The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-02-01


smile for smile, confessed to con-
suming curiosity which she had mere
ly endeavored to disguise, was an epi.
sode as characteristic Of her as any
that can remember.
On entering the reception-room-a
somewhat formally furnished, square
room, which jutted from the hall, on
the left-I was mildly surprised to dis
cover that one Of my visitors was none
other than the Chinese merchant, Yup
Sing. 1t sight Of me he rose and
came a step forward, the same tall,
spare, dignified Asiatic l had met in
the Mott street warehouse, save that
he no longer wore the dress Of his
country, but a dark, well-cut suit Of
American clothes.
Permit me, Mr.. Clyde" he said, in
that chill leisurely tone l so we'll re-
membered, ito present to you the vice
consul Of China at New York, Mr..
Chen Mok." And then l saw that his
companion, much shorter man than
he and younger, had risen too, and
was holding out q hand in tentative
greeting.
My first impulse was to ignore the
proffer, for Of late had come to abhor
the race he represented, but on second
thought l acceded to the most formal
Of hand-clasps.
"We are here" Yup Sing continued,
because We believe We have secured
for you, Mr.. Clyde, the explanation
which you recently did me the honor
to request Of me. And because We are
in hope that, through you, some agree
ment may be reached which will put
an end to the present deplorable out
break amongst certain of our people In
this CITY,"
Vice Consul Chen bowed gravely,
and /, in my turn, gestured my visitors
to resume their seats. So far I had
not spoken, but mentally / had been
busy. Frankly, distrusted YUp Sing,
and questioned how much of his ex-
planation, whatever it might be, ]
could afford to accept. Fortunately,
judgment. l felt that, so far as it
went, the letter from Miss Clement
could be relied upon absolutely. II
the merchants story coincided, then it
would perhaps be safe to assume the
correctness Of added details. If it did
not coincide. was in possession of
valuable material for cross-examina-
ton.
II am an advocate Of the policy of
reciprocity, Mr.. Yup," / said at length.
"If, in return for your service, l can
render service to you, you have only
to command me-"
/ chose a chair between them and
the door, and sitting down assumed an
attitude Of attention.
What L tell you," began the mer.
chant. his body erect, his shoulders
squared, his chin lifted, "Mr Chen will
verify" And once more Mr.. Chen en-
dorsed his friends assertion by
grave forward sweep Of his head
when you came to me, Mr.. Clyde,
with the story Of your friend Mr.. Cam
eron's annoyance and subsequent alb
duction, I was inclined to the view
that you were, yourself, in some way
deceived. What l have learned since,
corroborates that impression. AS you
say here in America, your friend, Mr..
Cameron, did rot play fair with you"
Under ordinary circumstances l
might possibly have permitted this as
serticn to go unchallenged. l am not
as a rule truculent; more often than
not | find it advisable to ignore pre-
liminary inaccuracies Of narration, the
quicker to reach the vitals Of the mar
rative. But on this night / was con-
trarily disposed. The inscrutable coun.
tenance and the superior, almost pat
ronizing manner Of the speaker chafed
and irritated me TO the verge of en-
durance; and so, without hesitation, I
interrupted him with contradiction.
"If all that you have learned Is no
more reliable than this corroboration,"
| declared. warmly, I'VE might as well
end the interview here and now. OF
Mr.. Cameron's fairness at all times
and under all circumstances there can
be no question. He is my friend, tried
and trusted, and incapable OF deceit.
On that | would stake everything l
hold most dear; ard we may as we'll
have it clearly understood at the out
set"
A white man would either have in
sisted or apologized. But the yellow
man has a way Of his own. Yup Sing
remained silent until had finished.
D,Yt hot f1<t. b.
manifested neither by word nor sign
Without change Of facial expression or
alteration Of tone, he placidly proceed
ed, choosing his phrases with infinite
care and rounding his periods with a
faculty that for an Asiatic was little
short OF marvellous. Had he been
any one else in the world | should
have admired him. AS it was, his clev-
erness only added to my aversion
''Thnro ic CT no ,upD+ m 90