The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-02-18
THE DAILY
sHORTSTORY
The Bamboo Box
b. ROSE MEREDITH

. ~ LIAOLuGh 10 kAAE GAbANN SNSAAb
y car stopped al the curb and
they could look UP and down the
crooked streets and sec, hear and
smell, particularly smell, China
transplanted to the new world.
AT last VIC arc IN Chinatown
the next thing TO visiting China It.
self" gurgied Marguerite.
Smells almost like t." agreed
Weeks eleyatlnE his handsome
nose "oh. know I'm lowbrow,"
he added hastily.
Where shall VIC go flrst?" the
girls cried in unison.
Home" sa!d their escort timld'
"1dIO,," shifted Marguerite.
Como Dorry, let US go Into this
darling little shop and buy curios
10 take home"
Willie Weeks helped them to the
narrow sidewalk md gloomily
trailed them, as hey skipped down
three steps and pushed open u
narrow shop door.
a slant-cyed yellow man popped
up behind the counter and spread
his lone. nailed fingers on the neat
counter. What have?" he asked
blandly.
Dorothea waved her nand airily.
Mllee lookkeo roundeo, SAM" she
said In what she thought was the
schinese language.
Tho shopkeeper shook his head
Violently. "Eo keep laundlee, no
sabe-maybe want teapots?"
Yes, teaspots-" said Dorothea,
nodding her head irantlcalIy. "Tea-
pots and-tea."
~ More hendshaking. mo chop
suey pIace-curio shop. Here tea
potsl" The Chinese indicated a
shelf loaded with teaspots Of every
size. shape and color.
Two or three Chinese customers
turned to watch the Americans us
they amiably wrangled over the
question OF what they should buy.
At last their arms were filled with
knobby packages. and the Orlen-
tails bored expression had changed
TO one OF fixed interest.
Nov you shall each choose a
souvenir TO take home said Willie
4Veeks generously. This is on me,
you know"
Dorothea's blue eyes went back
to curious bamboo box which
was on the counter. Tho blue
sleeve OF a Chinsman who was buy
ing joss sticks almost covered the
article, but TO Dorothea 1t was 1t
thing Of mystery; she imagined il
might contain q silk shawl. per-
haps a string Of odd beads or some
quaint treasure from the Orient.
"I'd like that Bamboo box she
said quietly.
u want oue too." echoed Mar
guerite. cts darling; let's not
open them until we get home.
Speak to him, Willie, before some
one else buys them!"
The three OF them crowded up TO
Z the counter and the other custom
ers moved aside.
"Two OF these boxes" said Willie
Weeks touching the bamboo box,
~ a Chinaman leapcd from behind
them and tried TO snatch tho box
away from Mr.. Weeks. lie Shrek
ed shrilly at them In words they
did not understand.
No can SELL" protested the pro.
prletor.
Nonsense. 1t was on the coun-
ter. How much Is 1t, anyway"
enc can SELL" said the man dog
gedly, while the shrieking China.
man leaped frantically at tho bam-'
boo box which Mr.. Weeks kept
ont Of reach with cleYe: sleight of
hand tricks.
give me two like 1t" painted
Willie.
@No more-aot for sale," there
was q wailIng note in the mans
voice.
Choose something else girls"
swillie was saying. when Marguer-
lite snatched theI box from his
fingers and dartcd out Of the shop.
PAY for It, Willie. and como
along" she tossed over her slim
eseeie-~e-~--~-~~-->--.~-~~~-----.-