Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-01
The Mysterious Ways of Wang Foo Sidney G. Partridge


Yes indeed. l remember that case
distinctly. I don't believe we should
lose race do you. by sending for him
"It1surely couldn't do any harm. sir.
especially ii we made 1t clear that we
only: wanted some temporary assist
ance." 49, "a M
You're right, Morehead. we will
wire for him tonight. AS the old say
ing Is. there is no harm in trying"
ms VIII explain why the faithful
an Sing, devoted house boy of Mrs.
tectlve Morehcad, carried an urgent
telegram. apparently from the More
head residence, for it wasn't always
wise, to send official messages from
the ifolice OF one port to another in
a a. mater ma involving secrecy for a
seif-same evening and ,trudged slow
~ with 1t along the Bund. The wires
Lasneu IL out into the ocean and
down the Formosa channel and
around into the beautiful .harbor OF
the valley of fragrant waters' and.
ere the hour Of midnight struck, ia
,rnsty messenger had summoned
Wang Foo the "wily" to an imports
ant mission in. the great central sea-
port or Shanghai. Four days later
me Messageries maritimes steamer
cropped anchor off the Woosung gar
and after a restful night at the "Inn
or the Travellers Peace" our famous
detective, clad in the modest robes of
chinese scholar, sent In his card
to TO- the the private Office OF Inspector
II am very glad to meet YOU Mr..
wang, said the inspector. extending
70 MIN most cordial welcome t'for
though l have often heard Of you and
or your wonderful ways, l believe r
have never had the pleasure of per-
sonally meeting you"
The honor is mine. assure YOU,
MR.. Inspector" replied Wang. in tho
most fluent and correct of English II
appreciate you sending for me and
IL Wlii be privilege to serve you
and the department In any way
THE truth is. Mr.. Wang, that we
are IN quite perplexity here over Il
case that seems to have baffied the
chinese authorities as much as It has
ourselves. Believing, from what !.
Know Of your record. that You can
help us in this matter. l. have taken
the liberty OF sending for YOU"
you refer. / presume, to the Well
ington Hotel incident, do you mo-? p"
IN; You know of Y. then?"
! have read what the native and the
foreign papers have had to say about
1t and l have heard II discussed at :.
some Chinese clubs an,l----"she hest
tated for moment and then said.
slowly and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
places where men are wont to gather
Suppose we so into the matter
thoroughly now. I will tell you all
! a,G kn snv, about thsn It from beginning to
you ask me freely any ana every
question you WISH"
The inspector suited the action. to
the word and gave Wang-a complete
account Of the case, stopping only
{taNN Ar
brief but very leading question which
his Chinese visitor read from q note
book IN his wallet, and to which he
jotted down what appeared to be very
careful answers. It was long past
let mo see" he said: this is We'll
nesday. is 1t not? Next Monday even
ing, III all goes well, should like to
meet you here again. Let the time
and place of our meeting be kept en-
tirely quiet. and" he raised his
finger and placed 1t to his lips-"you
will not consider 1t necessary to let
any one, native or foreign. know that
I have arrived: We understand each
ing. sir"
In the third alley to the right as
one goes north UP the White Stag
Passage from the central boulevard
IS tSa saes ct e ssop 81 sreR e sasHe
of the "ThreefoiI Blessing" It is the
center of u little colony from Hong
kong who make the baskets and
chairs and sedans of willow, now 80
popular In the western world. Thither.
carly Thursday morning. came Mr..
Wang Foo. with his white pigskin
trunk and his roll of bedding. borne.
on the plant bamboo Of an aged
coolie. There was no need of knock
ing, for there were no doors to un-
lock-. Everything was open to the
street and passerby, as the various
members of the family all piled their
daily tasks In full view of the world.
Tho old father recognized him at
Once---they had been neighbors III the
Southern Isle-anl rose and greeted
him and placed the seat beside tho
smoking tea.
Venerable elder-born, we greet you.
Welcome to our humble home! Deign
to be seated and refresh yourself.
Alas. tits but poor hospitality thaA
we can offer, our rice is coarse, anS
the tea, we fear, Is cold"
EXCUSE me for thus intruding with
out the proper rites or ceremonies. I
am quite unworthy of your welcome
and your kindness. Ten thousand
thanks ] offer and greetings from all
your friends In Fragrant Waters"
In the little upper room, which he
had occupied on former visit, Wang
Foo made himself at home and from
the baslet-maker's shop he sauntered.
daily forth TO solve the mystery for
which he had come to the northern
city. Sometimes they knew him.
sometimes they knew him not. for the
capacious pigskin trunk contained
many and marvellous discuises In