Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1909-03-25

fover hts heart was vtry sore. BU
he could not kill the laundryman, until
he received final orders, at seven that
night. from the Tong.
Promptly on the hour he was at
clerk handed him a letter containing
white sheet. entirely blank. Its up
per right-hand corner showed slight
hallmark. This was made by the
right forefinger of the chief of the
Tong. 1t signified that Billy should
live.
Lee Song felt the DEVILS dagger
again. He had planned that after
noon to adopt little Jing. after Billy
had gone to his fathers. Sorely dis
appointed, he pondered. walking In
the dusk. AT last he came to a de-
cision. He would kill Billy on his
own account. and take the boy. True.
longs rules did not forbid the aveng-
Ing of private feud, and Song took
Billy's abuse of Jing as personal
matter.
At quarter to ten he started for
Billy's laundry. crowd of young
hoodlums on a corner booted and hus-
tied the mild Chinaman, and
turned him back Song bore 1t
meekly. But they would not have hus-
tied him, had they known what
lay hid in the secret pocket up his
broad sleeve.
1t was half-past ten before he
tapped on the laundry door. Billy
opened it quickly.
you are late" grunted he, re.
sentfully. He did not enjoy being
cheated OF his smoke.
BE content" smiled Lee Song.
You shall have enough presently"
In a box in the back room Jing lay
asleep, curled up like kitten. Song
did not even look at him. Out of his
sleeve he shook two packets OF
opium
Try this, before you buy" said
he; and Billy snatched II greedily.
Each produced pipe, and they be-
gan to smoke.
For the first five minutes between
whiffs, Billy talked of Canton; for the
second five he spoke occasionally in
monosyllables; the third five he
smoked in silence; suddenly the
pipe twitched from his fingers, and he
tumbled back on the bunk. Surely, II
was strong opium.
Lee Song, watching him cat-like.
laid down his own pipe and stood up.
The time had come for Billy TO join
his fathers.
There are pistol-jobs, and knife
jobs, and rope-jobs. This was to be a
rope-job. Fsom his sleeve Lee pro-
duced cord. Skillfully slipping 1t
round Billy's neck, he rolled him over
on his face.
Crossing the rope-ends the Ratchet
boy grasped one firmly in each hand
His arms stiffened. A strong steady
pull would do the business. But Billy
snored peacefully on.
Lee Songs gorge rose. Disgust pos
sessed him; not pity, for hatchet-boys
know no pity. 1t was a job for a
novice. a burglar, unworthy a finished
artist
BAH" he grunted. 1T is too easy
kill men, not pigs"
CONTEMPORARY pulling out the cord
he rolled Billy over again on his back
Then he stepped to the box where Jine
lay curled. and shook him lightly.
Come" he said.
The boy started up, looked at him
moment In sleepy wonder then un
hesitatingly stretched out his arms
The hatchet-man lifted him, and
passed into the night.
Two hours later Lee Song sat In the
corner of the smoking car, bound fol
the great city. In his arms lay Jing
fast asleep. one hand tightly claspinl
Songs right forefinger. that terrible
finger which had sent so many China
men to join their fathers.
The hatchet-boy looked down on the
little black head in the hollow OF hit
arm. He pressed the limp, thin body
beating heart and the gentle breath
ing. His room In Mott street would be
brighter with this little fellow playing
in II.
A wave of strange tenderness swept
over Lee Song Again the devil
stabbed him, but his dagger was blunt
ed. The sore place did not hurt &c
much. His lips were silent, but In hi
heart he said:
ut is good TO have little boy"