The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-06-10

string. 1t required ueiicate hho'ipui"
ton to get the rat firmly enveloped in
the first sheet. but when this was ac-
complished it was an easy task, with
the aid of much cord and paper, TO
make a presentable package; and in
few minutes. even though vague odor
still hung about the premises, to the
eye the bundle presented every evil
dence of responsibility. Waxey tucked
it tenderlv under his arm and marched
across the street to the laundry OF WI
Ling Fung.
Although it was after dark, the in
Gustrious Chinese was still at work.
"Evenin John said Waxoy cheer
fully.
How do?" replied WI Ling-Fung,
with a friendly grin.
Here's some laundry from a friend
of mine. and he wants it done quick,
see?" said WaXey, placing his bundle
on the counter, but still keeping his
hands upon it.
"All light" answered the Chinaman
with another smile. Then from a pile
on the shelf he took An oblong piece of
thin, pink paper with row of curious
black marks on each end, tore 1T in
half and gave one of the pieces to the
boy. "Checkee,' he explained. You
keep"
Waxey clutched the precious paper
and darted out of the place. WI Ling
Fung inserted the remaining half I'M
der the string of the package, which he
laid on the shelf with others, ready for
the morning.
Few smells can compete with those
Of q Chinese laundry, and it was over
an hour before the proprietor, after
smiling the air several times, stopped
work and began TO investigate.
Well satisfied with the progress Of
his plan, WaXey did not imperil its sue
cessful fruition by childish precipta-
zion. When he dropped in at the ltal-
ians a week later. it was with a beam
Ing face that would have put the most
suspicious person off his guard. 1t
was far from the sunny tempered child
Of Italy to harbor resentment for an
encounter in which he had come out
so satisfactorily, and, business being
dull, he was glad TO enter into friendly
conversation.
Say, John" said the boy, after an
exchange Of compliments Che called all
foreigners john, what dyer spose
dis is?" and he drew from his ragged
pocket the pink laundry check careful
ly folded in piece of thick manila
paper
Giuseppe, whose one shirt was laun-
dried by a Chinaman, knew what II
was Immediately, but he didn't say So
where you get him." he inquired
eagerly, reaching out his hand.
Found her on the sidewalk in front
of the Chinee's place around the cor
ner," replied the boy.
Nothing but ole piece pape'," said
the other, laying his long fingers on
the check.
Hold on, john" cried the owner
jerking it away; Il wants dat me-
self
NO gooda, no gooda," urged the
Italian.
why are yer SO anxious to git 1t If
it's no good?'
Here" suggested the other persuas-
lively, you take uno, due, tree chest
nut; me hay pape'."
Nav, | wants it fer me stamp al
BERN" answered WaXey.
But Giuseppe's speculative instinct
was aroused. and he determined to
have that laundry check at any cost
Who knew to what treasure OF shiny
shirts and collars it might not prove
the key. How he would dazzle Bet
tina with them. 1t was more exciting
than lottery. The outcome of long
argument was that the thin pink pa
per, scrawled with hieroglyphics, found
a resting place in Giuseppe's blouse,
and Waxey left the store richer by
dime.
WaXeys selfrespect was restored,
his honor satisfied, and he regarded
whatever might follow with languld
curiosity, as a pure gratuity OF his
luck. Lurking contentedly in an
area-way opposite WI Ling Fung's
laundry, he saw his victim enter, and
FASTENED across the street where he
might watch developments through the
window.
Now, it was no strange thing for Wn
Ling FSng to receive insults in the
shape of dead rodents. Every child
on the block understood that China
mans mouth waters perpetually for
tender rat-meat, and took care that he
got plenty by the avenue of an open
door or window. But never before
had the sender dared to return and
claim his gift There are bounds even
to a Chinaman's forbearance. 1t was
the double insult of this mans ask
ing for the return of his rat that he
might use 1t again that choked WI
Ling Fung with rage. His eyes had
scarcely rested upon the check which
the Italian confidently laid on the
counter before he was at the fruit
dealers throat. Giuseppe, robust son
Of the soil though he was, nearly went
TO the floor under that wild attack
With an answering yell of terror, he
wheeled and fed from the shop and
down the street, while at his heels
came a little brown fiend, its features
working with passion and cue floating
horizontally behind.
Waxey did not trouble himself to fol-
low and see what happened. He was
"A philosopher, and more than satisfied
already. He spent half of his ten