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saw take shape the face and figure of Toy ShueyToy Shuey； the maid
of all work in his uncle's house in the Cantonese village； whose
work was never done and who received for a whole year's work one
dollar。 And he saw his youthful self arise in the curling smoke；
his youthful self who had toiled eighteen years in his uncle's field
for little more。 And now he； Ah Chun； the peasant； dowered his
daughter with three hundred thousand years of such toil。 And she
was but one daughter of a dozen。 He was not elated at the thought。
It struck him that it was a funny； whimsical world； and he chuckled
aloud and startled Mamma Achun from a revery which he knew lay deep
in the hidden crypts of her being where he had never penetrated。
But Ah Chun's word went forth； as a whisper； and Captain Higginson
forgot his rear…admiralship and his high family and took to wife
three hundred thousand dollars and a refined and cultured girl who
was one thirty…second Polynesian； one…sixteenth Italian； one…
sixteenth Portuguese； eleven thirty…seconds English and Yankee； and
one…half Chinese。
Ah Chun's munificence had its effect。 His daughters became suddenly
eligible and desirable。 Clara was the next； but when the Secretary
of the Territory formally proposed for her； Ah Chun informed him
that he must wait his turn； that Maud was the oldest and that she
must be married first。 It was shrewd policy。 The whole family was
made vitally interested in marrying off Maud； which it did in three
months； to Ned Humphreys； the United States immigration
commissioner。 Both he and Maud complained； for the dowry was only
two hundred thousand。 Ah Chun explained that his initial generosity
had been to break the ice； and that after that his daughters could
not expect otherwise than to go more cheaply。
Clara followed Maud； and thereafter； for a space of two years； there
was a continuous round of weddings in the bungalow。 In the meantime
Ah Chun had not been idle。 Investment after investment was called
in。 He sold out his interests in a score of enterprises； and step
by step； so as not to cause a slump in the market； he disposed of
his large holdings in real estate。 Toward the last he did
precipitate a slump and sold at sacrifice。 What caused this haste
were the squalls he saw already rising above the horizon。 By the
time Lucille was married； echoes of bickerings and jealousies were
already rumbling in his ears。 The air was thick with schemes and
counter…schemes to gain his favour and to prejudice him against one
or another or all but one of his sons…in…law。 All of which was not
conducive to the peace and repose he had planned for his old age。
He hastened his efforts。 For a long time he had been in
correspondence with the chief banks in Shanghai and Macao。 Every
steamer for several years had carried away drafts drawn in favour of
one； Chun Ah Chun； for deposit in those Far Eastern banks。 The
drafts now became heavier。 His two youngest daughters were not yet
married。 He did not wait； but dowered them with a hundred thousand
each； which sums lay in the Bank of Hawaii； drawing interest and
awaiting their wedding day。 Albert took over the business of the
firm of Ah Chun and Ah Yung； Harold； the eldest； having elected to
take a quarter of a million and go to England to live。 Charles； the
youngest； took a hundred thousand； a legal guardian； and a course in
a Keeley institute。 To Mamma Achun was given the bungalow； the
mountain House on Tantalus； and a new seaside residence in place of
the one Ah Chun sold to the government。 Also； to Mamma Achun was
given half a million in money well invested。
Ah Chun was now ready to crack the nut of the problem。 One fine
morning when the family was at breakfasthe had seen to it that all
his sons…in…law and their wives were presenthe announced that he
was returning to his ancestral soil。 In a neat little homily he
explained that he had made ample provision for his family； and he
laid down various maxims that he was sure； he said； would enable
them to dwell together in peace and harmony。 Also； he gave business
advice to his sons…in…law； preached the virtues of temperate living
and safe investments； and gave them the benefit of his encyclopedic
knowledge of industrial and business conditions in Hawaii。 Then he
called for his carriage； and； in the company of the weeping Mamma
Achun； was driven down to the Pacific Mail steamer； leaving behind
him a panic in the bungalow。 Captain Higginson clamoured wildly for
an injunction。 The daughters shed copious tears。 One of their
husbands； an ex…Federal judge； questioned Ah Chun's sanity； and
hastened to the proper authorities to inquire into it。 He returned
with the information that Ah Chun had appeared before the commission
the day before； demanded an examination； and passed with flying
colours。 There was nothing to be done； so they went down and said
good…bye to the little old man； who waved farewell from the
promenade deck as the big steamer poked her nose seaward through the
coral reef。
But the little old man was not bound for Canton。 He knew his own
country too well； and the squeeze of the Mandarins； to venture into
it with the tidy bulk of wealth that remained to him。 He went to
Macao。 Now Ah Chun had long exercised the power of a king and he
was as imperious as a king。 When he landed at Macao and went into
the office of the biggest European hotel to register； the clerk
closed the book on him。 Chinese were not permitted。 Ah Chun called
for the manager and was treated with contumely。 He drove away； but
in two hours he was back again。 He called the clerk and manager in；
gave them a month's salary； and discharged them。 He had made
himself the owner of the hotel； and in the finest suite he settled
down during the many months the gorgeous palace in the suburbs was
building for him。 In the meantime； with the inevitable ability that
was his； he increased the earnings of his big hotel from three per
cent to thirty。
The troubles Ah Chun had flown began early。 There were sons…in…law
that made bad investments； others that played ducks and drakes with
the Achun dowries。 Ah Chun being out of it； they looked at Mamma Ah
Chun and her half million； and； looking； engendered not the best of
feeling toward one another。 Lawyers waxed fat in the striving to
ascertain the construction of trust deeds。 Suits； cross…suits； and
counter…suits cluttered the Hawaiian courts。 Nor did the police
courts escape。 There were angry encounters in which harsh words and
harsher blows were struck。 There were such things as flower pots
being thrown to add emphasis to winged words。 And suits for libel
arose that dragged their way through the courts and kept Honolulu
agog with excitement over the revelations of the witnesses。
In his palace； surrounded by all dear delights of the Orient； Ah
Chun smokes his placid pipe and listens to the turmoil overseas。 By
each mail steamer； in faultless English； typewritten on an American
machine； a letter goes from Macao to Honolulu； in which； by
admirable texts and precepts； Ah Chun advises his family to live in
unity and harmony。 As for himself； he is out of it all； and well
content。 He has won to peace and repose。 At times he chuckles and
rubs his hands； and his slant little black eyes twinkle merrily at
the thought of the funny world。 For out of all his living and
philosophizing； that remains to himthe conviction that it is a
very funny world。
THE SHERIFF OF KONA
〃You cannot escape liking the climate；〃 Cudworth said； in reply to
my panegyric on the Kona coast。 〃I was a young fellow； just out of
college； when I came here eighteen years ago。 I never went back；
except； of course； to visit。 And I warn you； if you have some spot
dear to you on earth； not to linger here too long； else you will
find this dearer。〃
We had finished dinner； which had been served on the big lanai； the
one with a northerly exposure； though exposure is indeed a misnomer
in so delectable a climate。
The candles had been put out； and a slim； white…clad Japanese
slipped like a ghost through the silvery moonlight； presented us
with cigars； and faded away into the darkness of the bungalow。 I
looked through a screen of banana and lehua trees； and down across
the guava scrub to the quiet sea a thousand feet beneath。 For a
week； ever since I had landed from the tiny coasting…steamer； I had
been stopping with Cudworth； and during that time no wind had
ruffled that unvexed sea。 True； there had been breezes； but they
were the gentlest zephyrs that ever blew through summer isles。 They
were not winds； they were sighslong； balmy sighs of a world at
rest。
〃A lotus land；〃 I said。
〃Where each day is like every