The Coolidge examiner., 1930-10-31
with the devil who changed his

beard.
"One day in this valley in rest
aurant run by two Cinnamon a noise
started which sounded like tong
war had broken out The citizens
of the small town paid but little at
tention to the racket The two
Cinnamon running the place often
duarreled over their boys, and the
quarrels would generally be settled
by some member of the same tong
coming along and refereeing the
cause of the outbreak, and quiet
would be established between the
partners. The men were in the
kitchen and the boys, always fright
ened when these wordy battles took
place, were out on the sidewalk
trying 10 act as though nothing was
happening In the dining room 4
customer awaited his scrambled
eggs and coffee. II was this man,
smooth-faced; middle-aged hand
some fellow, who thundered out
volley of Chinese language that
brought both the partners to his
presence on the run.
Translated it might have sound
ed to the Chinese like this. illus
trious sons of a crazy elephant and
mad parrol, when are you hell born
monkeys whose ancestors chartered
for millions of years, going to serve
your lowly servant his portion OF
chow"
"Wo took one good look and he
was gone. dusty streak down the
alley and around the corner 10 the
store of Gin Sing, 70 whom he told
of the DEVILS third appearance and
with no beard at all.
"That evening his partner told
him that the man had talked excel
lent Chinese, but had not lived in
China for over twenty years. This
was too much for Wo. Even his
temper was subdued and he would
not argue that he himself had
talked with the man in China and
on the border of Mexico within the
past ten years.
at was not long after this cpl
sode that the wives of the partners
came over from China. Yes,
guess | forgot to tell you Wo had
fixed up his status as former res
ident of this country and did not
fear being molested by the author
tiles as being illegally in the u. S.
He was yet to experience another
two American devils, and 1t very
nearly pL; him out OF commission.
He was the most puzzled Chink out
of China until everything was ex-
planned
Zone evening he heard his big
partner talking Chinese TO some
one in the dining room, and when
the boys who waited on the table
came to give their orders he asked
about the Chinese who were talk
ing to Lee Boy; that was his part
ner's name. His son told him that
two Americans who could talk Chi
nese were in the dining room. He
went to the door to look just as
Lee Boy came into the kitchen.
After taking look and seeing
two devils both with neatly trimmed
boards, and recognizing them both
as being one and the same devil,
Wo started to make another dash
for the alley back of the restau-
rant, but his partner grabbed and
held him. Come back and meet
your friends. They both know you.
They are brothers, born on the
same day, at the same time, and
look. dress, and talk good Chinese,
just the same"
IA great light broke into Wo's
mind and he allowed himself to be
led into the dining room, where he
met the devil who had paid his fare
to China, and the brother devil who
in his research work on the border
had fixed up his head and fed him
and afterwards had called the two
partners down for delaying his or
der. 1t was explained that both
Americans had been raised in Chi
ma, spoke the Cantonese dialect
fluently. and one left that country
after the death of their parents.
"The explanation eased Wo's
mind of load for it ended his ex-
perience with American devils.
after making considerable mo-
ney in the restaurant business Wo
and his partner sold out and re-
turned to China. The wives and
boys went with them, but the boys
have returned and are now success
full Chinese in California.
Now, that's the smuggling story
/ promised, and | had better take
another cigar and go " And the
Old Timer left.