“My brother, he in prison. He twenty-six, I fifty. He have wife and
baby. In China they accept any man same family to die. I go to China,
give my money to my brother—he live, I die!”

The next day a new Chinaman appeared as servant in the lawyer’s
household. In a week this servant knew everything, and nothing, just
like Sam.

And Sam disappeared, without saying good-by.

He went to China and was beheaded, four weeks and two days from the
day he broke the news of his intent to go.

His brother was set free.

And the lawyer’s household goes along about as usual, save when the
master calls for “Sam,” when he should say, “Charlie.”

At such times there comes a kind of clutch at his heart, but he says
nothing.




-------------------------------------

When power and beauty meet, the world would do well
to take to its cyclone-cellar.