The Washington times., 1935-04-18

Stephen he must be given longer
credit.
Stephen yielded a little here,
Wen a little there. At last the
merchant took his ring, pressing
its seal into the thick red ink.
Then he stamped the contract.
After a long silence, the mer-
chant spoke.
Most honorable one, mine is
a poor and miserable shop, not
worthy to house the Oil Kings
business. A king would lose face
if it did not appear that his at.
fairs were important enough to
be housed in a separate shop"
From his pleasant, relaxed
contemplation of Wen's inter-
est, Stephen awoke to grid him.
self for another struggle. No,
no extra shop would be pro-
vided. Refused, Wen, with
blandness, suggested that the
company paint his most miser.
able building, thus making it
more worthy. It cannot be
done? Then the Oil King would
surely pay a little rent for the
use of his shop? It cannot be
done? In patient voice, Wen
mentioned the fact of how
poorly stated his shop was.
There we're times in the dis.
cussion which followed when
Stephen felt that he could hold
out no longer. Only because he
had reached the limit of the
concessions the boss had author
lied did he manage to with
stand the persistence of Wen.
At last all was arranged, though
etiquette made it necessary for
Stephen to wait another day
and give a feast in the name of
the company.
Magic Thing
The feast was served in the
passageway of Wen's shop. At
its close, Stephen ordered Kin
to bring in the present the Oil
King had sent to his new agent.
The box was opened by two
stalwart coolies. Then Stephen
pushed away the excelsior and
took out chains, pulleys, a great
bowl that cleaned like silver,
and something the like of which
many there had never seen. 1t
resembled a horn lantern only
it was so clear you could see
through it-a glass chimney.
"This Western lamp hangs
from the ceiling" said Stephen.
where shall it be put?"
There was a stir through the
front shop among the appren.
tees and the bystanders.
Hang it to the beam. in the
middle passage" Wen ordered
his coolies. Then Stephen took
a paper spill, lighted it in the
charcoal brazier and held it to
the wick. He let the flame travel
slowely around until it made a
complete circle before he placed
the chimney over 1.-THE first
chimney that ever in this town
had guarded a lamps flame.
All evening the crowd surged
under the lamp, staring up, see
ing it as some magic thing with
no relation to their humble lives.
"Ai YAH" Setting the Merchant.
Banker Yang apart In a class OF
his own. Merchant Yang has
arranged it nicely.
He, the silent partner, will not
have to be bothered with super
vision from this young barbar-
ian. It would be beneath him
to be thus directed. That is for
this younger member of his
clan. But when the barbarian
leaves, the great light will. be
taken to Yang's shop.
Even the beggars knew this;
only Stephen did not know it.
Copyright, 1884, by Bobbs-Merril Co.
Distributed by Kings Features Syndi-
cate Inc.
Across the northern plains
Stephen pushed his little caval-
cade. He was happy; his DIFF.
ficult task was completed. The
roads were good-30 miles a
day they made. At last they
came to the Sungari River. He
must wait here for the stern.
wheel paddle-boat that would
take him to Hardin.
Once within the inn he sat
legged on the brick plat
form before the k'ang table
writing his reports, paying no
heed to Kin hanging his mo-
squito net from the smoky
ceiling.
Follow This Thrilling Serial In
TOmorrOw's Paper
Copyright, 1884. by Bobbs-Merrill Com.
pany. Distributed by King Features