The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-12-11
The Chinese Servant.

ering that II was built thirty Ave
years ago by one OF the Townsbury
family who probably read English
novels but had never been nearer to
England than Coney Island, 1t pos.
sessed surprising ricturesqueness;
due In large part to its covering OF
dark English Ivy.
I had anticipated my appointment
with Evelyn by a full hour; for
wished to question old Romney, the
lodge keeper: and the questions were
not for milady's ear.
He opened to me promptly, In per-
son, this odd. rugged old man, with
his scanned brow and great shock Of
iron-gray hair and beard. He was In
his shirt sleeves. but on seeing me
he reached for his coat. which hung
on n peg beside the door.
Never mind the coat. Romney." I
said. don't make yourself uncom-
Portable on my account. It's a warm
afternoon"
1T 10 warmish. SIR" he assented;
but despite my protest he was thrust
Ing his arm into the coat sleeves.
It's been an uncommon hot Septem.
Der. Won't you step inside. sir?"
He knew HIS place too well TO indi-
cate any surprise at my visit: yet I
felt he must be curious over an event
90 unusual.
Il have an inquiry or two to make,
Romney." l told him. as, accepting
his suggestion. I stepped into his
cosy. old-fashioned sitting room. 'T
heard some shooting over this way
this morning. and I've been wonder
Ing whether the game laws weren't
being broken"
He placed cushioned rocking.
Chair for mo. and I sat down.
Now did you hear that, too, Mr..
Clyder" he asked. Frightening, as he
leaned against the low sill Of one of
the daintily curtained windows.
Twas about ten clock. sir; a little
after. maybe. was doin' bit of
trimmin' on the hedge outside, sir.
when them same shots set me
a-thinkin' that very thing. An right
away, sir. i says to myself, says !,
It's that Chink what Just went up to
the house to borrow a rife.'"
That Chink" I repeated. puzzled.
Yes. sir. Yellow Chinese boy. sir.
He works for Mr.. Murphy, the artist.
what has the bungalow. down on the
shore near Cos Cob. About, half an
hour before that he comes by here on
his way up TO the house. What's
wantin'T ! asks. 'Mistle Mulfy,' he
says. 'wantee hollow life, shootee
weasel. stealee chIckee.' All right I
tells him. and away he goes. So.
you see. SIR, when I hears the shots I
thinks right away that Mr.. Murphy's
Chink 10 tryin' hin Followed life on
some OF Mr.. Caineron's pheasants.
maybe. But Is minutes later. along
comes John again. With an innocent
grin on his face. the rife over his
shoulder. and his hands empty az air.
Well, to bs sure. stops him. SIR.
You been shootin' In the woods?' I
asks. No shootee.' he grins back.
Me no shootee.' Then, SIR, l swears
at him. good and hearty. and calls
him what he Is. But all he can say
II. No lie: me no shootee.' Then I
asks him IL he didn't hear q gun. 20
on. Cum he says. as IL he didn't
know what gun meant. Life ex.
plains. Yes. yes.' says he. me hear
liie shootee. Not my life Whose
liner i asks him. Man with life.
up load he says. pointing back. An
that was all could get out Of him.
sir"
l should have been amused. I sup
pose. by old Remney's recital II
80 ... t'r'y very graphic. and his
VI 'i1n II the Chinaman was his.
T.onicslly artistit-l fear the stage
missed a comedian or merit when
Romney took O. lodge-keeping-bu
at the first mention OF the oriental.
had pricked my ears. and throughout
the narration my mind was busy with
those strangely worded letters OF
Cameron's and those still stranger
biots which looked one way like a
Chinese Junk and the other way Ike
coolie la a straw helmet. The pos.
sibility OF connection. especially I'm
view OF the rife and the perforated
painting. seemed To mo the reverse OF
remote. And yet could hardly rec
oncilo tho notion OF this apparently
ignorant Mongolinn being I'm any wise
Interested in bringing disaster upon a
person SO far removed from him IL
every way "a was Cameron: much
less in evolving or taking part N
such crafty plot 90 everything W.
had thus far learned OF Il indicated
this 10 be.
Ny questioning oS Romncy she,
very little new llght ON the subject
lie had seen the Chlraman pass On,
Lodge ON several occasions; hc ha,
rarely entered the grounds. however