“Oh, no; he'll be open. Maida went for it two Saturdays ago at about this time. They work all night, you know. Please, George!”
“Oh, all right,” I said resignedly. I jogged and pulled things and ambled down the block. Sure enough, the laundry was still lighted and doing business. It always smells of lychee-nuts and bird's nest soup inside. The black-haired yellow boy grinned at me. “How do!”
I explained my errand and secured the large parcel. Suddenly a thought occurred to me. The very thing! These Orientals were full of subtlety. I would put it to him.
“John,” I said impressively, “listen!” His name was Sam, but I always call them John.
He listened attentively, watching me with beady black eyes.
“John,” I said, “what would you do if your head—no; I mean—what would you do if a soap manufacturer—no; perhaps we had better get at it this way. If a Chinaman's head was cut off—see what I mean?” I leaned forward and indicated by an appropriate and time-honored gesture the process of decapitation. John—I mean Sam—took two steps hastily backward, and his eyes became pin-points. He jabbered something at his friend in the rear room.
“Now, John—I mean Sam,” I said mollifyingly, “don't be foolish. Just come back nearer—”
“That'll be all of that shenanigan,” said a very Irish voice behind me. I turned, and saw the policeman with whom I had so nearly collided that afternoon.
“That'll be all, I say,” remarked Roundsman Reardon, as I afterward found his name to be. “Sur-r, ain't yees ashamed of yerself, scarin' the likes o' these Chinks into the fright o' their shadow?” He leveled a large, pudgy finger at me. “An' I hear-rd ye this afternoon. I seen ye an' I hear-rd ye. An' ye may be thankful I know ye by repitation to be har-rmless. But ye'll come with me quiet, an' I'll escar-rt ye back to yer own house, an' leave the wife to put ye to bed. Ain't ye ashamed to be drinkin' this way an' makin' a sneak with the la'ndry without payin', by hopes of frightenin'—”
“That is not true,” I answered hotly, for my blood was up. “I intend to pay. I had forgotten.”