THE IMPERIAL ENGINEER

by Judith B. Glad

  The Manufacturer and Builder:

  A Practical Journal of Industrial Progress - February 1884

  ~~~

  "Did you come to bed last night?"

  Lulu set the bowl of oatmeal down before him. "No. When I looked in on you, I saw there wasn't room for me. You were sprawled across the bed from corner to corner. And you were so soundly asleep I doubt I could have moved you if I'd tried."

  "We'll talk about this," he said, before he took the first mouthful.

  She met the challenge in his eyes. "Yes, we will. But not until you've dealt with the situation at the telephone office. We'll both need to dedicate our full attention to our discussion."

  "Goddammit, Lulu, we're not going to hold a debate. We're going to talk about the shape of our future."

  "All the more reason for us to be calm, reasonable, and without other distractions," she said, keeping her voice steady. Last night had shown her she was still capable of feeling passion, but there was more to a marriage than that. She had no intention of being the sort of wife the outrageous article in the newspaper had advised.

  He ate quickly." God only knows when I'll be back," he told her as he pushed his empty bowl aside. "We're going to check out the whole system again, then ride each line."

  "I'll have something for supper that can be kept warm." She held out his coat, no longer mud-coated. She'd brushed it last night before curling up to sleep in the upholstered chair. "I'll be going to town later. Shall I bring your dinner by?"

  "No, because I haven't any idea where I'll be at dinnertime." Before she could step out of his way, he'd caught her to him in a tight embrace. "Thanks for understanding about my work, Lulu. A lot of women would have been feeling neglected," he said into her hair.

  "That would have been short-sighted. We will be living on your salary for some time to come." She tried to slip free, but before she could, he'd taken her mouth in a deep, hungry kiss.

  After an instant's resistance, she found herself melting against him. His lips were hot, his tongue quick and exciting as it touched the sensitive tissues of her mouth. She heard someone moan as he nipped her lower lip, and knew the sound had been hers. When he loosed his embrace, she found herself clinging to him.

  Slowly they pulled apart, yet their gazes remained locked together for a timeless moment.

  "Later," he said, his voice a hoarse half-whisper.

  "Yes," she said, after licking lips that felt stiff and immovable. "Yes, later."

  He was gone, then. Lulu sank into the chair he'd vacated, its wooden seat still warm from his body. She propped her elbows on the table and buried her face in hands that trembled from the intensity of the emotional storm within her.

  "What is the matter with me?" she whispered to the empty kitchen. "Why do I freeze up when he touches me sometimes, and fall into his arms others?"

  There was no one to answer her.

  After a while Lulu pushed herself upright and cleaned up the breakfast dishes. She made the bed, tidied the parlor, and gathered their soiled clothing into a bundle.

  Last night she'd brought a small gunny sack of grain home with her, knowing there was none in the barn. There was some hay in a manger, old and musty, and fit only for bedding, so she'd need to order some soon. More items for her to-do list. Her fingers were numb when she'd finished mucking out the stall, even though the air was a bit warmer than yesterday's. A thermometer went onto her mental shopping list shopping list too.

  There were several Chinese laundries in town. Lulu had patronized Yu Meng's Excellent Laundry more because she liked its name than any other reason. Service was fast, the Chinese proprietor was friendly, and her linens came back looking new. "Good morning, Mr. Yu," she said as she entered.

  "Ah, you back. I wonder where you go," Mr. Yu said, with a smile. He accepted the large bundle she handed him and opened it. "Not all yours, I think," he added, holding up the filthy britches Tony had worn yesterday.

  "No, some of it's my husband's." At his look of surprise, she nodded. "Yes, I am indeed married. Mr. Dewitt, of the Hailey Telephone Exchange, is my husband."

  "Ahhh." There was a wealth of comment in that drawn-out syllable, but for the life of her, Lulu couldn't decipher it.

  She took the chit Mr. Yu handed her. "Mr. Yu, do you know of any of your people who are seeking work? I have need of a stableman and driver and a cook. I will pay five dollars a week each, and board and room. Unfortunately, the only accommodation I can provide is the barn, which is empty except for the horse and buggy. Perhaps whomever I hire would be able to construct a room in the unused space."

  He looked at her suspiciously. "We are being told to go from here. Perhaps no one will work for you."

  "Nonsense," she said, a bit more sharply than she intended. "They will not force your people away from here if you stand fast. There are many of us in the area who believe the anti-Chinese sentiment is the work of a few bigots of low intelligence." She crossed her fingers as she spoke. For all she knew, she could be the only person in Wood River opposed to the philosophy of the Anti-Chinese League. "I will be in town for several hours, and will return here this afternoon to learn if anyone is interested in the employment I have to offer."

  "You will anger many," he warned, "and your husband will not be pleased."

  Lulu had to smile at how much improved his command of English had become during their conversation. "I have angered many people before this. The possibility does not deter me. Mr. Dewitt will support my actions, I assure you." He'd better. She would never forgive him if he did not. And she would tell Soomey on him.

  "I will find them for you." He bowed. "It will be my pleasure."

  She returned the bow, and they parted with smiles.

  "Now, some furniture. I will not spend another day in that empty house." She drove to Main Street and let the horse amble along as she looked for the sign she was sure she'd seen several times, but paid no attention to. Sure enough there it was. E.A. White, Furnishings. She left the horse and buggy at the livery stable and walked back to the furniture store.

  Mr. White himself greeted her. When she explained her needs, he beamed widely and showed her around the store. Lulu was amused to see, tucked in a back corner, an assortment of coffins. Apparently Mr. White believed in providing furniture to all sorts of people.

  By a little after noon, the Dewitts were the owners of a moderately priced parlor set. Mr. White had done his best to sell her an expensive mahogany and plush set, but she'd thought it garish and tawdry. The simply carved walnut and subdued brocade of the pieces she decided upon were much more to her taste. She hoped the style would appeal to Tony, as well. She also bought a desk, a large wardrobe, another bureau, two more kitchen chairs, a glass-fronted bookcase, four lamps, and three ornately-framed prints. They could always replace the prints with ones more to their liking later, but the walls needed something now.

  I certainly hope Tony was telling the truth when he said he had money enough laid aside for me to furnish the house. Well, if he doesn't, I can always sell out some of my investments. After all, she had been saving them for the future. Now her future would be considerably different, and irrevocably linked to his.

  She instructed Mr. White to send the bill to her husband, and received his assurances that everything would be delivered tomorrow morning.

  Upon her return to Mr. Yu's establishment, she found he had more than fulfilled her request. He introduced his friend, Lee Ken Shi. "He is very good cook, but does not speak much English. I believe your husband will find a way to communicate with him."

  Lulu opened her mouth, then closed it again. So Tony was not fooling the Chinese community. "Yes," she said, with a perfectly straight face, "I'm sure he will."

  "This is Mr. Lee's son, Ru Nan, who has some experience as a stablehand. He claims to be able to drive, but you might wish to test him yourself. He is very young."

  Indeed he was, not looking much over ten years of age. But he was as tall as she, and well muscled, so she i
magined he was in his mid-teens at least. "Do you speak English, Ru Nan?"

  "Little bit," he replied, with a low bow. "I learn ver' fast."

  "Then I will give you a trial for one week. You may begin work this afternoon. If your work and your driving skills prove satisfactory, you have a permanent job."

  Mr. Yu translated, giving Lulu some doubt about her ability to make Ru Nan understand what she wanted of him. No matter. She could always point in the direction she wished to travel. More important was his ability to handle the horses. She hoped the rental horse understood Chinese.

  "This is my niece, Xi Xin," Mr. Yu said, when he had finished speaking to Ru Nan. "She is eager to learn to be a lady's maid, for there are few positions for a Chinese girl who does not wish to..." He hesitated, and looked away.

  "Who does not wish to be sold into prostitution, you mean. Yes, I am aware of the problem. I wish I could help, but I have no need of a lady's maid. I am perfectly capable of dressing myself." Even as she spoke, she regretted the words. The child was lovely, but so very young. What could she do about the house?

  "She is also a very hard worker. You will need a house maid. She is willing to work for only two dollars a week, and her meals."

  Lulu heard an echo of Tony's childish voice telling of the day when his whole life changed. "Two dolla' week and found?" she said, softly.

  Mr. Yu looked at her in puzzlement.

  "Thank you, Mr. Yu. I will hire your niece. We have a second bedroom I had intended to turn into an office for myself. If Xi Xin does not object to sharing it during the day, she may lodge with us."

  "I am in your debt," he told her.

  "Not at all. It is I who am paying a debt, in spirit if not in fact. An old debt." She hoped Tony would understand that this child, little older than he when Silas found him, was in as much peril as he had been, for all she had an uncle who would do his best to protect her. She was far too pretty and she would soon be a woman. There were many men who would see her ripe for the taking.

  Shortly it was arranged that Mr. Lee would follow her to the house in a borrowed dog cart, bringing what he and his son felt essential to making a place for themselves in the barn. He would also bring some supplies for both kitchen and stable. "I purchased very little when I stocked our pantry. You must see what you need, and tomorrow we will shop."

  Mr. Lee looked mystified, until Xi Xin, in a soft voice, spoke to him. Then he nodded enthusiastically.

  Lulu realized she had hired the girl without knowing whether they could speak to each other. Well, it would have served me right if we hadn't been able to. But I couldn't leave her in town, not as lovely as she is. She would be such easy prey.

  * * * *

  "So you got it all fixed up?"

  Tony relaxed in the chair across from his boss. "I hope so. Until whoever did this decides to pull another rotten stunt." He scratched his head. "I sure wish I knew who."

  "I'd rather know why," Eagleton said. "I won't deny I've made some enemies since I came to town, but offhand I hadn't thought any of them to be the sort to attack the telephone system. Guess I was wrong."

  "I've got men guarding the switchboard and riding every one of the lines outside of town daily. Maybe that will keep us operating. It's sure eating into the profits, though."

  "Don't worry about it. We'll weather this, as long as it doesn't go on too long." Eagleton stood. "I'm having dinner with Axminster this evening. Even though he signed up late, he's convinced now that having a telephone in the bank is a good thing." He winked. "It never hurts to have the bankers on your side. Remember that, boy."

  "Better you than me," Tony said, grimacing. The thought of sitting across a table from the banker's wife would be enough to sour any man's digestion.

  Chuckling, Eagleton picked up his hat. "Tony, if you want to be a success in this old world, you'll cultivate the ability to eat anything anywhere and not let your dining companions affect your appetite. I'll give Mrs. Axminster your best."

  "You do that," Tony replied, not sure if Eagleton was joking or not. He rose too, and stretched. At least he wasn't as worn out tonight as he'd been.

  With Eagleton's departure, he returned to his office and checked his calendar. Yes, the batteries belonging to the earliest subscribers should be serviced this week. One more thing to fill his days. At least he wasn't bored. He looked at his bicycle and shook his head. He was getting damned tired of freezing half to death morning and night. Maybe he'd rent a horse, and to hell with the cost. But first he'd have to lay in some hay and grain and clean out another stall. He rolled the machine out onto the sidewalk and locked the door behind him.

  As he rode, he thought about the talk he and Lulu had to have before much more time had passed. He wanted her in his arms at night, not huddled in a ball of misery on the opposite edge of the bed.

  What was the matter with her? The last time she'd shared his bed, she'd flinched every time he touched her. Yet this morning she had caught fire from his kiss. Heat pooled in his belly at the memory. He wanted to make slow, delicious love to his wife. The one time they'd been together had been wonderful, but quick and hot, and over too soon. He had taken her to completion, but it had been almost an accident, for he'd been so desperately eager, so hungry for her that any skill he'd ever learned had gone by the wayside.

  Lulu deserved better than that. She deserved to be teased and tempted and tortured, until she came apart in his arms.

  When his house came into sight, he saw light streaming from every window. Lulu must have bought some more lamps. He hoped she'd also bought herself a chair. He was too damned tired to spend the evening on one of those hard kitchen chairs, and yet not so tired he couldn't be a gentleman and let her have the upholstered one. He turned into the short drive, his front wheel catching in soft, rutted snow.

  There was a light in the barn, too, he saw, frowning. Was Lulu out here taking care of the horse? She had no business... He pushed open the door and saw two men sitting close to a brazier near the back wall.

  Two Chinamen.

  And there were two horses in the stalls, as well as a dog cart and the buggy Lulu had hired, parked in the middle aisle. "What the hell?"

  Both men jumped to their feet and bowed.

  The door was pulled from his hand. "Oh, good, I was hoping I'd have a chance to introduce you. Why don't you put your bicycle away first, Tony?"

  He leaned his bicycle against the wall beside the door, and turned to face Lulu. "Okay, suppose you tell me what these men are doing here?"

  "Why you told me yourself I might hire help, just last night. This is Lee Ken Shi, who is our cook, and his son, Lee Ru Nan, who is our stableman and my driver. Mr. Lee, we will want supper in about half an hour."

  Both men bowed to Tony, but neither spoke. They looked scared.

  As well they should be. They'd be on their way back to town in ten minutes. "Wait!" he said, holding out his arm when the older man would have eased past him. "Lulu, we can't hire Chinese. It could mean my job."

  "Balderdash. Mr. Eagleton is your employer, not your owner. He has no say in what you do when you are not working for him."

  "The devil he doesn't. He...we all have to live here, and right now anyone who hires a Celestial is ostracized. There's talk of a boycott. It could affect the telephone company. I can't afford that."

  She stared at him, her expression one of amazement. "Are you telling me you would give in to bigotry and prejudice. You? You would forsake your heritage and turn your back on your own people?" Her voice broke on the last word.

  "Don't talk nonsense! This has nothing to do with my 'heritage,' if I have one. This is pure economic necessity. I need that job."

  "You can work anywhere. Or I can. I refuse to allow you to make an ethical compromise to satisfy the residents of this town. If they are that narrow, that intolerant, then I would sooner live elsewhere, as I'm sure you would."

  "God damn it, Lulu, you've been gone while this Anti-Chinese League was getting organized. You
have no idea of the momentum it's gained. By hiring these men, you could be asking to have us run out of town ourselves. Or worse. Now I'm sorry, but I simply will not allow you to hire these men." He turned to Mr. Lee and opened his mouth to make excuses and apologies.

  Lulu spoke first. "You have nothing to say about whom I hire. I made no promise to obey you, and I have every intention of paying their wages myself. So there!" She stepped between him and the two men. "Mr. Lee, Ru Nan, please excuse my husband's words. He and I will settle this question later. In the meantime, we will dine as soon as supper is ready."

  Nose in the air, she whirled and stalked out of the barn.

  The two men looked questioningly at Tony. "We'll talk later. You can stay--for tonight, at least," he said, accepting that he and Lulu had much to discuss and doing it before them would only weaken his position.

  This was one argument he intended to win.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  The worst form of Chinese slavery is that of young girls from ten years of age upwards. From three to four thousand of this miserable class are now living in California. They constitute, with a few exceptions, the female Chinese population of the State. I have talked with some of these, and hear their sorrows, but their awe of their masters and of the relentless highbinders prevents them from daring to accept aid in an escape. Most of them do not understand the possibility of such a thing.

  Overland Monthly and Out West Magazine, November 1883

  ~~~

  Resisting the urge to slam the door, Tony closed it carefully. He turned to speak to Lulu, but before he could, Lulu said, "Xi Xin, please go out to the barn for a while. I will call you when I need you."

  A small Chinese girl scuttled across the kitchen, shoulders hunched. She snatched a shawl from the hook beside the door and was gone in a draft of cold air.

  "Who was that?" Tony said, keeping his voice even with an effort. "Another of your efforts to save the world?"

  "She's Mr. Yu's niece, Xi Xin. I...the maid."