118 A TALE OF THE BORDER 



tobacco pouch, went to the door. No one was in 

 sight, so, replacing the quilt as he had found it, 

 AA^ong went home. All that night he pondered 

 ov^er his find. He was dying to know the meaning 

 of the characters, but could see no way to do so. 

 He did not wish to confide in his sons, for they 

 would see to it that he was no gainer if there was 

 any money to be made. 



At length he resolved to consult Kwan-fong, 

 the old Chinaman. Accordingly to this worthy he 

 repaired. 



After some time had been consumed in com- 

 pliments and small talk, for Kwan-fong was a 

 punctilious old gentleman, Wong produced the 

 paper. 



" 1 have here," he said, '' a paper. Upon it are 

 certain characters to which I am a stranger. You, 



Kwan-fong, are a scholar of much learning. I 

 pray you to decipher them for me that my mind 

 may be at rest." Thereupon he handed the paper 

 over. 



Kwan-fong took it, and peered for some time 

 through his great horn spectacles. Not a muscle 

 of his face moved. At length he spoke. " You 

 have done well, friend Wong," said he, " to bring 

 me this paper. Some of the characters are strange 

 to me, but 1 will examine them well, and when 



1 have considered their meaning will let you know 

 at what conclusion I arrive." 



Wong did not much like leaving the paper, but 

 as the Chinaman refused to give any further 

 explanation, he had no alternative. 



Kwan-fong had his full share of the cupidity 

 which is one of the great characteristics of his 



