Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-01-19
THEAMERICAN
So: :::::::::::AMEEKLY


the upper lip For the first time Annesley realized
that he was very drunk.
Chin Chan, what would you get out of ths?".-
demanded Cabot rs it Annesley you want part
of his money!"
'1f Mr. Annesley thinks of home, perhaps he will
make my lord think of home, also. My lord is very
weary of China"
- Your lord is very drunk in China. Why do you
want to send me away"
IF my lord turns his toward home. he will
remember that Chin Chan, also, is American;
perhaps he will take her with him"
What would you do in American"
There strip of red, figured silk lying folded
on stool. The girl caught it up, tossed it
her shoulders and with single gesture loosed her
hair from the knot which constrained it, 1t flowed
into curling mass, filled with light With the
crimson silk extended, she through two three
slow movements of ancient Chinese posturing dance
Her feet were soundess on the floor. There
only the crisp ustng of her silks and in the back of
Annesey's brain, the throb and hum of invisible
orchestra moment later the dance ended. the silk
slipped back onto the stool and the strong. quick
hands of the girl had sleeed back the hair
into Chinese knot
Good" said Cabot but not good enough"
Lord l would learn other dances. l would be a
slave in patience" said Chin Chan
Cabot turned TO Annesley. You had a lot of
trouble with your father; that's why you barged away
from home?' he asked.
Nobody had lot of trouble with my father"
said Annesey. One bit of it was enough from him."
How old the girl when you left home ?"
Sixteen"
Chm Chan. opening a screened cupboard. took out
a guitar She began to bring from il with light
touches ghost of music that entered the almost
as quietly thought To that accompaniment she
sang Manhattan Blues" in a barely audible voice.
LAS young sixteen ?" asked Cabot. Would you
have real chance with her If you went home now?'
No nat a real chance. a ghost of ii chance ali
I'd ask for
Cabot stood up without touching his hands to the
floor and without any lurching of the body There
something animal, something ape-like. in his
of strength. He took the guitar from the girl
put arm around her and moved her toward the
door Chin Chan put her face against his shoulder
and mourned quietly He opened the door and brushed
her into the street Then he came back to Annesley
He took another bowl drank il eff.
With that song the air" he said. Il couldn't think.
Homesickness- Butt ien iite=tifc kting
business. Besides. it's quick way of dying. The
Japs watch the river. these DAYS"
Anncsicy did not argue out the street the
hurdy-gurdy struck up Manhattan Blues and the
voice of the giri picked mp the SONG. -
'Why-deU take her. said Cabot.
After moment he added: This girl H the picture
you've loved her for years? There's some
thing Biblical about that"
Again Annesey waited silently.
Don't be proud. Don't be fool. confound that
girl and her song Wait minute"
He opened the door and called. The hurdy gurdy
ceased instantly The girl appeared at the doorway
with her deep salaam
IF Annesley has his way, will you shut up and be
still ?" asked Cabot.
Lord viii be still written prayer"
Where did you hear that"
1T into my mind just now, lord"
Chin. you're far too clever I'd be afraid of you,
if I let myself know you that well"
How my lord know when he never sees me
except in the dark
You never you except when I'm drunk
Go sit the for a while have to talk bust
with Annesey" -
THE Yangtze Kiang is red brass when it issues from
the hills it is furnished. dirty yellow when II
reaches the too big 10 be called river any more
but rather like a colored tide. The mist which hangs
over it its breath and this night the moon
through the haze only dimly now and again
Where lights of the shipping struck the water they
seemed to enter a thick brown smoke.
The Allie Lou crept through this smother with only
a small muttering from her engine Silence was almost
her sole virtue With the throttle open, she might
reach twenty miles hour she made half of that now
as she up secretly against the current The
cases weighted her down almost TO the waters edge
the wakes of passing ships washed aboard her
in dollops and slappngs of water.
Annesley crouched in the bottom. bailed out
and then. kept there in the safe shadow but
he felt resentment Cabot sat up big at the
wheel A searchlight scanning him vaguely through
the fog made look like rather brutal coolie
with a peaked cap the back of his head, coat of
denim, greasemarks blackening his face for
he had worked all day long to put the old motor Of the
Allie Lou in trim.
Annesley felt like a sheep among sleeping wolves.
liob hich had hr them in