The Washington times., 1922-05-21
Characters
WANKOO
WANKOO
Proprietor OF a respectable Chinese cafe
THE MAN
His silent partner
THE DERELICT
THE WOMAN
LE.=EarLu erentnl.


SCENE:-The main dining room
NJ the WdnkOO LOW, q cafe in San
FrdnciScO'S ChindtOt0n. 40 the reGr
and sides are Curtdined bO0thS. To
the left, at the rear. Is the entrance.
nelt to lChich Is the bronze grill
cork of the cashiers booth. Beside
il is the pdSsd0eWdy leading back
to the Kitchen. ScUerGl square tables
tOith marble tops MI the room
UithOut croWding it, All tables
are occupied and eUidcntly thS
boOthS are. too. for the curtains are
drutOn. ScUerdl Chinese boys mOUe
around Wditin0 on the patrons, al
of iChOm are tCeIl-dreSSed Americans.
SightSCerS. tourists. and feU repl
conn noiSSeUrS Of Chinese dtSheS.
ONLY one perSOn-d nldn-SttS ht
the table in the immedidte fOre.
around RdnkOO. standing OppOSt'
him, is smiling and eTchdn9tn9
pledSdntrieS.
YYY7ANKOO-Little lady ask for
w you this afternoon - come
w back this evening, she say.
THE NANNY wife. suppose. We
were to meet here when | got
back from Los Angeles.
WANKOO-YOu change you mind,
huh? Get married like the rest:
When work for you in Singapore
long, long years ago you say You
stay single.
THE MAN married a couple 0f
months ago, Wankoo.
WANKOO-When you find me in
London again two years ago. re-
member you say make very poor
Englishman? I ought to come I"
America and YOU buy me a res.
taurant TO sell chop suey and
chow mein and get prosperity |
almost marry then, but little vel.
low girl get fat maybe. and be ex-
pense They all like that. sooner
or later.
money to afford a wife.
WANKOO-This little lady speak
like a London Jane-your wife
English. maybe?
THE MAN-Yes: we were married
in London. | left her with
cousin in Denver for few davs.
had to come on ont to the coast
WANKOO-A this funny man
with the black beard and old
clothes. who sat in the corner all
day yesterday. he ask for you, too.
He have your name on sheet "
paper and inquire your royal
wherea bouts. tell him you come
each evening now. He Is dizzy in
the head-too much dope-all the
time half batty.
THE MANI wonder who he Is.
WANKOO (Shrugging his shoulderS)
They all customers-they all
buy. We do good business. 1t is
well YOU buy me this place. ] still
pay you good partnership share
THE MAN can't kick, Wankoo.
Anyway. have plenty of money.
Has any mail come for me in your
care?
WANKOO-I hardly ever find let.
ter myself, but ! send to branch
post office at once-it stay open
till eight HE calls bOUJ Oh
Ten Yak. Go for the mail at my
postal box. fThc boz ledUeS)
Maybe you hungry now? I make
delicate hal yuk with mushrooms
and sprouts and bamboo shoots to
delight your appetite. (WdnkO0
leGucS md the man drdTS some
pamphlets from his pocket and
begins to redd)
"A chinese bon puts pot Of tea
on his tdbc and a cWp-dlSo chop
sticks after he pushes a knifC and
fork aside. 4 ShdbbilU dressed man.
lrih dark bcdrd-d dercIict-en.
tcrS and IC1nderS GmOng the tGblCS.
AftCr booking futiIelU for udCdnt
tGblc he dpOlOgctiCGHy drops into
the chair. opposite The Man. Who
continues to redd when the Chi-
neSC bOU brings in a Stedming dish
he puts his pamphlets aside and
really notices The DercliCt for the
first time The latter has been
drinking: he StdreS dr0irSilV at the
menu ,OhiIe the boy ,OditS for his
order. He looks up. GnnDyed. and
motions him dUdU.)
THE DERELICT-I1l order after a
while; I'm Just waiting for some
one. (The bon turns to 90. He
grabs his t0riSt) Listen here.
Tell that Chink boss of yours to
tell me when this bloke Thornton
comes in. I want him pointed our
TIE BOY fbredkinO loose)-All
right-yes, sir I tell him.
THE MAN-Pardon me. but who did
YOU say?
THE DERELICT (ScoWlingD -
Thornton-Henry Thornton. D'you
know him?
THE MAN-Quite we'll.
THE DERELICT (SuSpiciOuSlV)-