The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-07-01

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they're, so to speak. sober, which amt
often" he soliloquized. We'll. lady, II
they've took to the Chinese quarter
we'd better be looking up Chink to
help US, guess. know a fairly de-
cent one"
Il think l know a BETTER" inter
rupted Mrs. Winter, with a faint smile
She had detected suppressed pity
in the mans regard. Motor slowly
along the street. There is a shop, II
1 can find 1t, where there ought to be
a man"
Man you know? Say. lady. guess
/ better go in with you, II you don't
mind"
NO; stay in your car. You don't
know how safe | am. Not only my
gray hair protects me. but l have
only to say few words and any of
these men will fight for me If neces.
sary. But this is in confidence-just
between us, you understand. You are
not to repeat 1t, ever"
She looked at him with a frank
smile, and Involuntary 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
to throw her wide open when you step
in; and"-his voice sank-'I amt alb
solutely unprepared for a scrap,
either"
Il 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 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 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 It.;
yet the clean windows and a certain
order within gave 1t 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 IL he
had seen a 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 afloat
rumor 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 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 Trademarks perfunctory
Difference was displaced by an almost
eager humility of bearing. He would
have her s.s-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 80 years old himself then.
You see, my husband had been so for
tunate as to do him kindness. 1t
was he who had it first. When he
died it came to me. and now for the
second time in my life am using 1t.
/ 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 hiaW the last shred AWAY now.