Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1918-10-10

ia-l1nS OIL curiosity. i thought tue
little man wavered.
And did not the one who sent,
madam, tell her how to reach this
Kim Lee?" he inquired.
"Only to come here and say what
] have" / returned. "Also, that 1t
might be denied that there was a Kim
Lee, but that was to insist that / be
taken to his presence"
He smiled family and shook his
head.
II do not know. am sorry" he
repeated.
Duty had. dragonike, swallowed his
curiosity.
But / was sure now, even though
my heart failed. l had spoken on
impulse, fitted my answers to his
questions. gathered facts for my re-
pies from his very actions themselves
and still he barred my way.
Yet was sure that there was a Kim
Lee and that this was his place, if
only could come upon way to reach
him. But it was not through this
man. Forbidden to admit the slight
est knowledge of the overload, he
would maintain his steady denial.
What, l asked myself, was to
do?
1T is the wrong store, / think,
madam" he suggested when l did not
speak.
After all, it was a combination of
senility and childhood which stepped
i'll to save the situation.
lnere was a stairway leading to the
second floor and the tea room, COM
ing down ON the central aisle of the
main floor. where stood with the
mau l had questioned.
Down these stairs as 1 waited, stri-
wing desperately to find some final ar
gGAient to gain me, my point, there
came small child in gaudy silken
blouse and breeches and small satin
cap.
Lehind him, shuffling from step to
step, came an old man, at whose ap-
le..fance gasped. was sure / had
seen him before.
Hardly had the partial recognition
filled my thought when the child cried
out gaily.
Taking the last two steps at a
bound, he rushed upon me and threw
himself against me, clasping my thigh
with two little, circling arms and smil-
ing up into my face. L
Recollection became complete. On
the night before, when Mr., McKabe,
Semi Dual, and the rest of us had
walked down this same street, and
later when Mr.. Glace and / had stroll
ed by while McKabe waited for
Greek Annie to appear, l had seen
this same old man and this same lit
tie child as passed.
More, the baby then, as now, had
run out and thrown himself against
me, holding me fast; and had opened
my purse and givsn him a piece of
money. and / had spoken to the old
man, who had seemed to be watching
the child.
= Now beyond any doubt the little
one seemed to recognize me, to Judge
by the smile on his face.
At the time it seemed to me that I
ac,ed purely on impulse in what /
did. At least am certain that l did
OF the situation to further my own
cause, because / did not dream that
it could.
But have always loved children,
and the little midget, with his shining
brown eyes. was in way appealing.
'Baby!" I exclaimed, stopped. and
lifted him into my arms. "Why,
whose baby are you?"
He laughed and laid hand on my
face, while the old man paused just
above the foot of the stairs and
watched with grin on his toothless
mouth.
Him like you velly wen, maybe"
he mumbled after moment.
Whose baby is he?" l asked, little
expecting what was to follow.
Ihe old man smiled and, without
noticing a hasty gesture of the little
Inan who had denied me, answered my
question.
O-o-h, him baby blong Kim Lee.
Kim Lee him papa"
Ii looks could have stricken him
dumb l am sure his tongue would
have ceased right then to wag.
The little man l had questioned at
first shot him glance which was
black with anger, and burst into a
rapid fire of speech.
The old man listened for a minute,
drew himself UP. and waved him to
silence. He turned on me with a Ques.
tion.
What for you wan see Kim Lee,
maybe? What for you come this
house?" stf.Hf
Il have a message for Kim Lee,''
j told him, despite the frowns of the
man beside me.
The ancient nodded. He came down,
shuffled to my side. and took the baby
from my arms.
II go look, see" he suggested. ~
tell Kim Lee maybe SO one white lady
want see him. tell him white lady
what baby velly much like. You
wait"