The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-25

Wang smiled a gracious acceptance
OF the invitation, saying. as he did 80:
Mrs. Wadleigh. your request reminds
me OF the English lady's invitation to
Mark Twain. the American humorist.
you remember. when she said to him:
Mr.. Twain. please come to my house
and be funny One cannot always do
these things to order. you know"
The problem OF being very mysterf-
Gus or hand rather perplexed the de-
tective as he took his departure, but
his ride home through the streets Of
the Settlement suggested to him an
idea which he proceeded to develop as
the evening wore on. II happened to
be the evening before the ascension
heavenward of Tsao Chuin. the god OF
the kitchen. and all the native popule-
ton were preparing their paper sedan
chairs and coolies and garments to &C.
company him on the Celestial journey.
He was writing his record OF the year
and would report on arrival the be-
havior OF all the different members OF
the household. This explains the avid
ity with which they purchased pack
ages of molasses taffy (of which the
divinity was exceedingly fond) and
placed It Ia his mouth before his de-
parture. SO that when he reached the
heavenly shores he would be so busily
unable to talk! AS the jim rik- sha
passed a very large establishment
where paper garments to be burned in
Tsao Chuin's honor were being sold.
Wang stopped and. entering. requested
an interview with the proprietor. What
they said and planned over the
tea-bowls and pipes. leads UP to a very
interesting event which we mustn.t
anticipate
Yes, 1t is quite true" remarked the
Consul. as the company passed into
the drawing room after the elaborate
birthday dinner. that aged cloth and
even silk becomes very infis mmabie.
remember when was stationed in
Egypt that often valuable mummies
were destroyed In this way just through
the carelessness OF some Arab drop
ping a spark on the wrappings. ana
| told that tie same thing has happened
| in India and I have no doubt, Mr..
Wang"-turning as he spoke these
words to t.. detective-"that the same
Is true in China. Is It not?"
Quite So" answered the Chinese
visitor. who up to the present time had
been disappointingly natural and not o
bit mysterious. now, that beautiful,
Mandarin coat of Mrs. wadieigh's for
instance"-he rose and approaching
the glass case IN which his hostess had
hung 1t. to the utter surprise and dis
may Of the company. took the garment
out. and. without removing the gauzs
| cover which dimly concealed its beau
ty, before anyone could protest or stop
him. struck a match and touched its
| lower border!
There was a binding flash. a burst
of flames and In an instant the price,
| bundle Of crumbling ashes! He threw
open the glass door and. rushing OUT
with II. deposited II on the veranda,-
as he did SO. every electric light in the
room suddenly went out. II was only
a moment before they burst out again.
but Wang Foo was misstngi Yes.
Wang Foo was gone. but looki Who
is this elegant Chinese oficiaI coming
in through the other door?
Ladies and Gentlemen" said the
Consul, allow me to present to you
His Excellcncy Chang, formerly Prime
Minister OF Chinai He wears as you
all see. the idencItal robe OF state which
the daughter Of our charming hostess
Is to wear as an opera cloak at Covent
Garden next winter"
Safely passed through the names"
added Wang. as with a most gracious
bow he approached the astonished
; Mrs. Wadleigh and eat down beside her
: with the Mandarin coat adorning his
) handsome figure.
You see." he said. Il have broughf
} something mysterious with me-"
Explain it. Explain 1t at once. they
) all cried in unison.
"A perfectly simple matter, when
} one knows the secret calmly replied
) the wohder-working Wang 81 hap
pened to find Mandarin coat of papep
in a native shop that was such .
clever imitation Of the genuine article
that 1t occurred to me TO show IL TO you
J as an example OF real Chinese skill.
! The house boy kindly exchanged 81 for
} me befo dinner and the covering Of
gauze prevented your detecting II. Our
good friend the Consul entered into the
, secret with me and kindly introduced
) the subJe of infiammabie garmentsa .
the opportune moment. You all recog-
nize the fact that every good masician
requires confederate"
And do you mean to tell me that 70
; was the paper coat and not the real
one that hung In that cabinet ali
through tie evening"" inquired Mira.
wadleigh.
] Words were never more truly spoke
) en-you see the real one was waiting
E for me outside on the veranda whep
: the proper time came 10 put It on"
! Jim. the tailor. still continues busfs
, ness a. the old stand in Shanghai ana
makes uniforms for His Majesty's navy
r and every vaeriety OF garment foS
European civilians. but. needing the
J timely advice of the Inspector Of Pc.
: lice he no longer deals In sfancarin
= coats-even at their fabulous values.