
basket and trays replaced, and the
darby had hoppel through the door
with the cabbascs, doubling himself |.
forward like a t.cracker.
Out there came Wong. beaming with |
the radiance of tea well swallowed |
lie rearranged hts pole. bent his stout |
MoneolIan back, Strengthened up--lift- I.
ING his baskets-balance them neatly, |.
ami trotted away with the frightened
baby Indian, quito oblivlous of the
fact that such 4 lively vegetable had
ever been grown.
Wong went SINGING up the street.
"Coot moIIng," he said Mt last. as
he stopped at thr rear Of one Of the .
most imposing houses "Velly fine .
uollng."
"Good-mornln1, Wong. It's little .
bit chilly" SAID STOPPING, gray
barred lady in glasses, rubbing her
hands.
"oh' ych, him for iii bit chilly"
What have you got this morning."
che inquired.
He began at crce 10 lift the tray.
Next he holstod forth 1hc shallow In
side basket and reached for cab
base. Then the scared little face Of
the wee papoo5e met his gaze
Xxi vi" he yelled. "Sumin- ali
got NJ belong for Wong-Huh."
Nerving himself for the fearful or
deal, he lifted the squirming baby
forth and dropped it quickly TO tho
ground.
No sooner did the wild little thing
find itself released than II scrambled
to its feet and ran At the skirt of the
elderly lady--tho only thing 1t recog-
ni1ci-and clung there like prickly
burr All this in half moment
Mercy" shrieked the lady. who had
romprehended nothing Of Wong's Pc
culiar antics. Mercy, where!-
Wong, where did you get this child
this savage chld?" she demanded
Take 1t away. Instantly"
But the vendor of vegetables, thor
oughly alarmed, had fed.
Did yez call. Missus HOBART" said
a voice from the door.
oh! Maggie, oh! dear-oh, oh!
What shall we do" walled the wo-
man.
She was trying to shake her skirts
Of the brown little Washoe, but he
merely chung the harder and buried
his face in his silent fright
"Ach. wurra-wurra!" said Maggie.
"Oi wudden't n Tot ut! Phere did yez
git um?"
Il don't know-oh! don't know.
We've got to take him in, | suppose,
and wait for Charles"