Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-29

nome, my CnTlSIldu li1CAN.
"Cut II QUIT" retorted the man. II
guess | know how to find my way
round as we'll as the next man"
Certainly you do soothed Mrs.
Winter, who was lingering crisp new
fve-dollar bank note, and you are no
kidnaper, either; you made no bar
gain with those mem"
Sure l didn't" agreed the hackman,
nor l amt standin for kidnapping,
neither. Why, l got kids Of my own.
and my woman she'd broom me outer
the house II was to do them games.
Say, I'll tell you all l knows. They
got off, them three, at that there cor
nor, and was to drive fast s could
three blocks ahead and then git home
any old way. And that's Gods truth,
T."
"You didn't see where they went?"
Mrs. Winter was quietly insistent.
mo, didn't. guess was a dumb
fool not ter notice, but they paid me
we'll and I'd bad thirst. and was
hiking to place know for beer; and
that's"
did the boy seem wjlling?"
HE didn't do no kicking as seen"
A few more questions revealed that
the man had unpacked his full kit Of
information. He had never seen eth
er of the men before. The gentleman
yes, he was sure he was gentle
man; he wasn't no swell confidence
guy; he was the regular thing-gentle-
man engaged him to take a party to
the Chinese quarter; he'd tell where
to stop; didn't need guide; only
wanted to make few purchases, he
said. and he knew where the things
was: yes, ma'am. that was all: only
down there on Market street, or may
be-why, somewhere near by--he
stuck his head out and told him to
turn the corner, and then he kept tell
ing him to turn corners, until finally
he told him to stop and they got out.
Mrs. Winter gave the man the bank
note, counseling him to keep his eyes
open for the two men and the boy,
and to report to her at the Palace no.
tel, giving his number, should he see
either man or boy. 1t would be very
well worth his while.
The chauffeur did not interrupt, but
he shook his head over the departing
hack. He'd ought to have known it
want on the square. but these hack
drivers amt got good sense even when
they're, SO to speak, sober, which amt
often.' he sollloquized. We'll, lady, If
they've took to the Chinese quarter,
we'd better be looking up Chink to
help us, guess. know fairly de-
cent one"
II think I know . better" inter
rupted Mrs Wister, with faint smile.
She had detected suppressed pity
in the mans regard. Motor slowly
along the street. There is shop, II
I can find 1t. where there ought to be
q man"
''Man you know? Say, lady. guess
l better go in with you. II you don't
mind"
mo; stay in your car. You don't
know how safe I am. Not only my
gray hair protects me, but have
only to say few words and any Of
these men will fight for me II neces-
sary. But this is In Just
between us, you understand. You are
not to repeat 1t, ever"
She looked at him with Q frank
smile, and involuntarily his hand went
up to his cap. What you say goes.
lady. But Jest remember I'm right
here. spark going all the time, ready
70 throw her wide open when you step
in; and"-his voice sank-'1 amt alb
solutely unprepared for q scrap.
either"
II understand" said she, looking at
him keenly, and few moments later
she stepped briskly into the shop be-
fore which he halted with little light
ening of the heart because Of this un-
couth knight Of the lever. The shop
itself was like any one of score on
the street, crowded with oriental OBJ
jects, bizarre carvings OF ivory and
jade, daggers and strings of cash,
swords, gorgeous embroidered robes
Of silk and gold in huddle over
counter or swinging and cleaning 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 1t;
yet the clean windows and certain
order within gave it a touch out Of the
common. A man and boy, served the
shop, both In the American dress, with
their pigtails tucked under the visor
less caps. Both greeted her in the
serene oriental fashion, bowling 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 it
might be two older men, one a police
man, come into that or any other
neighboring shop. She explained that
the lad was her granddaughter and was
lost (she eschewed the harsher word,
for she had no desire to set afoat
rumor which might bring the police
upon her). She named sum large
enough to kindle sudden CLEAN In