THE HEGIRA OF SING.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13109, 7 May 1908, Page 5

THE HEGIRA OF SING.

« By H. R. SrEjrcEß. If wdode-n nutmeg or bone popper artists ever flourished in the Fatherland, Schmitt should have been crowned king of them all. My observations of the man and his methods in Pori Arthur boforo tho war justify mo. 1 think, in making this etatement. But ha was nothing if not progressive, and it is not of his petty achievements, that I wish to toll. In Port Arthur they arc still talking about the grand coup hr. planned, auu of how-it was earned tlirouph to a successful conclusion. At tho time of which I speak. Schmitt had captured tho hearts of the military by his jovial activities, and had become the social hub around which the social spokes revolved. Thrni a man' was judged by his storage ability: and for tho various and sundry brails on xho Manchiirian market Schraitt had a capacity like a. bulk-oil freighter. Moreover, he had a good, solid, North Country headpiece, so firmly set on his vast shoulders that the highest tide of burgerliches brau could not budge it from its balance. Vaselinovitch, the Russian colonel who used to be the champion absorber, tried conclusions with Schmitt a few times* but always floated away from his moorings, and finally resigned his title, and DPcanio thenceforth a hiimbled but ardent admirer of that mighty man. Schmitt flourished in those prosperous days, and the adulterated foods. French wines, Gorman beers, and other necessities of life which he supplied to tho Russky hordes enjoyed a tremendous popularity. Vaselinovitch was really responsible for this satisfactory state of affairs, for he let tho contracts for all supplies of the kind. He exacted the usual Russian "squeeze." and Schmitt h"-3 one per cent., so both seemed satisfied, loved each other apparently, and became bosom companions. 'I , ore's where the colonel made a mistake. He was all kinds of a riproaring good fellow, but he allowed valuable information to spill over from time to time that should, have reposed forever in his faithful breast. Governmental secrets thus came into the possession of Schmitt the unscrupulous. Rosy rainbow dreams of mile nigh stacks of roubles lulled to slumber overy night that acquisitive, deceitful, thieving, tricky, treacherous son of Gambrinus. In an old, yellow bank in his native city he had what he called his Hamburg stake, which consisted of a goodly store of ill-gotten gold, drawing interest and awaiting his return. On the other hand, Vaselinovitch was generous to a fault, and spent his money like the royal prodigal he was. Schmitt shared the Colonel's pleasures, took delight in his company, and accepted his hospitality, but clmig to his own cash like a burdock to a little woolly lamb. And so it was wine, feasting and eong to an unconscionable degree-, and both of the worthies were having the times of their lives. But one bright day it changed, as all things will, and this'is the way it came about. At four o'clock on that calamitous afternoon the Colonel closed with Schmitt a monster deal for arnvy;supt>l lAS 'and to rpl«>ratf it. th°T.; -^γ , -*-"- ,

straightway to a drink emporium, in a retired "corner they talked things over again, meanwhile consuming just enough liquor to raise their spirits to a ncver-mind pitch. Soon they had not a caro in the wkio, wide world— all was sunshine, roses, and marguerites, and the more good friends who came in to join them in a draught, the more care free they became. In fact, Vaselinovitch became downright reckless. . , "I tell you what," sa.u he, his mind reverting to a former occasion -when the same convivial crowd eat grouped around the same table; "I bet you a thousand roubles I can drink more beer than you this once." •'Done," said Schmitt. 'I take it. Rabelais could have" described the bout that ensued. I cannot. Suffice it to cay that at the end of three hours of strenuous application Schmitt was still bright-eyed and rosy-cheeked, whereas poor Vaselinovitch sank back in 'his armchair with a gurgling cry of "Ne rnets!" ''Get him to his room at once," said one, and this they did with the assistance of some Chinamen with" a wheelbarrow. . ' . "What has happened I don't know, but I can fix it, , ' said Schmitt. "Leave mo to him" : and ho waved the crowd from the house. Sclnmtt undressed the unfortunate fellow to the accompaniment of a string of sputtering, gasping, choking protestations, and placed him on a couch. ••[ drown." murmured the Colonel, feebly. Schmitt worked harder than any coal-heaver. He was past master of all the arts of first aid to the injured in ■ a struggle with the- amber tide. Soon ho had the satisfaction of seeing the Colonel established in comfort upon his bed, where he sank forthwith into deep sleep. Poor, poor Petrofsky Makaroff Vaselinovitch! His life was saved, but at what a price! And now Sing makes his appearance Sing was a Shanghai man, bright as a shiny brass button, and crooked as a hopvino gone wrong. Schmitt and ho were after-dark cronies, and together they had pulled off many and many a shady deal. They met presently in the street, exchanged a few words, and at seven that- evening Schmitt sliS thiough tho sido entranco to Sing's house. Dinner was ready } and tho two sat down. "What thing?" asked Sing, munching a fifty-two-year-old egg. His beady black eyes were two glittering interrogation points. "Fine pidgin." said Schroitt. "This time have catehee telegraph code and plans all garrispns Manchuria-Siberia side." '■How much?" inquired oing, significantly, jumping at once to tho gist of the matter. "What think?" '•Mobbe one lac, mebbe two lac, s'pose can do.' , •' Two lac. Ono Vlong my, one b'long Sing," said Schmitt. Sing turned to his dinner with a thoughtful air. Picking up the end of a etrip of duckskin, he put it between his teerh, and snapped it out of sight with a noise like a banana man devouring macaroni. Schmitt toyed with tho sharks' fins, and called for beer. "Who b'long?" asked tho Chinaman. . "Vaselinovitch." Sing gave a few exhibitions of swordjuggling with his ebony chopsticks, sized up his vis-a-vis thoughtfully, and finally remarked. "Can do." Whereupon Schmitt delivered into his keeping a fat bundle of papers, and vanished. That night Schmitt laid himself down on his feather bed with a contented mind. Rosy dreams of mile high stacks of roubles lulled him to a sound and soothing sleep. When morning came he awoke at tho usual time, shaved himself, took his shower, and climbed into x his clothes, better satisfied with himself than ever before in. his "life. Ho was gay, very gay, and he softly hummed, "Dv Bist wie Eine* Bluino," as he was sitting down to his fruit, porridge, fish, ham and eggs, steak, cold beef, hot rolls, and colfo'e. The morning paper intimated the probability of war with Japan in tho very near future, and Schmitt's agu.j mind immediately conceived the idea o v " sotting a price of three lacs iustead of two on the papers ho had placed in the hands of Sing. Why not? Japan would pay tho price. If they won; worth it to the Japs, why not the same amount to the Russkies? Why not, indeed ? But suddenly, there came a knocking at his chamber door, and his chain of thought was thereby broken. "Herein, , he called, and Vaselinovitch entered, pale, haggard, and groaning pitifully with overy step he t«)k. Schmitt welcomed him, and drew up another chair. "Ah. to-day I die," moaned the poor Colonel. "I am come to express my farewells. The night thet passed I cannot eleep, but , , my friend, I owe my wretched life to you, and for that I express my deepest gratitude. ■ All, had I but died and ended all! Genera: Robberoffsky gave mc some important papers to deliver for him, and they're ] os t —lost! I forgot all about them, and they have gene from my pocket forevo'. - At six o'clock Robberoffsky -is shooting himself, and I join him if the papeis am not found.- General says he cannot live longer, since he should have delivered the papers himself to the Commandant instead of trusting them to a fool like mc. So how can I live? I die!" Schmitt had been thinking. "Why not offer a reward?" he asked. ■'Ah, and then every.one would find •out. It is that which must be avoided. Ii is the disgrace to the General and to mc about which we must think. Still, we would pay, we would pay ■jladiyi My good friend, my dear friend, I commission you to spend anything, everything, for their recovery. I beseech you to find them. Will you noi do so for mc?" "I will try, but I must think, my dear Vasio; so leave mc now, and I .will cat! on you at two o'clock. I have your authority to spend as much*..' as three hundred thousand roubles for tho papers, yes? Well, then, I will ask you to sign a letter I shall prepare." .Schmitt disappeared for a few moments. When ho returned ho held a letter in his hands. This the Colonel signed, and departed. A.* Schmitt closed the door on. his visito- a large smile of jubilation lit up his beefy face, end he leaped into the air and clapped his feet together in ecstatje throes of joy. "Too good; too easy!' , he confided to the room at large. "Now to tell Sing, and at two o'clck I take the monoy." Sing was indulging in a little opium preparatory to having a few rosy rouble dre-ims of his own, when Schmitt burst in upon him, all breathless and ciicer. Tho Chinaman grunted «nd stolidly -waved his visitor to a dark, backless sent of teak. ■What thing?" he enquired languidly. "Can mnkce pay proper fashion two o'clock. You give mc paper back now, I sot tie by and by." "No can do. My flen' have lock up S'pose you pay one lac, can catch. S'pr>se you no pay, n«o can cetch." "By "and by can pay," said Schmitt angrily. "Sing, this no b'long white man fashion. Before never have bob-

bery, Sing. What thing happen now?" But Sine: wasn't, in the mood for argument. There was a steamer leaving at three and Sing knew it. He. was afraid Schmitt knew it too, and he wisely decided it would bo just as wfcll to get his share on the transaction before giving the papers up.

'•Sing, I pay you four o'clock. First must catch paperSj then can settle." 'No can. do," reiterated Sing the sly. •Si'hmitt was furious, and finally left in high dudgeon. What a blithering idiot he had been! Of course, ii Va.?elinovitoh had not come to him he sbouM have been obliged to use Sing in oftettrig the s>ak' of the pupero, but .->.-, it was, he was e"uply rtirowinj; cua\ a hundred tltousind rouble*. i ...;m .-rr->jn •• twiint." be \,,<l -•»

himself. "I will go to the bank, borrow this money tor Sing, and when Vasie digs up I will return it again." So he went to the bank and obtained a big collection of nice new paper bills. Sing was out whorv Schmitt reached his shop, but he had left word to waiiv as ho would not be gone long. Sphmiit fumed and stewed around until two forty-five, when Sing reappeared. "Here's your money," shouted Sscraitfc. "Givo mc the papers." Shiß counted the bills* deliberately, and thrusting them into a pocket somewhere in the depths of his blouse, ho walked to the safe and turned the combination. Ho .handed the papers to Schmitt, who examined them hurriedly, saw that all was right, and tore from the room, fhe banks closed" at three o'clock, and there was no time to be lost if ho was to cet hismoney that day. Colonel Vaselinovitch and General Kobberoffsky were in the former's apartments when Schmitt enterad.

"My dear Schmitt," they cried in unison as they embraced -.him and covered his face with kisses, "you have saved "our lives! It was so kind of you to find those papers! Sing brought them to us only c few minutes ago, saying you had told him they were- ours. Dear Schmitt,- what can we do for you ? Name it!" .

But with : these words they stopped and exchanged glances.

•'I forgot," said "the Colonel, apologetically. ■'" ♦•« must wait.. You nave, dear, dear Schmitt,'out undying gratitude and affection;' but,' as for this world's goods, alas! " Sing demanded all we had on earth;'and we have paid." Sohmitt gasped, drew his precious pa pens from an inside pocket, and j looked at them again. '"Copies:" exclaimed his companions in th-> same breath.

Schmitt covered his eyes rwith a j pudgy hand, and sank into a chair' nith a drep groan of misery. Through ' th«* window could be seen the good ship Laimcon moving majestically across the bay. Hanging over the taffrail was a yeilow-skinned Celestial, gezing at the : whirlpools churr.ed up by the propeller, j Rosy reinbow dreanisof milo high, stacks of roubles were flittine through his brain, whilo dimmer and dimmer in th« distance grew. Port Arthur.-