Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1909-03-03

better go in with you. If you don't
mind"
mo; stay in your car You don't
know how safe I am Not only my
gray hair protects me, hut ! have
only to say few words and any of
these men will fight for me if neces-
| sary. But this is in ocnfidonce- Just
between us, you understand You are
not to repeat It, ever
She looked at him with frank
smile, and Involuntary his hand went
up to his cap. :What you say goes,
lady. But jest remember lin right
here, spark gong all the time. ready
to throw her wt@s open when you step
in; and"-h.s voice -~l,:-'I Amt alb
solutely unprepared for a scrap,
either"
81 understand" ssid she, looking at
him keenly and 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 leYer. 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 ard gold In huddle over
counter or swinging and cleaning in
the dusky background. squat little
green and brown gods with puffy eye
lids, smiling inscrutaby amid shoes,
and fans and Chinese lanterns o. glass
and bronze, glittering with beads-in
all these, like the score about it.
yet the clean windows and a certain
order within gave it a touch out of the
common. A man end 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, bowing 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
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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 a 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,
for she had no desire to set afioat
rumor which might bring the police
upon her). She named 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 veiled 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
frowned 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
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 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 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 80 years old himself then.
You see. my husband had been so for,
tunate as to do him a kindness. 1t
was he who had 1t first When he
died It came to me, and now for the
second time in my life l am using it.
knew you belonged. saw the sign.
VIII you help me find my boy?"
Did your ladyship know he is he'e.
in San Flansico?"
II she had not already dissipated
any doubt in his mind. her evident re-
lief blew the last shred away now.
Haven't you such thing as a tele-
phone somewhere?" cried Rebecca
Winter. Time is precious. Can't
you speak to him-have him come
here9''
1t appeared that there was a tele-
phone, and in a moment she was 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
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