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

notified with new strips of red paper bear
ing inscriptions in Chinese.
you've got plenty of devil paper out to-
day, Bung," observed the young man, ap-
preaching the big subject obliquely.
ooh, yes-heap devil everywhere today.
Black devil, red devil, he no bother-Japa-
nee devil worst kind"
Tommy paused and whitfield slat. "How
long have you been working for US, Bungo'
NO sabe how many-maybe twenty-f',
maybe thulty, year. Say-how, no can
tell"
"Not so much as that. Twenty years.
Bung looked up suddenly and fixed Tom
my shrewdly with his single eye. "A1is
Tommy he said, "wha' TO you go fire me
today?7
Fire you'll Who said we were going to
fire your
ooh, me sable plenty. Japanee boy come,
China boy go-by-by plenty soon. Take
too muchee punk stick drive away Japanee
devil"
"Well, Bung,' said Tommy, resolved to
speak now or never, "you see it's just like
this
"Wha' TO you makee long talk, Ill boss?
Me CO. He attacked his task grlmly, bend
ing so low that his short, grav pigtail swung
over his shoulder.
"You won't need to work any more said
the lad. "You must have saved quite a pile
of cash in all these years"
"Me,sa save cash?' All Lee Bung laughed
once, "Ho!' Chinese fashion. Tommy,
you make joke talk poor ole Bung!"
"But twenty dollars a month for twenty
years"
"Me tellee you how was Long time
by-by, befo' me come here, me was pahtner
to my cousin Lee Jim up Saclamento. Jim
him velly bad boy, but niece fiend to me-
Jim he drink gin wine, smoke UNI hop, play
fantan. All lite! But one time Jim learn
how play American polka game. Ay-yi!
Polka he velly bad game
Don't you play poker too?' asked Tom
my slyly.
"One time-no mo- answered Bung
grufay "My cousin Jim him get velly
swell job. Highlander boys make him cash
man, Sam Yup Soci'ty.'
Treasurer, | guess you mean"
maybe so was. One time Jim make col
lection TO thousan' dollah Sam Yup cash.
That night he play polka game-too muchee
jackpot-by-by cash! All gone! Polka
game heap sinful gamble
"You mean your cousin Jim lost the Sam
Yup's money!
"You sable plenty Sam Yup gun man
he plenty mad, make chase chase. But
cousin Jim he too smart-he skip away
China plitty quick. Then Sam Yup gun
man he come long catchee me. All Sam
Yups hold prayer meeting. Lee Jim skip
away-all lite, we got his cousin Bung!' says
President Sam Yup Soci 'ty-him velly wise
man. Shoot Bung' say one boy. Fool
talk! Bung go dead we no catchee TO thou
san dollah just same say other boy. But
Sam Yup plesident- velly wise, stingy
man. he say, Bung, you cousin owe money
you no pay it, you die.-Me no got
money-where | catchee? me say to plesi-
dent. You 60 work, catchee long job.
Each mont you send fifteen dollah Sam
Yup Soci'ty till all paid. You come back
befo then-bang, you deadr That happen
twenty year go-by. Each mont l send ff-
teen dollah Sam Yup Soci'ty till now
paddock see.'
All Lee Bung showed an interminable row
of Chinese figures written with a dull pencil
on board beside the door.
Il paid Sam Yup Soci'ty thulty-six hun
der dollah-I owe him TO hunder' dollar
still must pay
Tommy studied the twisted Chinese char
acters with bullying eyes.
"Jeree-roo-sha!" he exclaimed. "Of all
the oriental nonsense! Why, Bung, you We
practically sold yourself into slavery to pay
off the debt of a crooked gambler!"
"He my cousin, said the old Chinese with
dignity.