Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1906-05-24
When Lung Sing
WhiStIed
sy CLAUDE PAMAREs
Copyright, 1905, by E. c. PARCELS

the afternoon ON some errand, and as
he passed the cook house where Lung
Sing was securing his pots and pans
he heard sound that caused him to
stop i'll his tracks and eXclaim:
well, I'll be hanged"
Lung Sing was whisting. He had
been cook at Star ranch for over a
year and had never been heard to whis-
tie before. Indeed, he never hummed,
never smiled. never talked unless di-
rectly spoken to. He was put down as
surly and crossgrained, but as he was
a good cook and as none of the men
cared copper whether he talked or not
he still held his place.
whats the matter?" asked Colonel
Spears wife, who was mistress of the
ranch, as the foreman finally reached
the door,
THAT heather back there is whis-
Ting"
'Well, can't heather whistler"
"There is no law against it, but Lung
Sing has been here over a year, and
this is his first toot. Wonder what has
happened to chirk him up?"
II can't say. had him in here an
hour ago and told him that he'd have to
take the blackboard tomorrow morning
and drive over to Pine Hill to meet
Fannie Williams. She's coming on to
stay with us month or two. you know.
They think something Is the matter
with her lungs, and the doctor has rec
commended this climate. The colonel
has got to go over to Wolf Greek, and,
of course, the rest Of you are busy"
"But-bur don't like the idea," said
the foreman as he scratched his head.
''Why don't you?"
Because Lung Sing is whistling.
When a heather whistles look out for
him"
The woman laughed and turned away,
and minute later the foreman was
walking off. He passed the cook house
again, and the Chinman was still whis-
Ting softly to himself.
Hes at it again, and Ill bet he's up
to some deviltry. I'll tell the boys to
keep an eye on him."
AS soon as he had cooked the mems
breakfast EeAt morning Lung Sing set
out on his ten mile drive to the rail-
road. He was given many words of
caution by the colonelis wife, and he
promised over again to drive slowly
and bring the girl and her trunk safely
to the ranch. His face was as impas-
sive as washboard until he had left
the house half a mile behind him; then
he puckered his mouth and began to
whistle. Between whistles he gricned
and smiled
An hour and a half later he drove up
to the little station on the plains, and
when the train came in his passenger
stepped from one of the parlor cars.
Lung Sing welcomed her with grunt.
He grunted again as he put her bag.
gage aboard the vehicle, and he put on
blank look rs the station agent said
to the girl:
II suppose he's the cook over at the
Star and they sent him because all the
others were busy"
'Oh, I'll excuse him." laughed the
girl as she settled herself. And next
moment Lung Sing was driving away.
1t was in June, and the weather was
cool and pleasant, and the girl almost
forgot the man beside her as mile after
mile was passed. Once or twice she
was conscious that he was whistling,
but as she didn't know whether China
men usually whistled or not she did
not give the matter second thought.
She had been informed by letter that
the drive from the station to the ranch
house would not occupy over two hours
at the farthest. That meant her ar
rival by noon. Her watch showed her
when that hour had come round, but
size could see no sign Of civilization. In
fact, she saw that the vehicle had left
the road, such as it was, and was pro-
cecding over the unmarked plains.
care We almost there?" she asked as
she turned to Lung Sing and spoke
for the first time since leaving the
station.
Lille while-lille WHILE" he replied
as he stared straight ahead.
But how is it that you are off the
road?"
Load ale light"
A minute later the Chinaman was
whistling. 1t wasn't the honest whis-
tie of an American, but there was
something hypocritical and deceiving
about it. The girl had nothing further
to say. The man would not have been
sent if he hadn't been all right, and if
he had left the track it was probably
to take Il short cut and reach the
house all the sooner 1t was not until
her watch marked 1 o'clock and the
vehicle was being driven among the
scrub pines and cedars. along stretch
of foothills. that the girl turned and
seized Lung Sing by the arm and ex.
claimed
II know you are not taking me to
the ranch house! What do you mean
by this?"
"Alle light-alle light" replied the
Celestial as he hurried the horse for
ward.
But it is not all right! Let me out
at once.'
He seized her with one hand to hold
her in the seat while he guided the
horse With the other, but in the strug-