The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-10-28

M H~HS greater still than that hatred, my love &i1smanHuz for the maid he had stolen Loy Shan.
 sss!s had at 'Ssa Tsas As5 @ she @ hsf
 betrothed, had given her in care of an
 old crone his mother and taken her to Ranking ThitIer I had followed them-too latet
 Then, I, Chang Kuang, the scholar, sold what jewels I had upon me, made over half my house and lands to tisurers, bought keen short sword and dagger, and followed in the next ship. Weary was the journey-pent as was with coolies of the low est caste the dark, foul belly of the vessel.
 At last the monster loaned into the bay of San Ffaneisco, and I. in the guise of returning mer- siNnf and with "a Passport, entered city had rever seem rraad desH1ys way into the Quarter oFSthe Chinese. None knew there
 Cautiously. ah. cautiously inquired after Wing Tai the slave-dealer. C1nning1y, knowingly. + smiled as I asked whether, perchance, he~ had brought new slave girls from China So cunning zas I in my questioning that al forsooth, held ro be sone who hadaa mind te purchase such pretty cEattes. They could read the black thoughts in ms brain,-tlesfe hearti They could not. know that in my tunic not only gold lay hid, but steell Wing Tai, said they the man must He always bought the prettiest slaves. His power with the white officials great and the richest among the merchants shielded him from the law of the land. He had but lately returned from China no doubt he had brought at least fair bird from fhs e h9ne,ssd 2. ss most excellent cheering news said I. sniffsE nren gong How; merchant with whom had had most speech; but where may the great Wing Tai be found7"-ag
 HHc is one of the leaders of the Quong Ho Sing Society" said the tea trader, land will sit in council this evening"
 The ouong Ho Sing was the name of of the tongs clans of the city, and waged bloody feud with its rival, the Ming ri tong
 I stood in silence, the while the courteous mer- chant babb1ed
 @Hst the Honorable Stranger would have speech with Wing Tai about"
 Yes broke in, "I would have speech with him about girl.'
 Whereupon the sleek merchant behind the coun-
 
 My friend, you appear in truth be honor able man and rejoice be of service you and to my tong It is to dispose of Loy Sham (did he mark vince that beloved na1ne?) ''that Wing Tai goes to the rooms the tong tonight. I, too, member of the Quong Ho Sing, Society. If your worship, perchance, has mind to possess this handsome slave
 T would give all have in the world" cried, "to possess herP Then I saw that greed awoke in the heart of the merchant He measured with his little eyes, s and grew still more gracious
 q cannot said he, 'conduct you thither myself for affairs of great importance bid remain in shop tonight But you shall have that which gives adnitfanee chambers 'Ts l
 He wrote strange words upon card and bade me deliver to the doorkeeper at the meetingpaee, of the tong. as.e1. .:
 All that day I wandered through the Quarter, plagued bysdespar and cheered by hope How close was I to my revenge ?Ahow close to Wing Tai and Loy Shan? Where. was Loy Shan? What walls hid her. what secret aI1eyways led her prison? When ever I maid lady from afar my heart bounded within me like roe, lest it be she But the fox Wing Tai too wise to display his human trsasures upon the street. fearing. the power and erty of the other tong and the women among the white missionaries
 Once I thought I saw the thief of my happiness from afar. stood still and clutched the dagger within my sleeve, but 1t not he. The people in the street gazed at m curiously remarking stranger therefore did I deem it wise hide me somewhere until the night. What place was there filter fozsfhaz 4haHs tenrde2 Thither went and offered up pf sfthe losses and burned many punkasticks, afid gave an offering of gold to the priests But my prayers the love goddess, the marriage goddess Kuan Yin, were 1oudest and most deep.
 Let Loy Shan be given back-to me- I imp1ored @ny house is empty in. Tsing Hin; the thresholds cards wait to be laced togefl1er with the red sker crds tho hesers afs witfeJing there in their vases My heart too would witlers within were it not kept warm by my wratIl and fresh by tears Give Loy Shan into my hands-Loy Shan and Wing Tai" .rs
 Thus prayed before the smiling golden goddess and offered up the richest incense. By chance my short sword slipped its sheath and fell out of m, bosom and lay giittering naked before the altar-s happy ornenI- Ian answer to my prayeri Then, ever ax called unto the goddess, it was as ii she mad response Did not hear little cry and a voice tha wasSske the faint murmur of the voice of Loy shan Or was it but sorcery?