Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1919-08-28
The EI;sl.: Ter
-
By VICTOR REDc,.lFFE
cop,r,sM. 1910. by Western new.p.p., uno...

Copyright. 1910. by western Ncwspspe, unio...:
We all liked Ly Hong Chang and
father was particularly attached to
him. lie was so recently from his
native land that his speech was nb-
scure and imperfect. hut he was bris vt,
quick. enger to learn, and every week
in our service saw him with a cl.. ~
understanding and more and tnorr ;.r-
custOmed to our.wnys.
We always kept several servants ut
when I.y, as we familarly cal'' /; !. II,
was given position under our rl,,.u1f-
feur and duly dOmesticated III ~ ro::l
IN the garage, the cook and no" sem d
affected great dread Of "the h,nti,r."
who might at any time decide u Is. IT.
der us all In our beds! The MA.
smiling ways Of the new comes. >:.,,n
dispelled any such. fanciful fnr' d.
fngs. however. He was tireless 81, to
his work, pleasant. accommodating and
neat AZ pin Mt all times. We had
reason to cherish and value LIZ. But
for his vigilance. force and self-sncri-
fee. father might have never seen
home and family again. In hotel fire
he had been penned in ly flames on
the highest floor Of the blazing build
ing, had fallen. choked and insensi-
bile, in tortuously winding corridor
and Ly, who was an extra Waterman
of the caravansary ut the time, had
lifted him on his sto4 shoulders and
had brought him to safety at the cost
Of numerous burns on face and hands.
We all stared when, q few days later,
father returned home accompanied by
the uncouth Ly. We were aroused to va
ried emotions when we learned Of the
greet deed which had saved to US a
kind and indulgent parent.
Ly never referred to his home and
friends in hts native land, If he had
any. He would solemnly detail his
hard experiences in seeking work uf
ter he had landed in this country. It
seemed quite strange that in no case
did these recitals show that he had
sought aid or compan! ollssiip from
those of his own race. He never went
away from the place after coming with
us, and he had fixed up the garage
room assigned to him in unique and
elaborate fashion. Bit by bit Ly ac-
cumulated odtl-sllaped shells. crockrry,
some miniature Chinese gods. bells.
cymbals and draperies. and every
morning he burned Joss sticks before
small-curtained shrine.
~ 30 IT o1,.,
seemed to move on smoothly, and in a
few weeks he had become settled
feature of the domestic economy. I
was quite curious for spell of about
week when Ly's service seemed to
be in considerable demand by my fa-
ther. They were together, shut in the H.
brary. as If in secret consultation.
During the same period I knew that
my father was greatly troubled about
! his business. My mother called me to
her one dry with grave. anxious
face.
Cecilia" she said, IT have something
serious to tell you"
ut Ii about father?" inquired with
intuitive dread. Z
Eyes, dear. His business is in "a
position where the lack of ready cap
ital may lead to disaster. If It so Gull
inmates your marriage with Gelmld,
must be postponed until we have re-
trieved ourselves financially"
A month later my father began to
brighten up into his old self. 1t was
| not until long after this that I knew
why. It was then. that mystery sur.
!, rounding Ly came to light. He had
fed from his native land with Jewels
that had been in his family for CEN
turtles. A member of another Branch
Of the family had sought to rob him.
Ly was satisfied that this man. Tao
Chin, would follow him to the ends Of
the world to despoil him. Tao Chin
was a member ;;Sf the highbinders. who
had branches In every '!crsSgntry. Ly
had ieaYaed that Tao Chin had come
to An,erica-hepee his hermitlile
methods.
What Ly had done was to loan my
father his Jewels to hypotheeate 4p-
til he could realize from his business,
| 4ufec ulOIllIlS iulci illy lulAlcT rctlcteltls
ed and restored them, practically say:
ed from bankruptcy by the humble. but
loyal w., &
One day a ragged skeleton of "a
Ch.naman tainted away from sheer
hunger and weakness Just outside our
place. He was carried into the garage,
but none too welcome by his fellow
countryman. Ly fed him and nursed
him for day. but with the sullen sur.
illness of suspicion. The next evening
he gave him some Of his own apparel
and sent him on his way.
It was perhaps an hour later when
our chauffeur impaired to father that
4 terrible tragedy had occurred half q
mile down the lane that ran behind
our place. Two Cinnamon had been
found gasping their last breath. They
had literally hacked each other to
death.
Iotor x,o hno,p ,,,1,n .ttooo ,,tot,,,.