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

Here is Jim saying I can't have my
| Mandarin coat. He actually refuses to
sell it to me-"
| AT the hve-hundred-dollar fgure?"
Yes. at the original price he put on
when you were here"
All rubbish, Some one else has
| probably heard of 1t or seen 1t and
| offered him an extra fifty. that's all"
That's exactly what told him. but
| it didn't do any good. He still wants
| it back"
| Well. he can't have It. A bargains
| a bargain. I'll go right down to the
hotel desk now and cash this check for
| the money and he'll have to take ii
whether he likes 1t or not
| The Captain suited the action to the
word and. placing the bills in the
| bills in the tailor's hands. gently but
firmly pushed him out into the hall ana
| locked the door.
| Louise came pretty near to losing
her opera cloak, didn't she, dear?" he
| said to his wife as he lighted a cigar
and sat down to enjoy the evening
paper with the account Of the Hong
| Kong races.
| Il never had such a fright in my
| life," replied Mrs. Wadleigh, bringing
out the coat from the glass case. where
she had hung 1t. and again proceeding
to admire the exquisite workmanship
Jim started back for the shop and
was just turning the corner OF the
Hongkew Road. when whom should he
run into but the Identical Trotsky
| Fortunately for both of them. he was
sober and in fairly agreeable mood.
Jim decided to get out OF it as quickly
and as pleasantly as possible. so. put
ting on his sweetest smile. he addressed
the sailor:
!, "Good-morning, Masseter. suppose
you wantchee that money now. my can
pay
The effect on Trotsky was electrical
He unbent at once and the two pro-
, ceeded back to the tailor-shop and into
: the inner room. There the two hundred
NIexicanus were duly counted on. and.
rolling the bills and slowing them
away in his pocket. the Russian re-
marked: I've got more Of the same
kind in the trunk, Jim. II you want
them, Ell? What time shall 1 come
back tonight?'''
MY no wantchee any more. You no
come back this side. S'pose You want
i chez sell more lootee. more better you
go some odder shop. Too muchee Fob
berry"
The astonished Trotsky pleaded. but
all in vain. Jim was obdurate and in
sisted that this be their last transac-
ton. There SCENE to be no other way
out Of 1t. SO the receiver Of stolen
goods babe him adieu-remarking ae
he did SO: well. goodbye. then. you
and I have made a pretty good thing
out Of II, anyhow. I'll find some other
chap that knews a Chinese bargain
when he gees it,
l Wy
isul as they were slipping afternoon tea
in the japanese room. Il wonder IL you
wouldn't like to meet one of the mos,
interesting men in China before you
leave Shanghai
Why, I should be most delighted
Pray tell me. who is he? You know
one really doesn't have a chance to see
anything of the real higher class here
We seem to be confined to compradores
and shopkeepers and all that sort OF
person-except an occasional oficial
and they are SO dreadfully stiff and
formal
We'll" continued the Consul. "thi.
gentleman's name is Wang Foo and hi
is one of the best known residents ir
Hong Kong. He is a cultured Con.
fucian scholar. of private means. who
has made a special duty of all sort,
of Chinese crimes and has been re.
markedly successful in unrayellinf
many mysterious cases in both tn,
Settlements. He seerns1s 70 have a sor
Of natural instinct for seeing into thu
ways Of his countrymen, which few. 4
any, Europeans ever possess. 1t wal
he who discovered the whereabouts o
Larry Evington's jewels. in the famou
robbery case, you remember"
why. certainly. that's the very sam,
about when We were coming up tn
coast. He told US not to fail to NEE
him and talk with him IL we ever has
the chance. But Just one question
does he speak English or only thi
awful jargon they call 'pidgin'7 Yoi
know it is so unsatisfactory to try q
| carry on a conversation in that house
boy lingo
oh. put your mind perfectly at cas-
about that. He speaks English a
fiuently as either you or I do"
How delightful! Where can We fn'
him."
We'll. he Is in the outer Office now
and IL you don't mind. I'll just brini
him in and introduce him.
Please do"
II The Consul disappeared for. mo
ment and then returned witt the Mai
!. of Mystery. who greeted the ladie
most courteously and. Joining IN tn
= company's conversation, appeared per
fectly a. his ease. Mrs. Wsdleish -
: charmed with him and nothing mus
E do but that he must consent to be on
II OF her guests at a little birthday gath
2 ering which she was planning IN he
n husbands honor.
d Now, Mr. Wang she added. "yo
surely must come and do. please. brin
~ something very mysterious with you!