took the young American to an outlying quarter of the city. Here were located a number of humble houses occupied largely by Chinese and Japanese, who worked along the wharves and at the dry dock.

Gilbert wanted to find a Japanese stevedore named Jiru Siko, for he imagined that this individual knew something about Ivan Snokoff which was,[Pg 33] perhaps, unknown to Nicholas Vanskynov. He knew that Siko lived at the end of the narrow and dirty street, with his wife and half a dozen children.

[Pg 33]

As he approached the spot he noticed that something unusual was taking place. A motley crowd of Japanese, Chinese, and Russians had collected near the house, and one Russian, who was armed with a stout club, was talking loudly and commandingly.

“Out of the house at once, you dirty dog of a Nippon!” came from the Russian. “Out of the house, I say. Your being there defiles the very walls.”

“I have paid the rent,” answered Jiru Siko, who was a small man, with a hand that had been hurt lately by having a box fall upon it. “Why cannot I remain?”

“Because the dirty sons of Nippon must leave this place,” shouted the Russian. “You are to go, and all the others are to go, too!”

“And what of my rent money? Nine rubles, in clean money——”

“The rubles shall go for repairs, after you have left the house. Now out with you.”

“But my wife is not well. And my children——”

“No time have I to listen to woeful tales,”[Pg 34] stormed the Russian, who was merely a rent gatherer, and who had been ordered by his rich master to clear out all the Japanese in the street. “Take your wife and children where you will, only leave here, and at once.”

[Pg 34]

“It is unjust,” stammered Jiru Siko.

“Yes, it is unjust!” came in a shout from half a dozen present.

“Ha, so you defy me!” shouted the Russian, in a rage. “Shall I bring the soldiery here to make you prisoners?”

 Prev. P 24/178 next