The Forrest City times., 1913-04-18
to grant. Therefore I boarded Broa6

way car and was drawn haltingly northward. until, on reaching Canal street, alighted in sheer desperation and turned eastward.
 Here a letter carrier, of whom l in- quired, sped me straight to my goal a couple of blocks as was going, turn to the right, few blocks more, and the bulk windows of the Yup Sing Company would come into view. I found the establishment easily enough. But had 1t not been for the name printed in big Roman lettering. l should never have imagined 1t Chinese business house. There was no display of goods in the big win- dows, which were 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 ana silver and bronze work, to cheap cot ton and linen fabrics, lacquer furni- ture, and straw slippers. And the at mosphere was further enhanced by the halfdozen or more Chinamen who were loungng in the middle and far distance, each with shaven crown ana coiled queue and each in the more or less brilliantly colored native dress.
 One of these a comparatively dark. ly-attired young man with full. round visage. came forward as l entered.
 '1s Mir. Yup in?" I asked.
 He was inclined, I saw, to hesita- ton and so I produced Mow's card,
 "Oh, yes" he said, after studying 1t for moment. "Oh, yes. Mista' Yup! He in" With which he left me, and taking the card with him disappeared behind some draperies at the back Of the big crowded store.
 Between the others, who regarded me for a moment only with idle inter- est there was, while stood there, a rapid exchange of observations in their native tongue. mingled with sort of high-pitched cackiing which l assumed to be laughter.
 had turned my back towards them, but presently shuffling of feet along the floor informed me of the approach of what 1 imagined was my returning emissary. On whirling about however, it was to face an elderly man in purple silk garments and black skull cap-a man of thin. almost ca lo,~ -,11o lip and chin were adorned with a sparse growth of silky blue black hair. and upon the bridge of whose nose rested a pair of gold-rimmed spec tacles.
 You would see me, sir" he asked, and l noted that there was scarcely the slightest indication of the foreign- CT in either pronunciation or accent.
 If you are MT. Yup," l smiled. you can. fancy, from what MT. Now tells me, give me the information I am in search of"
 He did not smile in return, but his thin face assumed an expression of be- nightly that was as much of an invita- tion to lay my problem before him as were his words.
 Anyway I can serve a friend of MT. Now" he said, will be a pleas ura"
 But, as he spoke, the benign exprss- sion passed. Once again that thin saf. fron-hued face, with it's hollow cheeks, | and small deep-set eyes, had become unfathomable.
 At least two of his partners O salesmen were within earshot, and | turned a significant glance towards them, as 1 said:
 The subject is a confidential one, Mir. Yup. If could speak to you"
 Tn private?" he finished. Certain. 1 ly, sir Will you kindly step this way?"
 He led me to the rear of his store, | holding aside curtain of heavy em. | broidery, through which l passed intc | Q smaller room, furnished in carved | teak wood and ornamented with mag | nihcent specimens of Chinese porce lain and pottery. A little Chinese girl not over eight years old, and wearing | blouse and wide brooches of a pale 1 cerulean silk, stood beside a table, | Before her were several small sheets of rice paper on which she was mak. ing designs in water colors.
 Ignoring the child, he indicated s chair near the only window, screened, | like the windows in front, with blue shade, And when had sat down, ha drew up chair for himself opposite me
 Ills manner, in spite of the benign. ity of moment before, was not en. couraging, and for a little I was em. barrassed as to just where to begin At length, however, said
 ''I fear, MT, Yup, that some of you, countrymen have recently made ter ribe mistake"
 "A mistake?" he echoed. gravely.
 "A mistake that trust 1t Is not to, late to repair. Briefly, they have kid mapped gentleman of fortune and in