Evening star., 1922-01-22
w YE WERE in the lounge room
Nf Of the club, at Tientsin, at
w the moment; -

has a good deal to do with the Dusl-
ness of romance, If you get my mean
ing .,-
THAT" said Crayton. coarsely, is
because you're poet and a iooi'
Tomtit!"
A stir silence followed. The boys
discreetly vanished. We all thought
that Toptit had been goaded 1ar
enough by Crayton, and we secretly
hoped there would be knockdo"h
and a scandal, so that we could KICK
Crayton out of the club.
Toptit only smiled. and patted nis
dress tie with an air of approval. he
quite ignored the ''Tomtit" wnich
crayton invariably dung at him.
my good Crayto a." he said pleas
antly. "you don't like me. Why?'
Crayton glared savagely at him.
"I'll tell you why! Because you've
come to China a green cub and are
running wild up and down the coast
that's why! You and your poetry ana
your dashed nonsense-itll ruin ousl-
ness for the rest of u.s."
Hope so." said Toptit sweetly. 1T
won't ruin my business. though! You
can't make friends among Chinese
gentlemen by eulogizing their treas
ures in verse; I can. You go around
buying Jewels ard paintings and
things with money! I buy 'em with
money plus poetry. which means lot
more to an impoverished classical
scholar
"AIl bull!" growled Crayton. get
ting red. you and your classical
rot-
Toptit regarded him with mad
dening suavity.
"Ahr" he said, putting singular
meaning into the word. "Ah! Let me
tell you something. I'm of for Fu-
chow in the morning. to get that
screen from the old mandarin Wing"
A T this, crayton came bouncing out
"A of his chair. His hand slipped to-
ward his arm!lt. and for an instant
I thought he 1neant to shoot Toptit.
Rank murdes was in his eyes. Then
he mastered himself, and stood there
trembling with fury.
"Look here. His voice was thick
and hoarse. i've been after that
screen for a year. i mean to get 1t.
I have an order for it. It's mine! If
you butt into my affairs. I'll run you
out of China! Understand that?'
Toptit, who was rather lanky. but
singularly graceful and alert. bowed
mockingly from his hips. That bow
should have warned crayton, for few
men can manage l. aright, and those
few are dangerous.
Thank you. my dear Crayton." he
answered, his wide and homely mouth
transfgured by smile Of genuine
pleasure. II accept the challenge
gladly! I return your verbal gaunt-
let with one small warning: Don't
forget that your wife lives in Chi
cago."
Crayton rocked on his feet as
though beneath a blow. His heavy,
brutally dominant face became mot
ties, then was overspread by a mortal
pallor. What the words means. he did
not know; but he knew. With a sim
gle virulent oath. he turned on his
heel and left the clab.
buttonholed Toptit In one corner,
and was careful not to call him
Tomtit by mistake.
Half a mo-, old man! You don't
realize Crayton's ability, I'm afraid.
He's a brute to have for an enemy.
What's that about his wife in Chi
cago?"
Toptit regarded me, and there was
eyes.
"Nothing-for publication" he said
curtly. "What'd you do in my place?"
Leave China tomorrow" I an
swered with sober emphasis. II mean
it, Crayton is wealthy. He Is agent
for several big dealers back home.
also for a number of millionaire Jap
clients. He sends out more antiques
and museum pieces than the rest of
you chaps combined. He has infiu-
ence"
"Ah" said Topttt with an inane
grim But don't forget that I'm
poet! Thanks, old man. Thanks and
al! that Now I must be off,
I watched him go from the club
and regretfally shook my head. He
was rather new in China: . felt that
If he interferfi with cl~.on's af-
fairs he would be murdered. You
may think that is stretching it bit:
but If you know anything about the
scarcity of antiques in China, the
jealousy and enmity and crime behind
the securing of these pretty objects
sold on Fifth aver ue for small for
tunes-if you know about this. you'll
know that I am not exaggerating.
THE mandarin Wing. who lived in a
charming old temple-suburb Of
Fukien, was a survival of the impe-
rial regime. He clung to it's tradi-
tions of art and concub!nes and ruth
less ways; he was not old, but he was
quite poor. All he had left was his
family collection Of art, and once
every two years or 50 he sold piece
Of this. It was like pulling a tooth.
Wing had once been diplomat In
London. and was an educated gentle
man, with cultivated appreciation of
occidental things. combined with pas
sionate love for the artistry Of his
own people. Every agent and dealer
in China was on the qui vive to get
something from Wings treasures.
You must understand that there are
various classes Of dealers. Some ship
imitation junk to interior decorators,
who value only color: others supply
wholesale bazaar dealers; the aristo-
Gratis Of the profession seek really ar
tistic things. museum pieces. Under
this last head fell Crayton, who was a
business man, and Toptit. who was
o poet.
Toptit naturally surpesfad Tornti+