The Prescott daily news., 1915-07-08

toward California street. JOnn LOTT leaned back against the cushions with a strange sense of at last being on his way toward his goal He barely heard his companions murmur, Evidently they took her into the lower part of Chinatown"
 We usually credit the oriental with little or no imagination, pointing to his art, his clothes and his language as evidences. AS the fact runs, even the Chinese coolie uses the faculty of imagination more frequently than his white brother on an equal social plane
 Sing Wah, or Wah Sing, as he was indifferently called, was outwardly a stolid, dull eyed Chinese of uncertain middle age. His picture-it was in the gallery of every secret service office from Singapore to Philadelphia-wa not less changeless of expression, nor more teciturn than he Yet in spite of his scmber clothes and general air of blank stupidity, Sing Wah was a man of mark, man with a history replete with adventure and, not too seldom with crime.
 If the ordinary criminal could have an office or a store he would quadruple his profits. But the common run of rascals must steal and fly. Their post office address is fgment. They are not at home when opportunity knocks. Sing Wah knew this, and 1t was his boast that for thirty years any one who wanted him, either day or night, could find him.
 So he sat at the back of his little store night after night, blinking through the wooden screen at the va rious customers who came in to trade or barter. And year after year they came to his door, the pirate and the thief, the smuggler and the robber, and he took his toll of them and passed them on. Whither? Sing Wah never told And because he did not tell they came back with greater loot and rich CT booty, and he again passed them through his store to vanish utterly from the haunts of men and the pur view of the police.
 Among the many hundreds who had avaied themselves of Sing Wah's aid was Willerson, who. during dark pc rtods of his career, had several times run athwart the barriers of the law and been compelled to seek refuge where he could.
 Harry WilkerSOn was not a fool. In some ways he was brilliantly endowed He recognized Sing Wah's superiority to all others in the great game of out witting the law. He perceived beneath the stOlid mask the alert, active. stu dious mind which was ever vigilant, never fOrgetful, always fntelligenty watching the world that passed before his filmed eyes The Chinese had, as well, acknowledged Wilkerson's adept ness and persistency. In several deals they had been partners to their mutual profit
 You are a very good fellow. liar ry," Sing Wah had told him once as they drank tea in little room in the rear. You are a smart man-almost as smart as l am. But you are too hungry. You cannot resist your appe. tites Now, I"-he made a slight ges ture of distaste with his lean brown hand-'I have no appetites."
 Wikerson nodded. ''I guess you're right, Sing Wah. You even haven't any pride. You talk pidgin English to the tourists and the rest, instead of speaking the perfect English you know
 The dull eyes lit for moment hu morously. "I have always felt that owed it to Oxford not to f1aunt my ed. ucation in a small tradesmans shop, don't you know?"
 The imitation of the Oxonian drawl had been so natural that Wilkerson had slapped his thighs in delight Thereafter he took peculiar pleasure in watching Sing Wah's assumed silent stupidity and comparing it with what he knew to be the real person behind the dull features.
 It was to Wilkerson that the Chi. nese had explained his reason for nev. CT changing his address, no matter how brisk the police might be- "And I have thought out a scheme which you will like,' he went on "Come with me"
 It was then that he showed Wilker. son the cylindrical room which had q single door and revolved at a touch on a lever.
 Dangerous stuffr' commented Will kerson. If the police find that they'll sure land you.'
 Sing Wahs pallid lips opened in faint smile. "I built it for them. And the Chinatown guides know about it and will charge $10 extra for trip through