The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1913-04-17
10 srune. r'bectcss boarded Broad,


way car and was drawn haltingly
northward, until, on reaching Canal
street, ! allghted in sheer desperation
and turned eastward.
Here a letter carrier. OF whom in.
CURED, sped me straight TO my goal
couple Of blocks as was going. q
turn to the right, few blocks more,
and the bulk windows OF the Yup Sing
Company would come into view.
found the establishment easily
enough. But had II not been for the
name printed in big Roman lettering,
| should never have imagined II q
Chinese business house. There was
no display Of goods in the big win
dows. which we're screened half way
up by light blue shades, giving the
front an appearance similar to that
OF the average American Wholesale
house.
Having passed inside, however.
there was no such Illusion. All about
me were the Characteristic products
OF the Orient, from brilliant silken
embroideries. and exquisite gold and
silver and bronze work, 20 cheap cot
ton and linen fabrics. lacquer furni.
ture, and straw slippers. And the at.
mosphere was further enhanced by
tho half-dozen or more Cinnamon who
were lounging in the middle and far
distance. each with shayen crown and
coiled queue and each In the more or
less brilliantly colored native dress.
One OF these, n comparatively dark.
ly-attired young man with full, round
y!sage, came forward as ! entered.
rs Mr. Yk in?" asked.
He was inclined, saw, to hesits.
ton and so produced Mow's card.
"oh. yes" he said, after studying It
for a moment. "Oh, yes. Msta' Yup!
He In" With which he left me, and
taking the card with him disappeared
behind some draperles at the back OF
the big crowded store.
Between the others, who regarded
mo for a moment only with idle inter
est. there was, while | stood there. a
rapid exchange Of observations IN
their native tongue, mingled with a
sort of high-pitched cackling which !
assumed TO be laughter.
l had turned my back towards
them, but presently a shutting OF feet
along the floor informed me OF the
approach of what | imagined was my
returning emissary. On whirling about,
however. 1t was to face an elderly man
in purple silk garments and black
skull cap--a man Of thin, almost ca
davcrous yellow vlsage, whose upper
lip and chin were adorned with n
sparse growth OF silky blueblack hair,
and upon the bridge of whose nose
rested Il pair Of gold-rimmed spec.
tacles.
You would see me, sir?" he asked,
and | noted that there was scarcely
the slightest indication OF the foreign
or In either pronunciation or accent.
III you are Mr. Yup." smiled,
you can, fancy, from what Mr.. Now
tells me, give me the information !
am in search Of"
lie did not smile In return, but his
thin face assumed an expression Of be-
nightly that was rs much of an invita-
tion to lay my problem before him as
were his words.
Anyway can serve friend Of
Mr. Now" he said, will be pleas
ure."
But, as he spoke, the benign express.
sion passed. Once again that thin SAT.
fron.huod face, with its hollow cheeks,
and small decpset eyes. had become
uuiathOmable.
At least two OF hts partners or
salcsmcn wero within oar,shot, and
turned a significant glance towards
them, as | said:
The subject Ia n confidential one,
Mr. Yup. II ! could speak to you"
In private?" he finished Certain.
ly, sir viii you kindly step this
way"
lie led me 10 the rear OF his store.
holding aside a curtain OF heavy EN-.
broldery. through which | passed into
Il smaller room, furnished In carved
teak wood and ornamented with mag
nlfcent specimens OF Chinese porce-
lain and pottery. A little Chinese girl,
not over eight years old. and wearing
n blouse and wide breaches Of pale
cerulcan SILK, stood beside a table.
Before her were several small sheets
OF rice paper on which she was max
INK designs In water colors.
Ignoring the child. he indicated a
chair near the only window. screened,
like the windows In front. with blue
shade And when had sat down, he
drew up chair for himself opposite
me.
His manner, in spite of the benign
ity OF a moment before, was not en-
couraging, and for little | was en-
barrassed as TO Just where to begin
At length, however. said:
81 fear. Mr.. Yup, that some OF your
have recently made a ter
rible mistake"
"A mistaken" he echoed. gravely.
"A mistake that ! trust It ia not too
late to repair Briefly. they have kid.
mapped n gentleman Of fortune and In