Central Collegiate Institute - Analecta Yearbook (Calgary, Alberta Canada)

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I K WONG TUO’S FINGER-NAILS (First Prize) I Kwong Tuo sat peacefully in the doorway of his silk shop and occupied himself by looking at his finger-nails. They were long, sharp and yellow, and when he gracefully moved his hand in salutation to some of the pass¬ ers-by they clicked and rustled together with a sound like dead leaves whispering in the wind. He was prouder of his finger-nails than of the prosperous shop behind him. The sluggish Si-Kiang flowed directly past his shop, indeed part of the building stood on stilts in the water much like a woman holding up her skirts and standing in a puddle. He watched the boats with their queer bat-like sails float lazily down the river. Merchants in the street beside the stream occasionally called their wares—tea, rice, fruit, and all kinds of garden truck, and these cries mingled pleasantly with the sounds of play¬ ing children, donkeys, dogs and the shouts of the barge men. Kwong Tuo, yellow, bent and ugly, leaned back and pulled his stringy whiskers in great contentment. It was getting dark and Kwong Tuo called to him his assistant, San Foy, who had faithfully served him for five years. “San Foy,” he said, “it is time to close the shop.” “Master, that is true,” replied San Foy. He was an incredibly ugly man, very yellow and wrinkled and he squinted terribly. About his neck he wore a green jade necklace curiously carved, of which he was inordin¬ ately proud. They went about closing up the shop and Kwong Tuo put the takings of the day in the big old-fashioned safe he had imported from Sheffield. He had a great deal of money in his safe for tomorrow he was getting a special shipment of silk from IIong-Kong. San Foy knew this very well. That evening San Foy repaired as usual to the gambling den he fre¬ quented. He had a further run of the bad luck that had attended him for

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26 The Analecta MARGARET SMITH ALISON JACKSON SCHOLARSHIPS One afternoon last fall the students of Central High assembled for the presentation of prizes won by the students of C.C.I. in the June examina¬ tions of 1929. The Hon. R. B. Bennett honored us by his presence, and after a short address presented one of the Bennett Scholarships to Margaret Smith, for obtaining the highest average in Grade XI in Calgary. Then Dr. A. M. Scott presented to Alison Jackson the McKillop Scholar¬ ship. This scholarship is offered to the student in C.C.I. obtaining the highest marks in Grade XI. Margaret Smith —Since entering C.C.I. Margaret has set an almost un¬ surpassable record. Not once has her average been below 90%. In Grade X she obtained the highest marks in Calgary and again has she upheld her standard in Grade XT by ranking first. Not only does she excel in her studies but she has been on the Senior Basketball team since her freshman year. Next year Margaret goes to the university and C.C.I., I am sure, wishes her every success. Her marks in the Grade XI examina¬ tions for June, 1929, are—Literature 3-84, Composition 3-88, History 3-97, Arithmetic 100, Algebra 2-99, chemistry 1-92, Latin 2-90, Geography 95, French 3-81. Alison Jackson is another excellent student whom the pupils of C.C.I. regard with enviable pride. Alison made a wonderful beginning by gain¬ ing the highest marks in Calgary in Grade IX, and in Grade XI she has been repaid for her many hours of study. This year Alison is only taking half her Grade XII and will be back to complete it next year. Whatever career she chooses to follow she is sure to be successful for she is a real student. The marks which justly obtained her the scholarship are—Lit¬ erature 3-82, Composition 3-85, History 3-89, Latin 2-93, Chemistry 1-92. Arithmetic 100, Geography 89, Geometry 2-94.

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28 The Analecta the past three weeks. He rose from the table very dispirited, but waved away his clamorous creditors with a great show of confidence. “Tomorrow,” he said, “I shall pay you without fail.” He left the den and slunk down the crooked streets till he came to his master’s silk shop again. Craftily he raised a window and slipped inside. There was not a sound. He glided over to the safe and began to turn the dial. He had memorized perfectly the conbination, having secretly watched his master open the safe many times. His fingers trembled but finally the heavy door creakingly swung open. Suddenly he heard a quavering old voice behind him. “Who is there?” San Foy made no noise that would answer Kwong Tuo’s question. Wheeling swiftly he threw himself on the old man. A terrible struggle in the dark insued. For all his age Kwong Tuo was very strong. They swayed and crashed to the floor. Kwong Tuo grabbed San Foy’s necklace and twisted it round and round nearly croking the thief. San Foy hammered at his master’s face and then banged Kwong Tuo’s head against the edge of the safe. He fled through the window, but was without the money. When he r eached his hovel he flung himself down on his couch and de¬ bated what he should do. If he left Canton he would immediately be sus¬ pected; if he went as usual to the shop at six o’clock and appeared greatly astonished that a thief had come and gone in the night no one would con¬ nect him with the attempted robbery. He decided on the bolder plan. Accordingly then he went back to the shop the following morning. Kwong Tuo was standing in the doorway with his head bandaged. San Foy was clever, moreover he was a Cantonese. He expressed great surprise, throwing about his arms and finally asked his master what had happened to him. It was very well done. “I fell,” Kwong Tuo said, “and cut my head. It is nothing—Come, we have much to do.” San Foy followed him into the shop bewildered. Why had his master made such an excuse! Did he or did he not suspect him? A little later during the morning Kwong Tuo spoke to him: “San Foy, I have always admired your necklace, but have never ex¬ amined it closely. I am interested in its curious carving. Let me see it.” San Foy removed it and handed it to him. “Thank you. Now I have a message for you to do. I want you to take this silk to the white woman, Mrs. Berkesley, at the compound on the next street. Tell her I hope it will match.” San Foy left his master scrutinizing his jade necklace. He was in a turmoil of doubt. If Kwong Tuo suspected him why didn’t he do some¬ thing about it? When he was gone Kwong Tuo carefully picked out a jagged piece of finger nail jammed in the necklace. The nail on the index finger of his left hand was broken completely off. When he fitted the broken piece to his finger nail, he found that they fitted exactly! Kwong Tuo then did a curious thing. He lifted a piece of reed matting from the floor and extracted three floor boards. He dropped a papei