Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1926-05-28

two boys chased the runaway vcge
tables down the hill Light was be
ginning to dawn upon the Chinaman's
mind, but the coming of knowledge
did not lessen the tremendous fear
that gripped him. He knew that 1t
was the spirit of his mothers cousin
that was causing the trouble!
The cousin had been dead some
months, but before he died he had
cursed Fong in a most strenuous man
ner, and the Celestial was sure that
the erratic actions OF his vegetables
were the result Of spirit vengeance.
He was certain Of 1t. The cousin had
found 1t impossible to square matters
during his lifetime, but had evidently
taken the first opportunity that offered
after passing into the unknown. A
cold Precipitation broke out on Fong
when he thought to what length the
vengeance of the dead man would go.
Judged by the volume of the curses
1t would indeed be terrible.
He determined to take the potatoes
and tomatoes inside the shop and then
make another appeal to the joss. 1t
was the duty Of the joss to protect
him, He had burned incense before
the deity for score of years, and now
when he called upon him for protec-
tion the fat image did not respond.
Fong shrieked invocatlons to the
god. lie promised to double the daily
supply of incense. He promised offer
ings of various kinds, but the joss gave
no intimatlon that he would take the
matter in hand. He smiled with calm
Indifference upon his fear-strlcken
worshiper, till, finally, Fong became
annoyed. With dlstended eyes he
turned upon the image and abused 1t.
He called 1t epithets that he had never
dared to call it. He cast lnslnuatlons
upon its power to control the spirit
of the dead cousin, and finally threat
ened it. He picked up the chopper
that lay upon the meat block and
threatened TO smash the joss to atoms
If the annoying spirit was not I'M
medlately chased outside II thousand
mile radius Of the establishment.
Fong's action amounted to unqualified
blasphemy, but fear had driven him
mad. After making the threat he re-
turned to the shop and peered out.
All was quiet with the array Of bas-
kets and crates upon the sidewalk, and
for moment Fong thought that the
threat had put the Joss upon his
mettle. Then startling occurrence
took place. A barrel containing
apples slid quickly along the pave
ment and fell into the gutter A small
basket of turnips followed 1t hastily,
and a well-tilled bag made n sudden
sOmersault and covered the sidewalk
with layer Of green peas.
The Chinaman gave wild yell of
rage, Rushing to the door he slammed
and locked 1t 50 that the spirit Of his
tOrmentOr could not enter the shop,
then swinging the meat chopper he
dashed into the inner room to take his
revenge upon the joss that had turned
deaf ear to his prayers.
The two boys seeing the disturbance
amongst the vegetables again crossed
the street In expectation of more ba-
nanas, but when they saw Fong shut
the door they stopped and looked gull
lily at each other From inside the
shop came wild yells and sounds of
breaking crockery, and their fear In
creased. Hastily removing three-fsh-
hooks from the barrel, basket and bag,
they fed round the corner, winding as
they ran the fish lines with which,
while sitting on the other side Of the
street, they had caused the peculiar
movements amongst Fong Tags stock.
Next day the landlord Of the little
green grocery found that his tenant
had fed, and he wondered much over
the battered remnants Of the joss that
he found in the inner room. Fong had
fled before the wrath Of the dead
cousin, but the two boys with the fish
hooks and line were regrettlng his de-
f,aWtupn