Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1928-05-04
Two Nails and
Four
By AID SCHUSTER
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"IrH his hands drawn up into his
sleeves, his head held forward
ana his sllppered feet falling noise.
lesSly. old Chang Wah made his way.
IL was as IL he saw no one and care,.
not bit for the golngs and comIngs
of his fellows.
Yet on the edge of the sidewalk
near the curb und opposite the alley
entrance, the man who had vision for
no man saw Two tiny nails He stopped,
picked them up, dropped them into a
pocket and moved on. Chang Wah,
the silent one, did not turn as he
passed the store of sing Lee. nor did
he stop to listen to the American
music which came from the modern
chop suey place of Moy Fang. He
battered on, dragging one foot ever
so slightly and his hands were hidden
In his sleeves.
An old man picking up discarded
nails. 1t is nothing. Ed WylIe smiled
at the thrift Of Chang Wah When,
next day, he saw the old man stop at
the same place to salvage two more
nails the lad felt he was facing coin
cidence.
Chang Wah picked up the nails
quite as If he had expected to find
them there. Then he looked around
TO make sure there were no more. Ed
Wylle followed. 1t occurred to him
that If the old man were adding to his
income by gathering discarded nails,
the plckings were poor Not once
more I'm walk of seven blocks did
Chang Wah stop to rescue anything.
He did not even seem intent on study.
Ing the walk or the street for posi-
bllities. 1t was just by chance, Ed de
cided once more, that he had seen
Chang do the same thing on two sue
cessive days.
but II the old man does 1t three
days In succession" the lad reasoned,
at will be mystery"
So Ed watched and Chang repeated
the performance. Every day the old
man paused, picked up two nails,
looked for more and went on. It was
at once weird and ridiculous. Why
should there always be two nails and
why was the old Chinese interested In
finding them at nc other place on
the sidewalk?
II wonder what he would do" Ed
thought, IF | were to get there first
and find the nails. And wonder what
would happen II he found three or
four"
Next day Ed placed two nails be.
side two he found on the sidewalk IN
the place where the Chinese made his
daily find. Hiding himself In the
alley the lad watched.
Chang Wnh came blythe methOdIcal
plodding- walking as II he werc
headed into strong wind. He paused,
picked up the Two nails mechanically
and then saw the other two. Imme-
dlately Chang Wah was changed
man. There came Into his bearing
something of stealth and cunning. Ed
senscd II and thought of panther
stalking his prey. Chang Wah moved
on with his hands In his sleeves.
moved on the route of old, but there
was purpose In his manner
In front Of the store Of Sing Lee
he made a quick turn. Ed saw him
run In and saw, too, that the hands
had come out of the sleeve. Some
thing was shining and there was a
loud report. Doors slammed and hid
frightened men. As II by magic the
street cleared There was commo-
ton In the store of Sing Lee and 1t
was there ED ran.
Inside he saw Chang Wah held fast
by four Chinese and white man In
plain clothes. Chang Wah was des-
perate, disappointed, and puzzled. His
shot. aimed at Sing Lee. had gone
wild. lie wondered why these men
had been ready to catch him.
-Four nails" Chang Wah was say
ing to himself, -four nails mean guard
Is gone. Two nails mean watch out.
How come four nails and the guard
still here?"
And they led him away wondering
why the signal had failed him.