Evening Star Newspaper, January 18, 1925, Page 78

FIGGERS CAN'T LIE BY SAMUEL DERIEUX. One of Those Entertaining Stories in Which the Good Are Very Good and the Wicked Are Uncompromising. LD Uncle Dan Abel, colored, shuffled toward home, full of rheumatism and trouble. The cause of the rheumatism lay, he would have told you, in the east wind that whistled across the sere cotton and broom-sedge fields this black Winter morning. The cause of the trouble lay in a bill that reposed In the pocket of his ragsed overcoat, which this same wind fiapped about his sturdy legs. The bill, handed him In Rowley's store, was for balance due on the sea- 2on’s supplies. According to his own estimate, this balance due was ex- actly nothing. According to Luther Rowley, lien merchant with whom he had done business, it was something more than $150. 0ld Dan had protested, and Rowley had ordered him out of the store. “Here are my books!" the llen mer- chant had cried. “Here are the figgers in black and white. Figgers don't lie This argument had silenced Dan. He could neither read nor write, and he had the llliterate man's belief in the potency of figures—the illiterate man’s shame, too, in the presence of the omethin’ dons lie, I know dat,’ the old man muttered. A mile down the road he turned oft toward the old Duncan place. He was the only tenant of Mrs. Sally Duncan “The widow's mite,” a wag had called him. He had been born on the place— born a slave. He was one of the sur- wiving loyals, tens of thousands of whom when freedom came had stuck to their white folks. He had stuck to Capt. Jack Duncan as long as the captain lived, and to Mrs. Sally Dun- can ever since The Duncan place had been a great plantation once. But Capt. Jack's schemes and vislons had been more extensive even than his acres—a man of large and sanguine dreams, a rain- bow chaser, one who saw El Dorado always over the nmext hill In all these schemes and many others old Dan had stood by the cap- tain, believing in him as wiser men had believed. But the plantation had had to pay. Acre by acre it had dwindled, and now the captain rested from his dreams and old Dan alone remained to stand by the widow who had to pay, too. She now lived In the old Duncan house with her memorfes and with two grandsons—boys of 8 and whose parents were dead. Dan'e cabin stood in the back yard, one of the many outbulldings, the others unused now, that formed a hollow square behind the mansion It was this cabin that the old man entered. Mandy. his wife, had died two vears before. In front of his fireplace he squatted and blew the coals into a glow. * ok o* % UDDENLY he was aware of the en- trance of some one. Malvina, his granddaughter, stood in the doorway. “Miss Sairly—her want to see you,” she said. The old man crossed the yard and climbed the high steps of the back porch. He shuffied down the hall and knocked at the living room door. At her “Come in, Dan,” he entered a lofty, old-fashioned room “You sent for me, mis'?” he asked, “Yes, Dan. Sit down. It was staggering news she had to tell him. She must sell the place at once. Her husband had left mort- gaged even what remained. T mortgage had been held by one of hi friends. She had not been able to pa: the interest, but this friend had re newed the mortgage for five years. He had died, and his lawyers had s0ld the mortgage. The man Wwho bought it had notified her that he must have all interest, present and accumulated, by the first of February. If not, the place would be sold at auctfon. “Mis’ Dan ‘The man has made me an offer,” she went on place quietly, and the mortgage left by my husband, which I have kept secret, Dan, even from you, will not be mentioned. Otherwise, the sherift Mis',” he demanded, Mr. Rowley.” “An' he gwine deject little boys out in de road?” Well, it wasn't as bad as that, she explained. He had given them two weeks. You could hardly expect Mr. Rowley to act differently He was not a particular friend. “No, mis’, the old fellow broke out. “He ain't a fr'en’ to nobody but de debbil! Mis’, you know why he want dis place? Kase den he kin set here whar be: T folks is set an’ say he own de ol' Duncan place. Kase Cap'n Jack warn't afrald of him, or he paw befo' him. Kase when ol man Rowley try to cheat Steve out'n a year rent Cap'n Jack set up in co't an’ testify ‘bout dey reputation for trufe an’ ferocity. Da's why, mis'— da’s why!” He asked her how much the interest was. She told him it amounted to 3630, “Why don’t you borry folks will len Mr “No,” she said rou don’t tell me dat!” gasped vho de man?” ou an' de mis'? Kuhby, he— with gentle firm- ness. t would not be borrowing, Dan. I could not pay it back. It ‘would be asking charity “What de mor'gige come to, mis'?" “Three thousand dollars.” “Mis’, listen to me. You git hold of dat Intrust. In five vear we liquefy dat mor-gige. I improvin' de place. I done dreen de swamp an’ mighty nigh clear it up. I gwine git anud- der tenant—Paul Woodward. He done contract to Mi borry de| money Gimme time. 1 flustrate dat | man scheme! She looked long and searchingly at his eager, black face. Then she shook | her head “I cannot borrow,’ she *It would be asking charit Old Dan bowed his head “You must not speak of this, Dan. It must seem that I chose to sell and move away.” “Mis""—the don’ want to Dey's repeated. | voice sell trembled—"you de ol place, do heart is here, Dan,” plled. “Oh, T don't know become of the boys! C e B she re- what will I"HE old man went out into the hall. | You pay He thought of Capt. Jack, to whom he and his children had gone in time of trouble; of old Mandy Iving #ick and Mis' Sally nursing her to the end. The ghosts of other days came down those empty stairs and pleaded with hir Oh, Jesus, 1 *he’p a ol frut Out in his cabin he got out a bank book, the saviggs of years. He hur ried toward the barn, occupied now enly by his ancient mule. he stocped, for in front of the shed Wherein his only bale of cotton was stored a wagon stood. and two young negroses were climbing out “Heh, what you dofin’ dar?” he ‘de- manded The biggest buck grinned. “Cap'n Rowley orders,” he said. “He say you owe him dis—he got a rster,” he whispered, nigger to see this thing | aarky Suddenly | mor'gige on it. Git out de way, ol' man. Hist her dar, Jim; hist her— all togedder!"” The ol man saw his bals hauled [3 off, and with it his plan go glim- mering. He ate supper sflently in the kitchen. He took counsel with no one. But that night he secretly re- moved from Rowley's cotton shed the bale of cotton that had been his. On the way home he stopped once, but the next day in a town 10 miles away he sold it and drew his savings out of the bank It was dusk when he pulled his weary mule up in front of Rowley's store. Out of the store came a tall man with spectacles and a gray beard tucked Inside his long overcoat. With sudden and acute anxiety, the old darky scanned the face of this man. It was Squire Kirby. He had never been afraid of Squire Kirby befors. But the first words of the squire laid his fears at rest. “How's Mrs. Duncan an' the boys?” “Dey’s all right, suh. Mr. Kuhby, would you min,' suh, steppin’ in de sto, a minute wid me?" “Not a bit, Dan." O1d Dan made his way to the rear. Mr. *Rowley,” he whispered, “Mis' ally sont me wid dis money. She say it intrust on a mor'gige. She say you give me a receipt.” Rowley rose. Me looked at Dan with hard, suspicious eyes. “Where'd you get this? “Whar I git 1t? Mis" She say you understand Where'd she git it?” “Dat her business, suh. Tt ain't none o' mine an’ it ain't none o’ yours. She say you give me a receipt. In- trust in full on morgige. Da's what she say “This ain't clared Rowley. “It money, ain't it?" demanded Dan. “Money betfer'n understandin Rowley tried to stare the old man out of countenance, but the eyes un- der the tattered hat met him squarely. Yonder stood Kirby. Others weres dropping in. He sat down at his desk and wrote. The old hand closed over the paper. “Now glit out!" ordered Rowley. The old man took the paper to Kirby “Will you read dat, pleass, suh?” “IU's a receipt for $630." Do it say intrust on morgige?" ive it to me. my understandin’,” de- Back to the merchant the old fellow came. “You ain't specify intrust on mor'- gige. Mis' say——" The merchant snatched the paper and added a few words. This time after Kirby read It he looked at Dan. “I didn’t know there was a mort- gage on the Duncan place “It a secret, Mr. Kuhby," old fellow. “Don’t say it, please, suh. now? Kirby nodded. Dan paused long enough to buy an envelope, In which he placed the paper. It was dome. Mis' Sally would continue to live on the place—Mis' Sally and the boys. Before the five vears were out Ralph would be big enough to look after things. sald the nuttin’ "bout It made out regular * % ok % (QNCE home, he unhitched the mule and led him into the stall. _ ‘Guess it de las' time I ever feed you, mewl,” he sald sadly.. He went areund to the house, stopped under the living room window and called, “Ralph! The bo: “Buddy,” came out to the cabin. he said, “you Mis® oldes' gran'son. You know how to keep a secret, don’ you? I don’t want you to tell nobody—not even Frank. Frank he a little boy, not much more'n a baby.” The lad nodded, looking the old man straight in the face. He was clean-cut, dependable, clear-eyed. “See dis here envellup, buddy? T want You to tek it an’ hide it. To- morrow vo' gran'ma birthday. Now, vou listen and git it straight. To- morrow, some time when dey afn't nobody in de room, you go {n an’ han’ dis envellup to yo' gran'ma. You tell her somebody han’ it to you an’ “He will take over the L'ques’ dat he name be not mention. Kin you carry dat out, son?"' “Sure I can.” Da's a man—da's a man.” the old fellow chuckled. “You gwine be one to count on when you's growed. You gwine bring de ol’ Dun- can name back to what it use to was. Buddy, mebbe I gwine ‘way a little while. I ain’t say I is—T say mebbe. It 1T do, dough, an’ folks ax you whar 1 gone, you tell 'em you don’t know, kase you won't. If folks ax you what I tell you when I call you out here, ou say 1 jus' spoke 'bout a rabbit £ I see in de pasture—a good place to set a rabbit gun—kase I spoke ot it, see? An’ don’ you tell ‘em no mo’ He stood in the cabin door while the boy crossed the yard and ran up the back steps. Dat boy gwine mek a man,” said wistfully. “He's gwine tek load oft'n mis' shoulder befo’ die. He got out an old telescope and dumped its contents,on the floor. A thin lath he left in. “Dat might come in handy some day,” he said. From a bureau he got out a wool shirt, some underclothes and a pair or two of heavy socks. He tied the telescope together with twine. He blew out the light and closed the cabin door He had planned it all the day be- fore. Shortly before Capt. Jack died a group of men had come out from the city, and all had gone into the big river swamps, camping and hunt- ing. Dan had been taken along as cook. At night he had listened to. their talk. He had heard them tell about a place where, as he gathered, people went whem they were in trouble, It seemed one of their friends whom they had expected to join them was there. The midnight local train, stopping andhill Station, picked up an old with a teléscope, and a few minutes later Conductor Chase stopped beside the seat where this latest pas- senger had settled and sald, “Ticket.” “I ain’t got no ticket,” replied th old man. “I gwine pay my way, suh “Whers to? “Reno.” ‘Reno? Reno, Nevada?" “Yes suh—da’s de place.” “What're you golng to Reno for?" Chase asked. Then, when the old man did not reply, “This train don't go there. This is a monogamous train. your way to. Columbla. You have to change there, anyway. And he de she at HE SECRETLY REMOVED THE BALE O The fare to Columbia collected, Conductor Chase passed on. But old Dan was worried, for as he boarded the train he had keen On the platform one of Rowley's hands, and, though he kept In the shadows, Dan was afrald the man had seen him. At last he fell asleep, his head on his chest. He was awakened by a hand on his shoulder. The train had stopped. The man above him was a policeman. “Better iceman. ‘Who—me?" ure! An' don’t forget the grip. Might be a bale of cotton in it. And so it happened that old Dan Abel finished in jail the nap he had begun_on the train. Next morning Tom Kelley, rural policeman, came after him, armed with warrant and summons. come along,” sald the * koo LD Dan felt as if he were return- ing to his own funeral. This feel- ing was helghtened when they came in sight of the plantation commissary store in the corner of Squire Kirby's yard, where the squire held court. In tront dozed his old mule, hitched to the buggy. There, too, were other buggies and Rowley's car. Then the devil tempted him. He came not with cloven hoof, but in shoes and overcoat and confidential and insinuating manner. It was Luther Rowley himself, who hurriedly left the store as the car drew up. ‘Tom,” he sald to_the policeman, “I want to speak to Dan here. This way, Dan." Now, uncle,” he began, “T know you took that cotton—know it as well as if I'd seen you. I even know what you dld with that cotton. You used the money you got from it an’ yo' own money to pay off that interest. You get that receipt back an’ give it to me. Tell Mis' Sally you've got to have It, see? An' I'll pay you the balance, all but what the bale of cot- ton brought. I'll go right in now and tell Squire Kirby that me an' you've come to an agreement. He'll drop the case. I'll say I was mistaken. I'll even go that far. I'll say you never done it. Ain't that fair? I'll give you a place to live on as long as you're here—the same cabin, if you want it. I won't charge you as much rent as you're payin' now. I'll do all that because I like you an’ ain't dis- posed to be hard on you. If you don't take me up, though, I'll push this case to the limit. You'll be sent to the pen sure as you're standin’ here. You're old. You wiil never come out. Now, I don’t want to do all that, an’ I won't do it if you'll meet me half way. What about it?” ‘I don’t even know what you been talkin’ 'bout, suh. Sellin’ my own co ton an’ usin' my own money to pa: intrust! You talkin' riddle to me. 1 tell you now, like I tol' you befo, mis’ glve me dat money an’ tol' me to bring receipt. It was her money, it was her receipt.” Z ou stick to deacon?” “I sticks! Yes, suh, I sticks! Dey ain't no use to say no mo', Mr. Row- ley—you wastin’ yo' breaf!” “Then you go to the pen! “Well, suh, 1f I goes, I goes.” “Tom Kelley,” called Rowley, “come get this nigger!” Old Dan entered the store. Mrs. Duncan and the two boys were there, but Dan saw only Squire Kirby, big, white-bearded, his face stern. He was a cotton planter himself. To steal a bale of cotton was to him a heinous crime. “Stand there, Dan Abel!” he com- manded. “Take off yo' hats, gentle- amen. Shut the do’, Tom Kelley. Step up here, Mr. Rowley." And the trlal of old Dan on. Rowley told of the bale taken from his shed: of negroes who had seen Dan Abel driving in /that direction the night of the theft: of another who had seen him board the train “I've got all the witnesses here. Jake—" “One minute,” said Kirby. ‘em when I want 'em. Step up here, Dan Abel. Put Yo' han’ on the book. You solemnly swear the testimony you give in this case will be the truth, the whole truth an’ nothin’ but the truth, so help you God. Did you take a bale of cotton out of Mr. Row- ley's shed? ‘Yes, suh.” “Did you try to leave the country?" “Yes, suh.’ “Where'd you aim to go?" “To Reno, Nevaddy, suh. “What did you aim to g0 there for?" “I hear folks talk 'bout dat place, suh. 1 hear dey got diff’ent laws dar—mo’ liniment. “Well, I reckon it's against the law to steal cotton, even in Reno. Silence in_the court!" Rowley pusbed impatiently forward. This was trifling. Business was busi- ness. “There ain’t nothin’ for vou te do, Mr. Kirby, but bind this nigger over to co't.” that lie—you, a Abel was “I'll call * % ¥ X BOVE Kirby's luxuriant white beard his cheeks, though lean, were as ruddy as Autumn apples, and now, ever so slightly, these cheeks flushed. Dan Abel,” he resumed, “what did you do with that bale of cotton?” “T 'spose of it, suh." “What did you do with the money?” I 'spose of dat, too.” “How did you dispose of 117" Dan's heart jumped into his mouth. “Ts 1 'bleeged to answerddat, suh?" “No, not unless you want to.” “Den, Mr. XKirby, I beg to be ‘skused. I 'spose of it. Money ain't hard to git shed of." Kirby had been looking straight at him, as if In an effort to get at the motive, and now old Dan, meeting the keen blue eyes under the shaggy brows, thought he saw in them a quick signal of comprehension, of un- derstanding. “Better put some mo’ wood in the stove, Tom Kelley,” he said, “an’ punch up the fire. This case ain't WAS STOPPED, ONCE F COTTON THAT HAD BEEN HIS, ON THE WAY over yet. Dan Abel, befo' you come I'd been askin' Mr. Rowley some ques- an’ it seems that you took a from the rear of the shed, whereas thers were other bales nigher the road, an‘ consequently mo' con- venient. Why did you do that? “It was de same, ‘dentical bale he cause to be tooken out of my shed dat mornin’, suh.” “I had a mortgage on it," broke in Rowley, angrily. “Dan Abel, did you know there was a mortgage on that cotton “I knowed dere was ‘cordin’ to his figgers. Rowley interrupted again. “Mr. Kirby, this nigger has con- fessed to stealin’ a bale of cotton. I'm a busy man, an’ so are you. I've 8ot two travelin' men walten’ for me at my sto'. This aln't circuit c'ot.” “It's my co’t, suh!" sald Kirby. “An’ I run it to sult myself. I'm ques- tionin’ this witness. Dan Abel, you said there was a mortgage, accordin’ to Mr. Rowley’s figures. From that I gather there wasn't any accordin’ to yours. Did he present a bill, and did you dispute that bill?" “Yes, suh, he present it gn’ I it, an’ I 'spute it vig'rous. I tol I pay ev'y cent.” “Have You got any receipts “No, sub. I ax him for 'em each time I pay. I ’sist on ‘em. But he say he let me see him sot de figgers down in a book. He say figgers can't le.” “Can you read?’ “No, suh—not fluent.” “He can neither read nor write, Mr. Kirby,” said Mrs. Duncan. “To save my life,” broke in Rowley, “I can’t see the use in all this. Mr. Kirby, do you give a nigger a receipt every time you have dealin's with him? You know as Well as me they'd lose ‘em or light their pipes with ‘em. You just treat ‘em falr, same as I do, an"let it go at that.” * k% % Kirby flushed. Rowley's hands In the rear of the crowd began to grin. Their captain was getting the best of the magistrate. “Tom Kelley,” spoke Kirby, “’spose you put another stick in that stove. Dan Abel, what records have you got, if any, to show that you pald this b1 “Mr. Kuhby, like mis' tol’ ean't nefther read nor write. notch dem payment on a stick.” “Have you that stick?” “It out dar in de telescops in the kyar." “Tom Kelley, go out an’ bring that telescope into co't.” When the officer came back with the grip the old darky, hands trem- bling, untied the strings and removed the top. He handed Kirby an old plaster lath of heart pine, with notches in groups on its edges. “Ev'y notch,” declared Dan, “repre- sent five dollar pay on de bill. See, suh? Dey in group. Dar ten notches contagious to one anudder—dat mean I pay fifty dollar. Dar twelve notches whar I pay sixty dollar. De whole aggrivate fo' hund'ed dollars.” “Did you ever notch any other pay- ments beeide those you made to Mr. Rowley? “No, suh. I been ‘ticular 'bout dat. I keeps urr payments on anurr stick It ain’t a pine stick, but a oak stick, made out'n a’bow I fashion for mis’ boys. I keep 'em In separate room, suh. When I come home from payin’ Mr. Rowley I go in by de front do’ an’ notch de pine stick. When I come in from payin' urr people I go in by de back do' an' notch de oak stick Dis de fus’' time in all dese years de merchant bill an’ de stick ain’t 'gres. Dis de fus' time I ever trade wid Mr. Rowley. I cal] dat cu'ius. Now, look here!" Rowley started forward, face pale, eyes blazing. “That makes twice this nigger has insinuated —" “Stand back there! risen half out of his chair. Ralph, the lad, stepped between Mrs. Duncan's chair and Rowley. “Stand back, sir! Don’t you move! This here's a co't of Jjustice. That's all right, =on,” he spoke to the boy. “If yo' grandma or any other lady ain't safe in here, then I've changed mightily these past ten years!” “I beg pardon,” said Rowley surlily. “Only it's hard, Mr. Kirby, to have to take an insinuation off'n a nigger. tell you, I ain't used to havin' my books disputed. 1 keep ‘em myself, an' keep 'em straight. I put down every item with my own hand. If a man buys a plug of tobacco, it goes down specified. If he makes a pay- ment, that payment goes down befo' his eyes. My books are open to everybody an’ anybody—' ‘om Kelley,” broke in Kirby, “go over to Mr. Rowley's sto’ an' fetch that account book.” * oK ok % HE crowd made way for the officer when he returned, a ledger under his arm. “Now,"” said Kirby, “we'll sese how this book an' this stick agree. Here's the first payment—fifty dollars on the book, fifty on the stick. So far so g00d. Here's the second—forty-five on_the book, sixsy on the stick.” The figuring went on. At Kirby straightened up. “There's a hundred an’ fifty dollars difference on the credit side. Mr. Rowley, what's this seventy-five dol- lars included In the total debits here an’ not specified? “Mr. Kuhby,” interrupted Dan, trembling, “I hope you'll 'skuse me, suh, for imposin’ dis way. But dat de Yntrust, suh—de Intrust for ear- ryin’ me. He 'splain dat. I don’t ‘spute it; I never is 'spute it. I jus' certifies T pay it.” “What is it, Mr. Rowley?" insisted Kirby. “Par things. “What other things?" “A suit of clothes, for one.” Kirby glanced at Dan, who stood trembling with desire to dispute this last statement, but afraid to, Under- neath the old man's ragged overcoat his clothes showed still more ragged. pute him GAIN you, T I jus’ Kirby had last of it's interest—part other HOME HE I 'lr.iiiy'f i 57 7 v “Look to me,” said Kirby, “he would have worn that new suit to Reno. Silence back there! Mr. Rowley, why didn’t you specify that suit of clothes? You specified everything else. “Because I didn’t take the time— that's wh “But you sald, sir, you did take the time. You said you yourself entefed every item, down to a plug of to- bacco.” “Mr. Kuhby!” Dan couldn’t hold in any longer. Mr. Kuhby, I ain’ bought a suit of clothes for seven year dis comin’ March. Dat seventy- five dollar for intrust. He 'splain dat. Folks hear him do it. I aln’t never spute it. All I claim is I pay it. What de matter, mis'? 1 ain't tellin® nufin’ but de trufe!" Kirby said: “I've learned all 1 want to know. I come here this mornin’ expectin’ to spend about ten or fifteen minutes on this case. But right in the beginnin’' several things come out that caused me to think this case might bear lookin’ deep down into. One was your impatience, Mr. Rowley. 1didn't like that impatience, Mr. Rowley. You're a busy man, you So am I But both of us can afford to spen’ one mornin' of our lives lookin' into the case of an ol' nigger who's been faithful to his white folks for over fifty vears, but who, if he’s guilty, as alleged, will spen’ the rest of his days in the pent tentiary. I don’t know no hetter way to spen’ a mornin' than that. “Dan Abel took a bale of cotton out of yo' shed. All right. He ought not to have done {t. But thert's a mighty big difference between takin’ a thing an' stealin’ it. Did Dan Abel steal that bale of cotton? If he did, he committed a heinous crime. But a man can't steal his own property. If Dan Abel had paid you what he owed you, then that bale of cotton was al- ready his. an' he was only recoverin’ his own property that had been forci- bly removed from his premises “Now, Mr. Rowley, had he paid his bill? You say he hadn't He (Continued from Fifth Page.) Most Holy Teacher, Confucius. From the Creation of Man there Never One Like Him.” “Without Equal on -Heaven Earth.” The temple itself is no more than a barnlike structure, in front and. back of which there are small flower gar- dens. The streets of this old city are wide, much unlike the narrow thorough- is or shops, some displaying the clothing of the Western world, straw hats, suits, shirts and leather shoes; in others I | see the clothes of China, long gown: or richly embroidered silk trousers and jackets for the women, and shoes of purple and blue cloth, beautifully embroidered. The street barber. who can be seen on the sidewalks shaving the heads of his patrons, competes with a modern barber shop nearby that is furnished with every up-to- date appurtenance. Some of the merchants call out, asking us to buy, but we pass on until we come to a tea house, where we go in for a rest and a drink. The tea houses are the clubs of China. Here the business men gather at all hours of'the day ‘to talk and drink tea. We climb to the second floor of a large building, and sit down in a room furnished with a number of plain wooden tables and chalrs. We see about 30 Chinese men sitting about, laughing and excitedly waving their hands as they chatter. They may be merchants who deal in curi- osities or clothing, or clerks from the banks. No sooner have we seated ourselves than we are besleged. from all sides by boys: selling watermelon seeds, cakes, peanuts and . fans and other articles of various deseription. For one copper I buy a package of water- melon seed upon which we munch in the.Chinese fashion while waiting for our tea to be served, and for two cop- pers get from another boy a small package of peanuts. Our tea is a green-white color and is served Chi- nese style in small cups and without sugar or milk. * ok oK ok BUT watch the four men sitting at the adjoining table. One of them in talking earnestly and gesticulating as he evidently is urging his compan- fons to see his point of view. They listen to him Interestedly and intently as he makes known his ideas. They are dressed alike in black jackets reaching to the walst and wearng gowns of gray silk, from which peep the small feet clad in black cloth slip- pers. All of them have fans in their hands. The one talking at times waves his excitedly, but the others fan themselves slowly, with the lan- guldness of the East. The speake: frequently - makes his 'companion laugh. The Chinese laugh heartily and at times violently; they take life as it comes and seem always to have time to enjoy a joke. On the other hand, they have also a great respect for learning, and will listen atten- tively to one who speaks with knowl- edge of the Chinese classics. Here in Nanking we are in one of the great educational centers of China, both old and new. This morn- ing while strolling about I came to an old structure now partly torn down, in which 20,000 students for- merly took their examinations for government positions. These were the famous examination halls, built dur- ing the Ming dynasty, when the fa- mous civil service of China was start- fares of Canton. We pass many quaint | AP, says he had. Here's your book to bear out your statement. Here's his stick to bear out his. One's evidence, the other's evidence. An’ to my mind there ain't much choice between ‘em. An’ furthermore, 1 believe the courts would sustain me in that opinion. “The notched stick goes far back in law. Long befo' men had ledger books the notched stick was the means by which they kept account: In England, where our common laws all arose, the king's sheriff used to keep account of money collected by notchin’ the same on a stick. If there’s ever been any declsion throw- ing out the stick as evidence, I never heard tell of it. To my mind—an’ I belleve in the eyes of the law itself— this ol' nigger's notched stick is just as good evidence as your book. So the evidence, as far as records &0, is the same. Now, what about the circumstances that will tend to throw this case one way or t'other? First, Mr. Rowley, this ol' nigger asked you for receipts. You ¥y, I don’t give 'em.” Whether T do or not's £0t no bearin’ on this case. Il say this, though—1I don't give receipts be- cause my hands don't ask for ‘em, but no man, sir, black or white, ever asked me for a receipt he was en- titled to without gettin' it. “In the second place, Mr. Rowley, Dan Abel says—an' you don't deny it—that you told him you would let him see the payments ered in a book, claimin’, in his ence an’ in the presence of others, that this was the same as givin' a receipt, an’ that figgers can't lie. In the first place, subh, you knew he couldn’'t read an was ashamed to own it. You knew that if you put down sixty dollars or sixty cents or six cents, for that mat- ter, it would be all the same to him. In the second plage, you knew that Your statement that figures can't lie Is, 8o far as bein' assurance of faj dealin’ goes, ridiculous an’' absurd Figures can't lie, Mr. Rowley, that's true—but liars can figure.” “Da's it!” chuckled old Dan to him- self. “Da’s what I been try to say an’ couldn’t.” ed. T was just about to go In when T felt some one tugging at my sleeve. | Looking down I saw a small boy of | § vears or thereabouts who was ad- | dressing me in perfect English. He | was eager for me to come with him | to see his school teacher, an American | missionary, and proudly displaying his knowledge of the English lan- guage by reciting the alphabet. Entering the examination halls, T inspected the many stalls in which the candidates had to remain during the entire perfod of their examina- tion. In another visit to Nanking. some years ago, there were 10,000 boys at work in them, taking exam- inations that lasted three days and three nights. Once the students had entered a small compartment where they prepared thelr papers on the classics, they were compelled to re- main until all were completed. These stalls are not much larger than one of our telephone booths, yet In them the students often lived for days. Guards were stationed out- side and food was passed in through a little cubby hole. Sometimes, after the examination perfods were ove it was feund that some luckless can- didate for academic honors had died in his cell. Today this great struc- ture was deserted, save for two Chi- nese vouths who .were painting work "of modern art, and a few private schools In the city are all that survive of the educational sys- tem of the past. In modern: education also Nanking has become one of the leading cities of China. The last time I was hers the then viceroy of the province was pushing ahead on a big program re- lating to schools in Nanking, all sup- ported by the government, and a normal training school whers 500 young Chinese were studying to be- come teachers of -the new learning. /o t “So hers we are,” went on the mag- istrate. “So far as records go, the case is balanced in my mind, what- ever a higher co't might dicide. But now comes in the circuumstances of them. recelpts which he asked for an' which you refused, an’ of them mis- leadin' ~an absurd statements you made. An' these facts, sir, weigh against you in this co't, an' would welight against you in the Cireult Co't, an’ in the State Supreme Co't an’ in the Supreme Co't of the United States, an' befo' The Hague tribunal If It got that far, which it won't. An' now for that seventy-five dollar: “You charged that ol' nigger seven- ty-five dollars interest. I know it so well that I ain't even goin' to argue it. You charged him seventy-five dollars interest on a bill of three hundred an' twenty-five dollars for 2 period of less than one year. “Now, Mr. Rowley, you know what the legal rate of, interest is in the State. It's 7 per cent. You know that to exceed that rate is extortion or usury an’ is punishable by a long sentence or a heavy fine, or both-— preferably both. An’ u have charged this ol' nigger,” who can't white an’ who knows nothin’ such matters, something Iike per cent Interest 1l appeal the case!" said Rowley “No you won't! You dasn't! For, if you do, there'll be friends of this ol' man that'll testify what they've seen an' heard this day. An' there'll be one at least I know that'll testify as to his reputation an’ yours. S ain’t goin' to appeal this case He rose, trembling slightl “My findin' is,” he said, * defendant, Dan Abel, is not atealin’ a bale of cotton, as that he only recovered what was his already and which the plaintiff had unlawfully seized; that he is the vie- tim of extortion, an’ if he so chooses can bring indictment for the same. “An' my advice is that Luther Row- ley drop this case as he would drop a hot fryin' pan he had picked up un- ceknowinst off the stove; that b the guilty of alleged Nanking, the Chinese City of Kin That viceroy had also elaborate schemes for establishing a system of playgrounds and gymnasium for the physical education of the youth of the city, and had inaugurated a serfes of athletic mests. He put boys and girls to study together in the same classrooms, which was at that time a startling innovation China. Among the higher educational institutions established here were the government military and naval academies. Besides the institutions under the direction of the Chinese, Nanking has a number of schools and colleges es- tablished here by American mis- sionaries. This city is, in fact, one of the most important centers of mis sionary activity¥, which has been a great factor in the development of schools throughout the whole of Kiangsu province. S A o HE largest and most interesting of the foreign educational insti- tutions is the University of Nanking, | mainfained jointly by four Protestant denominations in the United States. Including all departments, It had last year more than 1500 students in a tendance upon its courses, and it recognized all over China as one of the vital forces that ars helping to create the new China. The university s Nanking proper, not far from the ancient Drum Tower. Its campus comprises about 80 acres of land, about which are scattered numerous buildings of modern construction, in- cluding dormitories. laboratories, lec- ture halls and homes for members of the faculty. It has also forest nurserfes and experimental farms. 1 visited it today, looked over its buildings and grounds.and had talks with several of its officers and in- structors. situated in Film a Throbbing Thrill (Continued from Third Page.) blue sparks running. down the wire and lighting up the cave—zik—zlk— zak—zak—3zik . . . he's sending his message. . . . The operator'at Canyon City reads it to Big Jim, the sheriff. See the excited crowd gathering. . . . Jim's haranguing. “I Want Every Man That Ride and Handle a Gun" Hurrah! That's the way . . . sce them leap on the horses and off in a whirl of dust. ... There, they're riding into the gulch . they're tearing down the stones “ . they're entering the cave . . . they've found Ascot and Bes- semer Steel. . . . Out of the cave . . . out into the bright sunshine . . . and riding, riding for life . . . but where? Oh, I get it—fine! fine! See that great sign? “Airplane Station of the Govern- ment of the United States.” Now they're running an alrplane out of the shed—what a huge ma- chine! They're getting in, Bessemer Steel, and Big Jim, the sheriff, and Ids men; see, Ascot is going to steer. Away they go—up—up—it's cir- cling round searching for the motor car. Aha! they must see it mnow Look at’the airplane swoop- ing down . . . and see, there's the motor . . ing over the mesa Can .. . hére Gonzalez it's coming right past us. is at the wheel. Thero Malsie, in the back of the car still tied . . . here's the airplane right after it . . . look at Dan Yeg® standing ap in the car and shooting at the airplane with a revolver. They're shooting back . . . that's Big Jim with his Winchester leaning over the edge of the car . . . look, the motor running straight for the edgo of the. canvon. . . . Great Caesar, it's gone over it'’s a drop of a thousand feet look . . there's the car falling through the air, the wheels still spin- ning . . and there's the airplane chasing it as it falls . . watch Big Jim . . . he's got a coil of rope, a lasso”. . . he's lassoed Maiste with Bl s Hurrah, they're hauling her on the airplane. . The mostor can fall now, it doesn't matter where it falls to . . . there’s the airplane, landed .. . Maisle’s unbound . . . she’sin her father’s arms . . . he's handing her to Ascot. X (Copyright, 1925.) That's Telling Him. Dick—Suppose you were shoes—what would you do? Bob—1I'd shine them. . “Words fail me,” muttered the boy as he flunked the spelling exam. in my in | TTGURES CANT LIE, MR. ROW LEY THAT'S TRUE, BUT LIARS CAN FIGURE.” pay Dan Abel the sum of fifty-fo dollars or thereabouts, the same beir exce: has charged in vio- lation of law; an’ that Luther Row never try to molest in any way this ol' man, Dan v of those interested in him. “An’ m 80 molest lectively, T ence I have, n’ that he is brought to trial fc same. An' now, this case bein disposed of, co't stands adjourned.” * x % DAY ABEL hurried nome tull of Jox and thanksgivi The had preceded him noonday sun shor out of a sk There was no win been it wouls from the s He had reached yard when Malvina c Mis' called He held in | paper. “You so “Yes, now have. The old eyes plead “All T gof you an’ s What I w you gone? man deject ain't got | me, mis', | time ago, | dulum op | de norspitt r | went to de de an’ de hor people. 1 |dat debt > 1 was Cap'n Jack. He was my mis’. He sperit speak to me I come out . He |ne'p mer, o1 at to call me—Dan Oh, don’ say you ain't g ek it turn me me hang my i lady and trembling ha of the lady the gray nterest he n* {s that if he @oes individually or whatever infl my pocketbook them, fneredt f e d, have come straight ] the corner of tha me to meet him ted to see n, sh hurried to the house. ered t living roon She her hand an envelope and Sally H for me, mis'?" ha asked You did this—I know take it. It's all you lNlow stood before her You all T we-a wid money, m me out in de road? I pla List t. Long have dat pen came out zot an place whe Ip wher sk ax fre trier dat aa ma he uss Don't mek ore ti (Co; gs reso take anking Un ese Instructors he part men and womer cither in the United some American ins: The un y d nior and senfor lleges of art, sciences, forestry: junfor col business, education and ursing and medical schools schools’ for training fonaries and teachers. and a model 0ol with kindergarten. prin partments. In add special language school and short ture, agricultt Both America part in the t versity, the ¢ for the most | who have stuat States tion In partmen departments, agriculture and leges of solence, s and Cl aching at China inelud. scho 1 was much-interested in what the university is doing to promote silk worm growing, farming and forestry These departments are organized much like our own State agricultura colleges and carry on a great deal o practical work. The university now has a modern building, the gift of American silk manufacturers, da voted to silkworm culture. In it is the world's largest collection of mu berry trees. Just it has more than a million silkworms, which it is raising to produce disease-free eggs for distribution te silkworm growers. In this way it is hopad eventually to eliminale the breeding of silkworms from diseased eggs and thus obtain superior cocoons that will be acceptable tg the Amer ican silk-weaving industry. The Collegs of Agriculture and Forestry has about 200 acres of land under cultivation. On thesa farms it experiments with various crops, and methods of cultivation for the Improvement of Chiness agrl- culture. It distributes tested seeds, fssues bulletins for free distribution and glves demonstrations on its own and Chinese farms, and works tmproved ¢ ns of Chinese American agricultural fmplements This coliege has heen made administrator of a fund of nearl three-fourths of a miilion dollars, left over from the amount raised in the United States for famine relicf in China. Under the terms of the allotment, the university is to devote the income for 10 years to studfes in the cause of famins in China, pre- vention work, and for the education of the Chineso In agriculture, forestrs and such other activities as may xe late to famine. Researches into the events of the past show that for perfod of 2,000 years, down to 1 China suffered on the average from one famine a year, and thers Is n doubt that recurring food shortages are a chronic condition in thi country. Another interesting feature of the University of Nanking is the hospital for the care of foreign patients only 1t {s a thoroughly modern institution, with a staff of highly competen American doctors and nurses. One of its buildings is glven over entirely to woman patients. The equipment of the hospital includes operating rooms and laboratories, and it is, in fact, prepared to render service as complete and up-to-date as the best of similar institutions in the United States. Besides providing hospital facilities for American and other foreigners fn this part of China, it serves as a training school for Chi- nese physicians and nurses, and Is the directing center of a great deal of invaluable work fn hygiene, sani- tation and medical relief among the Chinese of Nanking and vicinity. (Copyright, 1025, Curpester's World Travels) out and the