Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-25
Continued from page 4

Numbering the strange scene he had wit
messed.
@He write Japanese is much more smarter
than Chinese | write, Yes, he are. He
write, You know all American customs?'
write, Entirely. He write, 1 should adore
to learn American polka game from intelli-
gent Japanese / write, How much YOU
got?' He show me fifty dollars in golden
cash. So we teach him."
"You taught him poker, did your said
Judge Oliver, twinkling at Jiros tragic
mien.
"Mr. Bung he learn too Immediately.
Soonly he earn five hundred dollar from
Japanese boys-also my complete horse and
buggy wagon he took from devilish polka
game which we teach him. All Japanese is
now completely broken. We quit tonight
"You quit Numbered Judge Oliver. He
realized in flash that he, and not the Japa-
nese, might be the big loser from Bung's
gambling venture. This was the worst pos
sible time for the laborers to lay down their
buckets. If the fruit were neglected now,
in three days it would become rotting mass.
ats impossible! You can't-you mustn't
quit"
@Then this Mr.. Bung must 60" said Jiro
firmly.
In a sudden moment of irritation at the
offending Bung, Judge Oliver went over to
the enemy.
"Tell your boys not to worry said he.
"I1l discharge Bung, and see what l can do
about the money you lost"
TOMMY noticed that his father was
strangely quiet at supper. Mr.. Freder-
ickson, buyer from San Jose, was stopping
overnight with the divers, and most of the
responsibility of entertainment fell upon
Mrs. Oliver and her two grown daughters.
Tommy, would you mind coming here
moment said the Judge, rising suddenly
and going out on the porch.
The young man joined his father under
the live oak back of the house. The elder
man cleared his throat two or three times
before he spoke.
II guess you'd better step over to Bung's
cottage and see him." They always called
it "Bung's cottage" although it was print
tive shack composed of antique fruit trays
and second hand lumber.
"Why?" inquired young Oliver with di-
rectness.
The father related to his son the details of
the orchard race war eliminating in Bung's
crafty triumph at the American "polka"
game
"We've got to let him -ahem!- and it
seems to me you re the proper one to attend
to it, faltered the old man.
"Now, Dad!" objected the boy. "What
do you always poke all the disagreeable jobs
on me for? | won't do it,"
Somebody's got to do it, my son." said
the Judge nervously. II think you'd better.
You re younger and"
II think it's a disgrace to put that poor
old fellow out this way He's been faithful
slave to us ever since can remember; and
don't think this is much of way to reward
him."
The Judge gazed dimly over the vineyards
to the south. dts either Bung or Us, I'm
afraid Tommy. You know how these Jap
contract bosses tyrannize over the orchards,
and they'd rather work with the bubonic
plague than with Chinaman. We can't
afford Bung. You've got another year at
college, my boy, and Lord knows how you'll
get it unless this fruit crop pays"
Tommy hitched up his khaki trousers and
disappeared into the grove.
THESE here Orienta1s," said Mr.. Fred
l erickson as they sat on the porch srnok-
ing, they're overrunning the orchards