Philip Verrill Mighels

“ It was nearly nine o'clock when at last the hum of excited expectation in the crowded streets of Chinatown became abruptly pregnant of news that the dragon was fairly afoot.
A din of clashing brass and beaten drums arose like a demon's alarm on the vibrant air. Chinese music, triumphant and sufficiently awful to affright the most intrepid demon, had broken from the instruments in charge of Oriental virtuosos. Excitement billowed like sea waves, heaving through the mass of humanity that thronged the streets. ”

“ A half-smothered cry of bereavement, not quite to be controlled, escaped the slave-woman waiting in the dark. Spasmodically she folded the little captive to her aching heart and then lifted her up towards Luey's reaching arms.
In childish terror little Sucy dropped her headless doll and with both small hands clung tightly to the woman, who underwent one sweet, wild pang of ecstasy and despair at this touch of love and confidence. Then the heart of the dragon closed its arms quite about the baby form and drew her snugly upward to itself. ”

“ Luey was filled with dread, not only by her words, but also by the tones of her harshly strident voice. Yet, youth is eager and hopeful. He pleaded with her warmly; he called her by the names of womanhood now doubly precious to her nature. He beseeched her in the name of mercy toward the helpless little slave to relent and lend him assistance. ”

“ Stolid in her fright, little Sucy could do nothing but hold to the warm, softly speaking human being that embraced her. And the dragon proceeded on its way, its heart most humanly tender.
Fifteen minutes later the trembling child was gently dropped into the arms of a certain blue-eyed young woman of the mighty white man's family—just as the heart of the dragon crossed another basement orifice, under the dexterous management of the faithful Luey Mow.
In the morning a sunbeam, entering the basement prison to search for tiny Sucy, found the slave-woman lying on the earth. ”

“ Into the pattern concerned with tiny Sucy Ling the musical rhapsody of youthful Luey Mow had found its way on the afternoon of the bold abduction, but with this Dame Fate was not to be content.
Aware of the utter futility of perpetrating Chinese serenades that were lost on the air a good half-mile from the ears of Nikku Loy, Luey Mow was making hold to advance his hopes in directions more substantial.
There exists a certain mundane proverb to the effect that the time to guard all valued possessions is the moment when a stranger comes with gifts in either hand ”

“ The famous Chinese dragon, fire-devouring, flame-emitting, noise-creating, and altogether fearful, was to issue from its lair again and writhe through all the streets of Chinatown, whence demons would instantly flee with naught but panic in their bellies. Inasmuch as Luey Mow had previously demonstrated his worthiness as a species of mainspring to actuate and animate the dreadful beast, he was promptly called to service now. ”

“ These window-bars are old and weak. I can take them out like lumps out of bread; and through here Sucy Ling and you may pass. The way of it all you may leave to me; and I beseech you to say you will do this thing for the sake of the child who gives you love,"
The woman was silent. Against the background of darkness she drew eccentric figures with the light end of her punk. Luey Mow could not in the gloom discern the evidence of conflict that passed across her painted face. ”

“ He pushed the woman into the basement blackness, and following, closed the door himself. At the sound of his voice little Sucy crept yet closer to the woman's neck, her other tiny hand fast gripping an arm of her doll.
"This child is very young," said the woman.
"I know," interrupted the abductor. "She is very young, and five or six years is long to feed her and wait; yet she is gifted with beauty, and her price will increase far faster than her appetite." ”

“ The child's unspoken accusation was too poignant to be borne. It could not be real; even one like herself could not be such a sport of the Fates—she could not have felt that something stir within her, at a baby's touch, only to have it mocked like this! ”

“ She is a very nice girl, and very pretty—make good wife. All right; but you find Hop Sing's little girl first. You very smart boy. I can't let you marry Nikku Loy till you bring me that poor little child."
Luey studied the pattern of the wallpaper up at the top. After a time he paid: "Velly hard to find small China girl in Chinatown, Velly hard to take away and bling here."
"Well—Nikku is very nice," repeated the resolute young savior of Chinese slaves. "And that's the only way you can get her for a wife. You go see what you can do. That's all, Luey. ”

“ At the coming of the second day, no longer able to endure the famine in her bosom, the woman had recourse to an art She sought out her paints, cosmetics, and oils, with the which she had once given beauty to her face, when beauty was essential in her trade. ”