Evening star., 1912-07-14

spirit lamp that told the tale. Jop Bow was utterly
silly from nights indulgence in the Black Smoke.
"Where is Gum Bok?" asked Bung in Chinese, harshly
shaking the little, withered wreck of
"Hum-1et me alone murmured the dreamer, voic-
ing the world plant of the lotus eater.
aPig! Where is Gum Bok?" Bung drew the smoker
up to sitting position and shook him again.
"Anmals elephants lions" murmured Jop Bow.
"Gone to the circus!" groaned Bung "What did this
bandit chief do with my exalted masters shrts?"
4Circus' replied lyop Bow TRANQUILITY, going to sleep
with heavenly smile on his vacant face.
All Lee Bung laid Jop Bow back on his popped couch
and proceeded Systematically to burgarze the front of
the shop Sorted and classified on row OF shelves Gum
Box kept the packages of clean linen ready for delivery
each parcel distinctly labeled in Chinese characters with
the name of customer and price of bill Bung took
down these packages at time and read the in
scrptons, many of which peculiar. For instance,
the washing belonging to Mr. Thorne marked "Red
Beard White Devil Residing Second-st" One by
and tag by tag Bg went the Stock but there
was no package answering to the description of Tommy
divers lost shirts. At last leaving the laundry pack
ages scattered haphazard over the floor Bung wadded
out of this place of thieves.
1t never entered his faithful oriental mind to return
to the ranch and report to Tommy his inability to locate
Gum Box the shirts His Little Boss had said Don't
swered @Can dol" which giving his sacred word to
make good. To Chinaman such promise is sacred
beyond the belief of white man. Bung honor was
at stake in this therefore, but course lay be-
fore him. He must 60 to the circus find Gum Box, and
demand the restoration of the missing property.
pUNG'S drive from Santa Clara to San Jose was
= scarcely so precipitate as had been his wild fight
from the ranch in the first enthusiasm of pursuit The
gait at which he now urged Daisy took on the debera
ton of long, grinding chase. Although San Jose but
short distance from Santa Clara Bung realized that
the quest of the feetng shirts might mean al-day
hunt involving the unknown Of circus and the
may streets of large-sized Bung resolved to
Daisy strength and his own. The one o'clock
whistles were blowing among the canneres as Bung,
propelled by Daisy, set out down the County Road He
began feel the lack of lunch he reoiced to
encounter Honk Wo tnerant vender OF garden truck,
who approached with his loose wheeled wagon and
spectral nag. Bung was able to buy bargain melon
for five cents, and he ate it, Honk Wo being in no
hurry was than willing to pause and gossip in
pessmistic vein He rallied against hard times and
Americans and Chinese revolutionists. These modern
reforners, he grnted, driving China back to the
devils whence she 1t embittered him, said Honk
Wo otherwise self respecting Chinese putting
white devil clothing, all same American. Why, this
very morning he had the laundryman, Gum Box,
and his assistant, Dock Wing driving fashionably to
the circus and what do you suppose they were wear
ing? r.u ~ p,o,, .,,.,o,+oa A. 20 p,,na n,;+,
earnestness than the light gossip demanded.
But most astonishing of all were their collars and Shirts
which high at the throat and stiff at the bosom
white and stiff like the dinner plates on the table of
Viceroy.'
4And they told you where they were going?" hissed
Bung, hard look coming into his single eye.
1Assuredy, yes To the circus
Gee up hossee! shouted Bung, ST1ltlng Da1Sy, VINO
again took the bit in her teeh and again horse and
driver gave lurid imitation of Ben Hur down the road
to San Jose
@The entire Chinese nation has gone mad!" muttered
Honk Wo who something of crank on the deca-
dence of home politics.
Bung had never seen circus; it took nearly
hour of direction and guidance the part OF San oses
obligng inhabitants point him the grounds where
the Universally Unsurpassed Aggregation fourished
der He drove at least dozen times round the
city of tents with its flying pennants bowling fakers and
seemingly moonstrucl inhabitants. In his youth he
had seen native fairs Canton; but anything
so inspiring this A Diana in pink tights was