The San Francisco call., 1913-08-10


ing feature is the EFFORT to make afraid
Their religion is fear
Having concluded his exposition
Professor Griffin was disposed to enter
upon a more or less lengthy discourse
on Chinese character and literature in
general.
With what grace could, discour-
aged continuance OF the theme. and
having thanked him most heartily
prepared to depart But as / stood at
his study door, his lean, scholarly
hand resting in mine. he detained me
for final word
THE symbol" he exclaimed. his
pale eyes lighting at the recollection.
I'VE forgot the symbol"
"oh. yes" returned, my interest
revived, that silhouette at the bot
TOM
1T is unnistakably Chinese" he
said. Il am not familiar with the SYM
bolism of the east, but Chinese writ
ing, In Its origin, is picture writing
with the addition Of q limited number
Of symbolical and conventional signs.
This figure, should say, represents q
lorcna, or small Chinese coasting junk,
and you can rest assured that the
threats contained in the letters were
with view to reparation for some
crime or injury connected in some way
with such a vessel. That is as near
as ! can interpret it. But II you would
like to know more i can refer you to
one who can, I think, give you the
information 2
BY all means" implored. Il shall
appreciate 1t greatly"
An authority on this subject is liv-
ing not very far from here. He spent
many years In China, is something OF
an artist himself. and made, | under
stand. study of oriental symbolism.
He lives at Cos Cob, and his name
is
Murphy" | interrupted, as a flood
of illumination swept over me.
"Philetus Murphy. Yes. Do you
know him?'
Il have met him. returned shortly
And thanking the professor hurried
away with course of action already
shaping in my mind.
1t was while Professor Griffin was
talking of Chinese characteristics that
the thought of little Now Chez first oc-
Cured to me. The professor said some-
thing about the average Chinaman's e
disinclination to speak OF death, di-
rectly, and how he Invariably employed
some euphemism. And then / remem-
bered little Now Chez, who was In my
class at Yale, and how, once, in speak
ing of the demise OF fellow classman,
he had used the odd expression, "He
had saluted the age
It was now year or more since
had seen Now Chez, but recalled that
at our last meeting I had made note
of his address; and so the next morn
ing | looked it up. Curiously enough
a private detective agency which had
arranged to consult chanced to have
its Office In the same building on lower
Broadway as the Pacific Transport
company. by which Now Chez was
employed; and thus the plan which
had been shaping mentally the previ-
Gus afternoon was very readily set in
motion before noon of the day fol-
lowing.
In the evening had discussed it
with Evelyn; and though the de-
tective feature did not at first meet
with her approval. she eventually con-
ceded that 1t was necessary part Of
the project. Philetus Murphy was to
be shadowed and daily reports were to
be made to me. That he had been
under suspicion of brutally numbering
his Chinese servant was sufficient rea-
son for the proceeding, and to the de-
tective agency I gave no hint Of any
further consideration.
As for my Celestial cIassmate, no
sooner had stepped within the outer
Office Of the Pacific Transport COM
pany than he saw me, and came
hastily forward with q smile of greet
ing on his square, flattened, yellow
face.
A glance at his desk showed me
that he was very busy. Moreover, there
was no opportunity here for the pri-
vacy which | desired, so after an ex-
change OF greetings and few con-
ventional inquiries / invited Now to
lunch with me at the Savarin, at what
ever hour would best suit his con-
venience.
Somewhat to my dismay, he fixed
upon ] o'clock. 1t still wanted 10
OF noon.
Wall street being at hand, / con-
cluded to call on friend and make 4
convenience Of his ONCE. On the wav
! bought an afternoon paper, and had
ample opportunity to read it from first
column to last. II nroved Aho,,t.