The northwestern bulletin-appeal., 1924-06-28
The Blow
That Came
to Lin Loo
By ANTHONY REIMERT
,S. 1924. Western Newspaper Union)


yXyE ALL took a natural interest
w In Lin Loo. chop suey restaurant
proprietor. In the first place, he was
a member Of the Presbyterian church,
and In the second he was the only
Chinaman in town.
This interest was naturally en-
hanced when there appeared on the
scene suddenly pretty little Chinese
wife.
And 1t rose to boiling point when he
brought to the Rev. Mr.. Sturgis Jones
tiny baby to be christened.
1t hswled as Justify as any Cau-
casian infant when the water was
poured on 1t. That assured Lin Loo's
standing In the community. Thence
forward all Rockington took a pride
In Its two Christian, civilized Mon
golian adults and its one Mongol
United States citizen. The business Of
the chop suey restaurant went up by
leaps and bounds. Someone, learning
that Lin Loo's deposit at the bank
was a heavy one, even proposed NOM
mating him for village trustee. How
ever, as Lin Loo was not a citizen,
and couldn't become one, the proposal
came to nothing.
Spring brought its annual crop of
infantile disorders. Measles and
mumps-nothing to white children,
but death to Mongolians. The little
baby sickened and died.
"It might have been malignant
mo one could have saved IT,"
Lin Loo bore up under the blow.
He's taking It like a white man and
a Christian" said the Rev. Sturgis
Jones admiringly.
They'll get over 1t when the next
one comes" said Mrs. Sturgis Jones,
with one Of those feminine glances
that are so significant.
Three months later pretty little
Mrs. Lin Loo was dead. She was
buried with the newborn baby beside
her. Lin Loo was left alone.
Not a change appeared upon his
stolid, smiling Mongol face. But he
feels It," said Rev. Sturgis Jones
Don't believe for a moment that he
hasn't any feeling. These Chinese
have u wonderful power Of self-con.
troll"
Opinion was divided on that point
But outwardly this second blow had
left Lin Loo unscathed. He still pre-
sided over the chop suey restaurant,
his voice was still raised In the hymns
on Sundays. Whatever the inward
change, he had succeeded In conceal
ing his feelings from the eyes OF the
world.
Hell get another Wife" suggested
Mrs. Sturgis Jones.
But no other Chinese bride ap-
peared, and Rockington gradually for
got the tragedy that had wiped out
the family Of its one Chinese inhab.
liant. However, the chop suey res
taurant continued to prosper.
Then an astonishing thing occurred
Loo was not in his seat at church
one Sunday. And the restaurant was
closed
The Rev. Sturgis Jones, going 10
Loo's house to inquire whether he was
Ill, was forced to gain entrance
through the scullery window. He
smelled a peculiar smell, and discov
cred Lin Loo lying on a couch, under
the influence Of opiumi
Then and there he preached him Q
sermon on the iniquity Of his back
sliding, but Loo was too far gone to
understand.
The restaurant continued closed
For a week all the village was agoe
to know what had happened to Lin
Loo.
At the end of the week 1t was an.
nounced that the chop suey restaurant
was to be taken over by a compa.
triot. Loo's house had been sold at Q
knock-down price to Aarons the local
clothier.
And Loo was going back to China.
Finally the Rev. Sturgis Jones
making another effort to probe to the
bottom of the mystery, entered the
tht WlHuON
and discovered Loo, dressed In rags,
PROSTATE before what looked to him,
he said. suspiciously like a miniature
heather temple.
Compassion stirred him to put q
friendly hand on Lin Loo's shoulder.
Lin Loo" he said, "some dreadful
trouble has come to you. You must
have faith. Won't you tell me what II
isf"
Lin Loo looked at him with his eye.
full Of tears.
"She have one stloke. She pala.
lyzed," he whimpered. Letter flom
China"
"Who, who, Loo?' asked the Rev.
Sturgis Jones.
my cousins grandmother"