Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1906-10-04

ing things happene ed He was only 10,
but he knew very much, and Quong.
Ling was his devoted admirer.
There was no place IN the quarter OF
which Ming Foo did not have the run.
Every opium Joint was to him homo
and place to lay his head; every
pawnshop was his museum, and the"
theater was his especial place of pat
ronage: SO that it was with no difficult
ty that he gained for himself and fol-
lower admission to this place OF amuse-,
ment. He strutted across the stage and
to the dressing room behind, and got
in peoples way and bullied the actors,
and finally disappeared in the depths
fe.ow-and the fact was not even no.
ticed.
Among rows upon rows of masks
whole heads, some Of them, in fact
racks of swords, miniature pagodas,
thrones and ancient armor, they re-
eled undisturbed, and Ming Foo pulled
and hauled the things about until final
ly he found these articles he should
need-not a great deal, a papier mache
mask OF hideous design and extraordi-
nary proportions and few yards Of
yellow silk Nor was the removal of
these things without detection in the
Smallest degree difficult nor beyond his
resources.
The next thing was surreptit1ously
to possess themselves Of bunk in the
rear of Now Gums store without the
knowledge of Sam Louie. This also was
shutters were put up for the night.
After a long wait, Ming Foo eau
tious!E put aside corner of the mat
and slipped to the floor. Then he drew
Quong Ling down beside him and they
listened a moment, reached into the
bunk for the package which they had
brought from the theater, tiptoed out
of the sleeping room and made their
way Into the store.
Here, this IL do,' Ming Foo whis-
pered, selecting place behind low
pile of boxes. Nov, let's tie this mask
to you, and you are not to say q word
till tell you to sQueal; then, do it as
loud as you can; as loud as you can,"
he repeated, nervously. T. 49,.
The mask, which was almost three
feet in height, had two green horns at
it's top. TO each Of the horns Ming Foo
tied little bunch of punks, which he
lighted; as the pungent aroma floated
through the room and mingled with
the vegetable and animal odors. h
gave three little perfunctory bobs OF
his head. Next he tied, as best he
could in the dark this high mask to-
the body of his assistant.
They both warmed to the work and
forgot to be afraid. Ming Foo took out
a whole bunch Of matches, spat upon
them, rubbed the heads Of matches,
spat upon them, rubbed the heads with
his fingers, and then transferred the
phosphorescence to the face of the
mask with quick, uneven little dabs.
Shuttle, shuttle, approaching steps
without came to their ears distinctly.
In front of the door some one halted,
and even to the spot where the trem-
bling boys stood the low whisperings
carried.
Rap, bang! The pounding Of the door
reverperated through the room like
clap Of thunder.
who's there?" came from the inner
room. With lighted candle in his
hand which showed his sleep-swollen
face and eyes, Sam Louie came shut
fling out ~.. .~>,~.-.,,..rs -,
who's there?" he demanded, susp1-
ciously, as he laid hand upon the bar
of the door. Ming Foo could see, for
he had climbed up a little way on the
boxes for that purpose. =, IS. - e..
''Mow Gum. Open quickly" came
the prompt response, in low tone.
Sam Louie half turned the bar, but,
not all convinced, threw It back into
place.
How am I to know that it is how
Gum?' he asked.
In answer to this there was half-1m"
patient oath. open, Sam Louie. Am
I, Now Gum, your employer, to be kept
in the street and denied admission to
my own placer" ~.sa. -: ~
In his growing excitement, Ming
Foo climbed to top of the boxes. Sam
Louie, evidently satisfied, threw down
,,,. =, ~ =, :, -. 2"