The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-03-05
4 NJ INSCRIPTION
"A ON A FAN.
forlginall


about it to indicate that it is OF especial
value Indeed. 10 or 10 cents would be
a good price for it. 1t is spread out to
show some Chinese characters danbed
across its face. 1t occurred to me that
this inscription might have something
10 do with thp care taken in the fans
preservation, and one evening after
dinner while in the room where it was
l asked Charnley If it were not so.
Il should think so. he said. knocking
the ashes OF his cigar. "Its all in the
inscription
We'll. ont with it." knew by his
expression there was a story coming
You remember some years ago" he
began. Il was obliged to go to China on
business. needed only to visit Pe-
king. Nankin aud few other points.
In going from Nankin to Khnifeng /
met with an adventure. was on
horseback and well armed. Hearing
commotion on the road before me. /
spurred on and found mandarin be.
Ing robbed by couple OF bandits. who
were trying to kill him before taking
his money, His position was very
plain TO me. and. dashing among them.
| fred mt both OF the assallants In rapid
succession. purposely missing them.
siuce didn't care TO kill any one aud
probably be- DELAYED by doing so. The
robbers ran away, and the mandarin's
servants skunk back to him. He was
the most grateful man you ever saw.
since we couldn't speak the same Ian.
gnage. he could only thank me with
his eyes which told his feelings plain
enough He picked up that fan. which
during the melee had fallen In the
road, sl,ook the dust of it and. taking a
writing stick. wrote that inscription
across its face, handing the fan to me.
y supposed that he had written his
thanks.
"'Glad TO have your autographs /
said, though / knew he didn't under
stand me. and we went on together in
silence tul we reached the next vii.
lage. where we parted with many fare.
wells which neither understood. Then
/ went on alone.
II heard a great deal about the rising
wrath in China against the foreign
devils, but didn't suspect it was a
premonition OF the celebrated Boxer
movement then about to break out.
Reaching mission station in small
town. ! concluded to remain with the
family OF Mr.. Fisk. Its manager. for
few days. On the afternoon OF my
arrival his daughter Evelyn, a girl Of
twenty. saw me nsing the fan. She
could read the Inscription. Of course,
and said to me:
"'rake care Of that fan Don't losa
it as you value your life
81 asked her why. but at the moment
she was called away. aud did NOT see
her for some time. don't remem.
Der whether when did see her ! had
forgotten the matter or had no op-
portuntty TO ask again. At any rate. 1t
was very soon after that we heard
shrieks up the street Every one pres.
ent turned white. knowing that mob
was numbering the Christian converts.
The noise came rapidly our way, and
Mr.. Fisk his family and servants
gathered in the living room In ron.
sternatlon. j got ont all my weapons.
but Mr. Fisk shook his head. Never
theless thought that l might as well
die defending my countrymen. espe.
ptatlv ne n rn,yid ~ ,,tn.oon&.. 4L..
dying without action.
Nearer came the yells and shrieks
till suddenly we saw through the win
dow a gang OF cutthroats coming.
doubtless. to the station. At that mo-
ment Evelyn. who had heen out. rush
ed in looking like a ghost.
1.-THE fan! The fanr she cried.
Where is itT
"'what FAM
"'The one you had yesterday
st remembered that It was In my
room and from Evelyn's eagerness
about It knew that 1t must be of impor.
tance, so ran there, snatched 1t from
a table and ran back again into the
living room. Evelyn pushed me TO the
door. crying:
"'open It! Hold 1t upr
II did as she directed just In time to
face the ugliest gang OF fanatics /
ever saw or expect to see. Their lead.
or, an immense man, was about to
dash in, with an az raised above his
head. when he caught sight of the let
ters on the fan. He stopped, lowering
his ak, while those behind him seemed
to be paralyzed by the inscription.
Then the leader, calling for a writing
stick, wrote something over our door,
and the mob rushed on. yells and
shrieks following in It's wake.
''They had no sooner started away
than, the strain on Evelyn having been
relaxed. she tainted. and l caught her
In my arms. Laying her on couch. /
went out to look at what ihr Ch;nlmau
had written on the door. Tie cllarac-
ters were the same as ttosc on the I'm.
When Evelyn rev,ycI she told re their
meaning, Respect thiy aan ana those
with him.