Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-09-14


out now. The confession was brief. but
complete. and all that remained was for
Hop Hoy to personally conduct the great
detective to the underground arena and
for the latter in turn to make the same
revelation to Inspector Wallace and the
police-if he thought 1t wise 20 to do.
Old Chang. the gatekeeper. made q
special trip to police headquarters the
following morning. bearing q previous
sealed document from Wang Foo 70
be delivered to the inspector In person.
1t contained these significant words;
Ny Dear Mr.. Wallace:
All is up. We have discovered the ring whsss
the bloody contest took place; have secured the
principal witness and also the person Of the
victorious yellow Legs" I regret to say
that poor Spotted Back" his opponent, II
still suffering from bis injuries and unable to
appear. but we have made It impossible for
him to escape.
1t 10 little unusual. but native ideas Of
justice and proprlety demand that the crsmi.
nal shall be transported In a wooden cage. We
will produce him at headquarters at noon to.
day. and shall be glad to have you invite his
excellency and Rev. Mr.. smalltree to be pres.
ent when he is carried in. The cage (Which
we have brought from Canton) will be care.
fully covered while passing through the streets,
80 ~ not to excite the public The
Europeans, who might not understand II.
Very cordially yours. WANG FOO.
r. S.-You might include Lord Dubbins ID
the party II he II still In town.
1t was just 11:55 when Hongkong's
famous detective alighted from his
sedan chair and passed into the pri-
vate Office of the inspector. The in.
vited guests were all there. It was
easy to see that they were awaiting
with the deepest interest-not to say
anxiety-this exposure of tho prize
fight in their midst. and were won
dering at the audacity-even of Wang
Foo with all his prestige-of trans
porting a criminal in an old fashioned
punishment-cage through tho streets
of the civilized British colony. He was
formally introduced and arose to adj
dress them.
'The prisoner. the prisoner" they
all cried in unison.
yellow Legs and the cage! Whore
are they? Haven't you brought himf"
eagerly inquired the inspector. Begin
ming to fear disappointment.
Gentlemen" said the man Of mys-
terry, as with a sweeping gesture he
produced a little paper package from
his silken sleeve. behold the criminal
! and the prison!" He unwrapped be-
fore their astonished eyes tiny wil<
low cage and in It. a yellow-legged
chipping cricket!
'What means this pleasantly and
why do you trihe with us this way?"
addressed Wang Foo.
Q your excellency," replied the de-
D tective with the most courteous OF
bows, this is no pleasantly. 1t 10 the
= simple unvarnished truth. Listen to
1 me. beg you. for moment. This
3 whole thing is an illustration Of the
mistake Of applying q European con-
ception to an Asiatic transaction. A
contest Of strengths prize fight If
you wish so to call it-takes place In
your midst and you spring at once to
T. the conclusion that the combatants are
:, Of course human beings. This does not
a follow at all in China. I have listened
a carefully to every word Of the evil
4 dence and there Is not a syllable from
h end to end that does not apply as well
to an insect as to a man-read 1t over
;. yourselves and acknowledge that I
:. am correct.
Every nation has its own form Of
prize fighting: bulls in Spain. bears In
s. Russia. crocodiles In Egypt. cobras II
India-everything from ouadrupeds t.
>, :, insects-crickets In China. the last ant
=. least harmful Of all. It Is only II
~ civilized and refined Europe an,
America that these brutalizing con
tests are taken part in by human be
tngs."
by jove! You know. that Is reall'
most mysterious and interesting" wa
10 Lord Dubbins' response on behalf 9
the assembled company.
IL
=" "Mr. Inspector" remarked Wan
" Foo, as he called at the once q fso
u days after the denouement, II want yo'
to accept this little gift In memor
1e Of your first real Chinese prize flgh;.
H. unwrapping. as he spoke. q delicat