The Mena weekly star., 1909-05-20

swords, gorgeous embroidered robes of silk and gold in a huddle over a counter or swinging and gleaming in the dusky background, squat little green and brown gods with puffy eye lids, smiling inscrutably amid shoes and fans and Chinese lanterns of glass and bronze. glittering with beads--in all these, like the score about it.: yet the clean windows and a certain order within gave 1t t0uch out of the common. A man and boy served the shop, both in the American dress, with i their pigtails tucked under the visor less caps. Both greeted her in the serene oriental fashion, lowing and smiling. their obsequious courtesy showing no smallest sign of the sur prise which the sight of an unattended woman must have given them.
 Nevertheless, Mrs. Winter was aware that both. under their lowered eyelids, took cognizance of that soft carven disk of jade among the laces on her breast. She asked the man if he had seen lad and an older man, or 1t might be two older men, one police man, come into that or any other neighboring shop. She explained that the lad was her grand-nephew and was lost (she eschewed the harsher word Tor she had no desire to set afoat a rumor which might bring the police upon her). She named sum large enough to kindle a sudden gleam in the boys eyes, as the reward awaiting the lucky man who might put her on l the right track But her words struck no responsive spark from the China mans yelled gaze. In perfect English and very soft voice he avowed ig. norance and sympathy with the same | breath.
 And all the while she could feel his glance slant down at the jade orna. ment.
 Send the boy to look in the shop next door," said she. As she spoke she raised the charm between her thumb and her first two fingers, look ing at him directly. Her tone was that of command, not request. He drowned very slightly. making an al most imperceptible gesture, to which she returned a single Chinese phrase, spoken so low that had he not ex- pected the words they had been indis- tinguishable to his ear. Instantly he addressed the boy rapidly in their own l language. The boy went out The master of the shop returned to Mrs. | Winter. His manner had utterly | changed; the tradesman's perfunctory difference was displaced by an almost eager humility of bearing He would have her sit--there were a few cane seated American arm chairs In gro tesque contrast to all their accom- paniments-he prostrated himself be- fore her; he put himself at her ser. vice; still to her trained eye there was a corner of his mind where incredulity wrestled with stronger emotion.
 Do not fear" she said, gently. "It is really my own, and he gave 1t to me himself almost 30 years ago. He was hardly 30 years old himself then. You see, my husband had been so for tunate as to do him a kindness. It was he who had it first When he died it came to me, and now for the second time in my life I am using it. l knew you belonged. I saw the sign Win you help me find my boy?"
 Did your ladyship know he is he'e in San Flansico?"
 If she had not already dissipated any doubt in his mind, her evident re lief blew the last shred away now Haven't you such a thing as tele phone somewhere?' cried Rebecca Winter. Time is precious. Can't you speak to him-have him come here?"
 It appeared that there was teie- phone. and in a moment she was put into communication by the shopkeep- ! CT He stood in an attitude of deep respect while she talked. He heard with unsmiling attention her first | Chinese words; he listened as she re- turned to English. speaking very | quietly, but with controlled earnest ness, explaining that she was Archi- bald Winters widow, giving dates and places, in nowise alluding to the service which had won the charm about her neck. Yet as he listened, insensibly the Chinaman grew certain that she had spoken the truth. Pres ently she turned to him. He wishes to speak to you" she said, and went back to the shop. SLe sighed as one sighs from whose heart great burden rolls. ITO find him here, and still grateful" she was thinking. What wonderful good fortune!"
 She sat down. and her face grew | dreamy. She was no longer thinking of Archie. Her vision was on another face, another scene, time of peril when almost against her reason fer | lnstinctive woman's recoil of pity for a fellow-creature fin danger of unthinh 1 able torture had been so intense that she had more than acquiesced in her husbands plan of risking both their | lives to save him; she had impelled him to 1t: she had overcome his terror | Of the risks on her account. Tt is l only death we have to fear, at worst, she had argued. "We have the means to escape in a second. both of us, from anything else: and if we run away and leave this poor wretch. who hasn't 1 done anything but love his country | just as we love ours, and he too civi lized for his trifing. ornery. pusillani nous country-people to understand, tc get slashed to pieces by their horrible ling-ling-whateve they call it--Arch ibald Winter. don't you reckon we