The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-09-20
CHAPTER xI.
Tho Chinese Merchant.

occurred to me. The professor said
something about the average China
mans dislnclinRtlon to speak Of death.
directly, and how he invariably en-
ployed some euphemism. The phrase
pass from sight Of men into torment"
the professor pointed out as an Illus
tration. And then remembered little
Now Chez, who was In my class at
Yale, and how, once, in speaking Of
the demise Of q fellow classman, he
had used the odd expression, "he has
saluted old age" which | afterwards
learned was quite q common form in
China.
1t was now q year or more since I
had seen Now Chez, but l recalled
that at our last meeting had made a
note of his address; and 30 on reach
Ing my desk the next morning l
looked 1t up. Curiously enough a pri-
vate detective agency which l had
arranged to consult CHANGED to have
its Office In the same building on low.
er Broadway as the Pacific Transport
company, by which Now Chez was
employed; and thus the plan which
had been shaping mentally the previi
GUS afternoon, as hurried away from
Professor Grlfin's, was readily set in
motion before noon Of the day fol-
lowing.
In the evening had discussed It
with Evelyn; and though the detso-
tive feature did not at first meet with
her approval, she eventually conceded
that 1t was necessary part Of the
project. 1t was agreed, however, that
the real purpose for which that aid
was invoked should not be divulged.
Philetus Murphy was to be Swallowed
and daily reports were to be made to
me. That he had been under suspi-
cion Of brutally numbering his Chi
nese servant was sufficient reason for
the proceeding, and to the detective
agency gave no hint of any further
consideration.
As for my Celestial Classmate, l was
not by any means sure that should
find him at the Pacific Transport Of
fees. knew that for some time Chi
ma had been calling upon her sons Of
western education to return to their
mother country for service, and
feared that little Now Chez might al.
ready be customs taokai Of Shantung,
or some other imperial province. But
my misgivings were very promptly al
layed; for no sooner had | stepped
within the outer office than he saw
me. and came hastily forward, with a
smile Of greeting on his square, fiat
tened, yellow face.
His desk was Just back Of the long
counter which ran the length Of the
room, and a glance at Its piled con-
tents showed me that he was very
busy. Moreover, there was no oppor-
tunity here for the privacy which l
desired; so after an exchange Of greet
ings, and few conventional Inquiries,
invited Now to lunch with me at the
Savarin, at whatever hour would best
suit his convenience.
Somewhat to my dismay, he fixed
upon one o'clock. AS 1t still wanted
ten minutes Of noon now had over
an hour Of leisure, which, as may be
imagined, promised to hang rather
heavy, the more 80, as | was impa-
tient to make some real progress In
my quest.
Wall street being at hand, l conclud-
ed to call on a friend there who usu-
ally handles my investments, and
make a convenience Of his office. On
the way, bought an afternoon paper,
and as my broker happened to be at
the Stock Exchange, l had ample OPP
portunlty to read 1t from first column
to last. 1t proved about as thrilllngly
interesting as the early afternoon re-
prints Of what one has already read
at breakfast usually are, and | was
about to drop 1t to the hoor when
my eye caught a group Of headlines
on the last page, which, up to that
moment, had escaped me, but which
now suddenly riveted my attention:
CELESTIAL CLAIMS MYSTERIOUS
BOX ON FALL RIVER PIER.
Anything concerning Celestials, l
suppose, would have attracted me,
Just then, but the burden OF this was
SO peculiarly pertinent, that 1t seemed
as II It must have intimate connection
with the tangle l had undertaken to
unravel.
With the paper gripped tightly In
both hands, and my head bent intently
forward, raced through the frivo-
lously.written article which followed;
and from a superabundance Of cheap
wit and East side slang managed to
extract the somewhat meager facts.
A truck, driven by Chinaman, 1t
seemed, had that morning taken from
the pier of the Fall River Line a
square box, measuring about five feet
each way, and perforated with num-
Der Of auger holes. The brilliant
space-wrlter had given his lmagina-
ton free rein as to the contents, spec
ulating as to the possibilities, from ed
ible Chinese dogs to struggled opium,
but he had omitted to furnish the
name and address Of either the con
signor or consignee. THE truck,
drawn BIZ the slanteyed white horse,