Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-18
TRE DAILY NOVELETTE,
The BAMBOO BOX
Ru Rass Meredith


MNH1NATowN - exclaimed
~ Dorothea as the sisht. seeing car
stopped at the curb and they could iook
UP and down the crooked streets and
SEQ. hear and smell, particularly smell
China transpianted to the New world
"At last we are in Chinatcwn--the
next thing to visiting China ITSELF )
sursled Marguerite.
"Smell almost like IT," agreed
Weeks, elsvatins his handsome nose.
"Oh, I know I'm lowbrow," he added
Where shall we 30 flrst'" the girls
Home" sSid their escort timidly.
idiot" shifted Marguerite. Come,
Dorry, let us 70 into this darling little
shop and buy curios TO take home"
Willie Weeks helped them, to the mar
row sidewalk and gloomily .trailed them
as they skipped down three steps ana
pushed open a narrow shop door,
A slant.cycd yellow man popped up
behind the counter and spread his long
nailed fingers on the neat counter
What have?" ho asked blandly.
Dorothea waved her hand airhy;
"Willec lookee roundec. SAM: che saiu
In what she thought was tho Chinese
language.
The shopkeeper shook his head vic.
lently. mo keep lsundlee. no snbe--
maybe want teapots9''
"Yes, teapots:" said Dorothea, nod.
ding her head frantically. "Tcapots
lund-tea.' ,. 49,.
More headshakinc. ''No chop .suey
place--curio shop Here teepots! y The
Chinese indicatedNh shelf loaded with
teapots OF every size, shape and color.
''Now you shall each choose q sou.
venir to take home" said Willie Weeks
generously. This is on me, you
know"
"i'd like that bamboo box" she
II want one. too" echoed Mar.
guerie. "It's darling; let's not open
them until wo get home. Speak to
him, Willie, before some one else buys
The three Of them crowded up to
the counter and the other customers
moved aside. 49,,
1.-TWO Of these boxes,,' said Willie
Weeks. touching the bamboo box.
A Chinaman leaped from behind
them. and tried to snatch the box
away from Mr.. Weeks. He shrieked
shrilly at them in words they did not
! understand.
"No can SELL" protested the pro.
prietor.
"Nonsensc. II was on the counter.
How much Is il, anyway
mo can SELL" said the man dog
scdly. while the shriekina Chinaman
leaped franticnlly at the bamboo box
which Mr.. Weeks kept out of reach
with clever sleiyht :of-hand tricks.
Give me two like H." painted Will
lie.
"No more--not for SALE" There was
wailing note in the mans voice.
Choose something else. girls Viii.
lie was saying, when Marguerite
snatched the box from his fingers and
darted out Of the shop. PAY for it.
Willie. and come along she tossed
over her slim shoulder as she gained
the sidewalk.
Dorothea followed her and Willie
came after, with three Cinnamon in hot
pursuit. shriekiMg in ear splitting tones
that instantly crowded the sidewalks
with an eager audience. At the corner
two stout policemen gathered them all
into one protesting group and bundled
them cff TO the station house. The
Chinese faces had sInoothed as IL by
magic and the proprietor was eager to
explain. bur no one could understand
what he did say when he talked. e..
Can all that talk said the desk
want for the baskcty' A malignant
keeper. Twenty dollars" he said
sullenly.
PAY it." ordered the sergeant.
Willie Weeks paid it, inwardly secth .
Everybody beat it now" COM
! manded the Law.
{ Open the basket. miss The poiicc .
man craned his neck nt Marguerite as
he spoke. Everybody else looked. hut
the shopkeeper and his friends drew
close to the door.
The girls lifted the cover and stared.
Everybody stared.
In the middle Of tho basket was II
bowl Of rice on one side was a pair .,
common bone chopsticks and on the
other side was handful Of dried iichcy
nuts--that was all.
The shopkeeper stretched out skinny
finger toward his tall compa ion
Belong oil came him dinner boy
He turned and padded out into ,ne
street. followed by his companions. They
disappeared around the first corner, bu,
; Willie Weeks stopped OH the steps and
faced his two fair friends. Heartlrs,
laughter still echoed behind them I'm,
terribly hungry" sighed Dorothca
changing the subject.
II wonder where We can find a clio,
suey---' began Marguerite hopefully
when Mr.. Weeks thrust the open box
under their pretty noses.
! '1f we cat anywhere. il will be OH,
Of this" he said grizzly. "l'm busted -