The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-09-20

stood pauontly IN me little rough court
in the center Of Canton. which has seen
the shedding Of more human blood than
many battlefield. A motley crowd OF
curiosity seekers filled one end OF the
court. while those who were unable TO
oftsr the customary fee to the soldierA
or guard were kept outside a rough
picket gate. The other end OF the yard
the center being reserved. like a ring in
a circus, for the actual entertainment
was occupied by a number Of potters
who were placing their handmade clay
Jars on strips Of straw mating to dry
in the sun, and who seemed utterly I'M
concerned at the impending tragedy
which was about to take place in their
midst
Suddenly a cry arose from the crowd
"Ldi Ltdol Lat Ldaoi" CThey have
GOMEZ They have comel), and from
the adjoining narrow alley q process
sion OF soldiers and lictors with guns
and old-fashioned spears Approached
and entered the enclosure. Following
them came eight wretched coolies bear
ing between them in bamboo baskets
the four condemned victims OF the Law.
The latter were unshaven. unkenpt
ragged and filthy beyond words. Half
dazed by narcotic wire which their
friends had bribed the jailers to give
them, they seemed perfectly listless and
indifferent to any fate that was in store
for them. The coolies stopped and at
the word OF command from the white
buttoned magistrate, who sat calmly
smoking m his sedan chair, they
dumped the contents OF their baskets
out on the ground with no more ce<e-
mony or feeling than they would have
shown had they been SO many bricks or
stones. The executioner, a fat, coarse
> kind OF creature with a perfectly i'm
passive face, stepped out Of a little hut
at the end OF the yard, bearing in his
hand a significant sword. It was of
ancient Chinese make. carved with
curious symbols on the hilt, double
: handed, and It's long wavy surface
showing the marks of the recent grind
ing that had sharpened it for the work
OF the day. He bowed respectfully to
the magistrate and received from his
| deputy a paper with list Of names.
"only four today, Your Excellsncy 7"
he inquired.
quite correct. four only" was the
calm and stoical reply.
"Fano Ling Pteni" ('Line them upi'O
cried the bearer Of the sword of mercy"
to his assistants, who proceeded to
: place the criminals on their knees in a
row about four feet apart. their feet
I securely chained together and their
High Executioner bowed once more to
the Mandarin Master Of Ceremonies and
took his place at the head OF the line.
J He raised the blade into the air, grasp
!, ing it firmly with his outstretched
hands
"Sael sakI" C'FKin! Kin'O said the
voice in the Chair between the puffs
e from the pipe. The assistant grasped
: the arms of No. One and jerking them
, upward threw his head and neck
straight forward. The sword fell and
a with unerring aim 1t Topped of the life
= Of the pirate, whose quivering body fell
e forward into a pool of crimson blood.
!. "OneI" shriebed the crowd as they all
clapped their hands-not in approval OF
the headsman's skill, as the European
j spectators all supposed, but to frighten
s away the evil spirits who always hover
, about such scenes. The executioner
stepped across the PROSTATE form and
u raised his sword for the second. 1t
flashed in the air for an instant and
; the crown cried Two. He stepped
forward again. Three" and then
-Four" and all was over and the crowd
? clApped and cheered to their satisfae-
)" ton. The assistant compared the baIn-
boo tallles which he had united from
"a the heads OF the prisoners with the
paper in his hand 10 make sure for The
IL second time that all was correct and
l. receiving from the Magistrate the lib
Il efal fee Of four dollars for his masters
In work the procession reformed and hur-
= ried away again to the Yd-Nen on
- offioial court.
= quick work, that, eh?" remarked the
le indian Colonel.
d. Mighty lively" replied the tourist
It from Chicago. Did you notice how
re, the crowd checked them off as the
N heads fell7 Reminds you of the ole
al days OF the French Revolution. doesnr
r 1t, and the old ladies' who knitted at the
foot Of the guillotine and Rept tally or
10 the unfortunates7 But, lookl What.
7" that old chap dressed like priest doing
r with those biscuits ?"-pointing to &
at figure bending over before them and
at dipping some little cakes out of 9
E. basket into the stream Of human blooC
ell that was trickling at their feet. "An
I'd other horrible superstition, I suppose7'
pc Him b1ongee velly good JOSS" ex
is planned Choo Loo. the guide in chArg'
rs Of the party. "Sposee some man gotte
to velly sick. he chow-chow dat, cakee
Is velly soon gettee more better. How
fashion him joss-man can savee."
pc ''Well, isn't that the horribls limit :?
n turning to the Lieutenant.
ut certainly is-but 1 must hurry III
n and get that sword now before the oil
e. man disposes Of it to some one else.
IT, see he's washing II and putting it ava.
be in his cabin"
u what do you suppose no will wan
n for Il. II he sells II at alp
ur IT have no idea but I'll start him o.
70 a couple Of Mexicans and see what h
says"
ds Taking the guide one side he in
IS, structed him to negotiate the purchas
and Choo Loo disappeared in the direc
he ton Of the cabin.
as ''velly solly." he began as he cam
back, dat execution man no wantche
sell. He tallkee him ladder hab da
swordee plenty year"
- "Oh, that's an old yarn. Every oil
n dealer in Asia tells the same tale. 70