Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1913-10-30

umbrella man blocked his going by Il
swift movement.
Whereupon in Il dolorous chant he
gradually lowered the price of bamboo
umbrellas until his customers were
convinced that he was not charging
more than double their actual worth;
then they purchased.
as the Chinese thrust the money in
his capaciouS sleeve. which did duty us
money drawer or cash register. he
shook his head sadly.
II have been robbed" he mourncd.
Much virtue here!." touching the bam-
boo umbrellas With Il long nailed
finger.
Virtue. ell? How" The imagina-
tive Halter was instantly interested.
When one buys umbrellas in crooked
streets it is not unreasonable to hope
for an adventure of some sort. ever
if the day is beastly hot and there is
not 4 drop to drink short of the .Astor
House beyond the wall.
Much virtue. much virtue" repeat
ed the vender Suggestively.
Virtue? Tell US about it," insisted
Halter. producing some copper cash
that Immediately disappeared into the
voracious sleeve.
In spasmodic English. punctuated by
shrill screeches to properly emphasize
the interspersed Chinese words, the
vender Of umbrellas managed to con-
vey the legend of the extraordinary
nature of the bamboo umbrellas Just
purchased by the two Americans.
1t appeared that the umbrellas had
once belonged to a very learned ply
sician. who. sitting beneath their
shade, had in deep concentration Of
mind become possessed of the wisdom
Of all the past ages: consequently he
became the wiseSt mar in the entire
world.
"Pshaw. the umbrellas have lost
their virtue by this time" laughed the
skeptical Vail.
But the narrator of the legend pro-
tested loudly and called upon the seller
Of sweetmeats to substantiate his
statements. And this the latter did,
swearing by his ancestral tablets and
the grave of his great grandfather in
so convincing a manner that the tour
lists tossed each Of the rascals a dol
lar and g%rinningly entered the temple
of the Ten Gods to put the story to a
test.
The temple Of the Ten Gods was
supposed to offer the quiet and seclu-
sion necessary to carrying out the
scheme of concentration of mental
forces. all Of which was quite essential
to attaining the wisdom Of all the ages
through the medium Of the bamboo
umbrellas. Thus had spoken the two
Chinese.
Within the temple it was dim and
dark and cool. and it smelled of dead
incense smoke. The squatting idols in
their shrines showed here and there a
glimmer of gilt. There were no priests
in attendance, and the tall prayer
screens afforded a deep shadow where
one who desired to mediate might
hope to do so quite undisturbed. +,
"Of course it's all rubbish" remarks
ed Vail carlessly as he opened his
umbrella and twirled it over his Shout
der: but. inaSmuch as we are going
to rest in here awhile and cool off. we
might as well have a try for the wis
dom end of the affair. eh?"
Surely l shall try it." declared Hal
Ter solemnly. "As nearly as l can rec
ollect. he said that he who meditates
for three hours under one of these
bamboo umbrellas will at the end Of
that time he possessed of all the wis
dom Of the ages. In other words. be
the wisest mar in. the world"
There will be a pair Of us. We will
have to divide the honors." laughed
Vail as he sat down on IA pile of mats
in the shadow of a prayer screen.
"Of course some of these oriental be-
liefs sound foolish" said Haller.
The air grew warmer as the day adj
vanced. and finally the meditations Of
the tired tourists became merged in
SOmnOlence.
At last the rays of the declining sun
pierced the carved screen in front Of
the doorway and awakened the Sleep
ers.
They stared foolishly at each other.
"AAA ~ ~ SdNu jill cay
for his timepiece to mark the hour.
Their pockets We're empty.
An ~incredulous smile dawned on
Wallis face and faded. Slowly he
arose and closed his bamboo umbrella
with a sharp click.
"Tve discovered the wisdom Of the
ages" he said dryly.
"1es"" muttered Halter. his round
face wearing a dazed. hurt expression.
"What is it,"
THAT we are fools. l recollect a
Chinese proverb that says. He who
discovers himself a fool. no man car
tell him more; therefore he is a sage
They stumbled out into the deserted
street, and they knew that among the
thousand mazes of the ancient city IT
was useless to search for the two
thieves.
Silently they tramped toward the