Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1915-01-07

from Singapore to Philadelphia-was
not less changeless of expression, nor
more teciturn than he Yet I'm spite OF
his scmber clothes and general air Of
blank stupidity Sing Wah was a man
of mark. a man with history replete
with adventure and not too seldom
with crime.
If the ordinary criminal could have
an Office or n store he would quadruple
his profits But the common run of
rascals must steal and fly. Their post
Office address is a ngment They Ore
not at home when opportunity knocks.
Sing Wah knew this, and it 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
be took his toll Of them and passed
them on. Whittier? Sing Wah never
told. And because he did not tell they
came back with greater loot and rich
er 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
availed themselves Of Sing Wah's aid
was Wilkerson, who, during dark pc
RODS 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 fool In
some ways he was brilliantly endowed.
He recognized Sing Wah's superiority
TO all others in the great game of out
whiting the law. He perceived beneath
the stolid mask the alert, active, stu
dious mind which was ever vigilant
never forgetful, always intelligently
watching the world that passed before
his filmed eyes. The Chinese had, as
wen, acknowledged WilkersOn's adept.
ness and persistency. In several deals
they had been partners y their mutual
profit
"You are a very good fellow. Har
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 | am. But you are too
hungry. You cannot resist your appe-
tites. Now, I'-he made slight ges
ture of dlstaste with his lean brown
hand-"1 have no appettes."
Wilkersou nodded. IL 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 dun eyes III for moment hu-
morously 81 have always felt that
swed IL 70 oxford not to flaunt my ed.
ucation in "a small tradesman's shop
don't you tnowT
The imitation of the Oxonian drawl
had been so natural that Wilkerson
Ind slapped his thighs In delight
Thereafter be took a peculiar pleasure
I'm watching sing Wah's assumed silent
stupidity ~ comparing 1t with what
ne knew 10 be the real person behind
the dull features.
1t was to WlIkerson that the Chi
nese hnd oypaIuel his reason for ney
or ch9roiur DTS address no matter
how brisk the police might be. And
7 have thrrnt out % scheme which
you WIN like be went on. Come
with me
" was then that be showed Wnker
sou the cylindrical room which had a
5ingle door and revolyed at a touch on
lever
Dangerous swne' commented VII
kerson. nc the police end that they'll
sure land you"
Sing NahH rollid lins opened In faint
smile 81 built II FOR them. And the
Chinatown cullcs know about It and
win charge $40 extra for trip through
the horrors az the underground, as they
call it, The Chlnese sneered. Let
them play with such things while use
the brains heaven gnve me. And yet,
sometime that trick room may serve
purpose
Thus II came about that Harry VIII
kersOn. driven 10 his Wits end 20 ac-
eomplish his designs, bethought him OF
Sing Wan ana fairly drove Jean Oar
LII - NJ. -. It,.