The Tupelo journal., 1909-05-14
eSI OGzAM 77zANE7
osgHa@ TIE nan E52H0Us
12HOR

No; stay in your car. You don't
gray hair protects me, but have
only to say a few words and any Of
these men will fight for me if neces-
sary. But this is in conference.-the
between us, you understand. You are
not to repeat 1t, ever"
She looked at him with a frank
smile, and ~involuntarily his hand went
up to his cap. What You say goes,
lady.a But jest remember I'm right
here, spark going all the time, ready
to throw her wide open when you step
in; and'-his voice sank-"I amt alb
solutely unprepared for a scrap,
either"
"a understand" said she, looking at
him keenly, and a few moments later
she stepped briskly into the shop be-
fore which he halted with a little light
ening of the heart because of this un-
couth knight of the lever. The shop
itself was like any one of a 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 a huddle owe a
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 a certain
order within gave it a touch out of the
common. A man and a 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 u r
prise which the sight of an unattended
woman must have given them.
Nevertheless, Mrs. Winter was
aware that both, under their lowered
eyelids, took c%ognizance of that soft
carven disk of jade among the faces
on her breast. She asked the man if he
hdo oOCh q ldQ dllu OIL OluCI Iuuh, vi ~
might be two older men, one a police
man, come into that or n other
neighboring shop. She explained that
the lad was her g~rand-nephew and was
lost (she eschewed the harsher word,
for she had nc desire to set afioat a
m which might bring the police
upon herr. She named a sum large
enough to kindle a sudden CLEAN in
the boys eyes,, as the reward awaiting
the lucky man who might put her on
the right track. But her words struck
no responsive spark from the China
mans yelled gaze. In perfect English
and a 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
frowned very slightly, making an al
most imperceptible gesture, to which
she returned a single Chinese phrase,
spoken so low that had he not TX
pected the words they had been indis-
tinguishable to his ear. Instantly he
addressed the boy rapidly In their own
language. The boy went out. The
master of the shop returned to Mrs.
Winter. His manner had utterly
changed; the bridesmaids 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 Frustrated 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 a stronger emotion.
do not fear she said, gently. 1T
is really my own, and he gave it to me
himself, almost 80 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. 1t
was he who had it first. When he
died 1t came to me, and now for the
second time in my life l am using it.
l knew you belonged. l saw the sign.
Will you help me find my boy@
did your iadyship know he is he'e,
in San Flansico?"
If she had not already d~issipated
any doubt in his mind, her evident re-
lief blew the last shred away now.
"Hayen't you such a thing as a tele-
phone somewhere" cried Rebecca
| Winter. Time is precious. Can't
you speak to him-have him come
here?"
1t appeared that there was a tele-
phone, and in a moment she wal put
into communication by the shopkeep-
er. 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 a controlled earnest
ness, explaining that she was Archi-
bald Winters widow, giving dates and
| places, In nowise abiding 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
emily she turned to him. He wishes
to speak to you," she said, and went
back to the shop. She sighed as one
signs from whose heart a great burden
| rolls. sTo find him here, and still