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

IA Il u ~ ~
o'longee velly high Mandalin. Foleigr
| nan talkee. 'P1ime Minister. He wea:
him China Empelor house. Ny 'speaket
tue. My pay you look see two thlee
day, can takee Consul man side. he car
5avvee."
She was so fascinated with the coat
and Jim seemed so thoroughly In earn
est about it, that she accepted his offer
to keep it for day or two and get
the Consul and others to pronounce
upon its genuineness and appraise its
value.
But, JIM" she said. this isn't part
of the palace loot. is it? Where did
you get it? Now tell me truly"
MY China fiend have catcheethe
talkee my can sellee for he" was all
that she was able to draw out of him
And the price? ?"
Jim assumed a very serious and
thoughtful air-"For you, Misses, five
bundled dollar. my talkee velly cheap
The night was dark and the sky
overcast. Drops OF rain were falling
through the freshening gusts of wind
as a sam-pan man sculled his little
craft against the outrushing current of
the river and headed for the Customs
jetty. He had only one passenger on
the seat beneath the mating awning
and he was coming ashore from the
Tien Tsin steamer lying near the OPP
posite bank. He was a rough sea-
faring type Of man but one of the kind
whom the boatmen are glad to have
for fares. because Jack pays more lib
orally than his friends ashore He
| jumped up the jetty steps and tossing
| the coolie a twenty-cent piece eX-
claimed: There! Take your double
fare, old chap. and hurry home before
! the storm browns your out" The boat
man seized the coin and. crying:
Yankee you Masseter." sculled away
again into the darkness. while his gen
erous donor hailed a jin-rik-sha and.
pointing to the Hongkew bridge. cried:
"Chop-chop go that side The tiny
two-wheeled vehicle ratified across the
bridge and down the Hongkew Road
until a pull at the coolies cue stopped
him rather suddenly in front of the
shop that bore the sign Of Jim. the
tailor. Trotsky. the Russian. alighted
and passed within.
rs your Master Jim at homer" he
asked of the assistant who was show
ing fellow sailor a roll of cloth.
Yes, St. inside have got"
A pair of rickety Chimes Doors ii
the end of the long counter opened ap-
parently of their own accord and the
wen-known face appeared.
Come this SIDE said Jim. as ne
beckoned to his visitor. and Trotsky
followed into the inner room.
| What went On inside was only partly
audible in the outer shop. but 1t was
| evidently heated discussion, growing
more so every moment Suddenly Jim
appeared, and motioning to the assis-
tant, said: "B'longee velly late now,
can shuttee up shoppee, go home side"
In less than five minutes from the time
the command was given. the shop was
closed and locked and the two were
left alone.
We'll. where's the money for that
Mandarin coat that you promised me
over week ago?" asked Trotsky.
my no catchee." was the answer.
/ You're a liar and a thief. You've
got it here, somewhere. Now hand it
out, quick, too, or I'll break every glass
in your shop and'-he added with a
threatening gesture-'every bone in
your body. too. do you hear?"
MY no havee; how fashion can
pay?"
Come, quick. out with two hundred
Mexfcans. or I'll smash that old safe
(pointing to an iron box in the corner)
into junk"
"F'oleign man no have pay me, my
no can pay you. 'S'pose you come back
tomollow?''
Tomorrow? Never. want that
cash here and now Now. out with it
where do you keep it?''
He reached for the table, and pulling
l open the drawers, threw the contents
to the floor. The scissors and tapes
and spools rolled out. but not a sigr
Of coin. Angered at his disappoint-
the tailor, when Jim. dashing acros.
window and with one leap landed OF
the sidewalk outside.
My callee policee-mani Ny callet
. policee- mani" he shrieked. and rushed
: off down the street. On the second
:. corner he ran right into an English
i constable. and the two hurried bacE
E to the shop.
Whats the row row?' asked the
officer.
8 He wantchee killee me-
: He wants to kill you? Who.
= There isn't anybody here!"-as they
i. burst open the doors of the shop a:ic
| found not a trace left of Trotsky.
! "Sailor-man. he wantchee ki!lee me
3 Ny speakee tue
Nonsense, your shop Is empty
: You've been drinking, Jim. that's what.
the matter with you. Or smoking toe
a much opium, Ell? Nobody wants II
e hurt you-now shut up shop and go =
, bed. Sleep off your bad dream" And
Y the constable. laughing good naturedly
returned to his beat
81 When Trotsky came to his senses