Page:Stewart Edward White--The Rose Dawn.djvu/244

232 reliable older men, who understood the situation, like Manuelo, did he open up; and then merely in half regretful reminiscence of the old days. From all the others he thought he concealed the situation. The idea that his old retainers should think him suddenly turned skinflint actually hurt the old man less than that they should distrust the prosperity or stability of the rancho!

But old Sing Toy broke down this unhappy attitude. One evening he appeared suddenly in the doorway of the living room. Allie was, as usual, seated in her worn old wooden rocker sewing; while the Colonel, his lean, kindly old face bent over a book, was staring wide-eyed back through many years. Sing Toy was dressed up to the nines. He had on several brocaded jackets one showing below the other, the innermost of a pale lavender, and the others shading to the outermost, which was blue. His baggy trousers were also of lavender brocade, and were tied tight around the ankles with a crossed winding of white tape. Socks of snowy white disappeared into embroidered shoes with thick soles. Sing Toy wore the stiff skull cap with the red button, as was his right: and his queue hung respectfully down his back.

"Good gracious, Toy!" cried Allie, when she caught sight of this magnificence, "where's the party?"

Sing Toy bowed gravely from the waist.

"No party," said he. "I come talk to Colonel."

It was evidently a serious and ceremonial occasion. The Colonel aroused himself from his abstraction.

"Come in, Sing Toy," said he.

This, he could see was no mere contact of master and servant. With the donning of his magnificent raiment Sing Toy had put on equality. The Colonel knew his Chinamen, and realized this fact. "Sit down," he invited.

The Chinaman disposed himself deliberately, bolt upright on the edge of a chair, and folded his hands under his sleeves.

"I got tlee t'ousand dollar," he announced abruptly.

"That is very nice," observed the Colonel. "It is a large sum."

"Yes," agreed Sing Toy. "I save'm wages. I wo'k for you long-time—fifteen year."