The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1901-02-21

THE BLADE TOUCHED THE Barred BREAs
OF THE TRAITOR.
| their lives. When I have finished n
word of encouragement will be give
you. You must do as you are instructed
or"
death by the sword Of the pirat
clan" chanted the assemblage.
You hear" continued the speaker
Now act, and may you prove yoursel
worthy the name and sword OF
Toyhai." Then addressing two mel
who stoe d on the opposite side of tn,
chamber: sYou know your duty"
AT this the two pulled back the fold,
Of double curtain, which concealed al
alc0ve in the wall which was lighted
even more brightly than the chamber
itself Against the rear wall of the al
cove stood man perfectly erect. A
thin band of steel held his head in posi-
ton, and bands Of like metal encircled
his neck, waist, ankles and wrists. His
hands were stretched we'll out and his
feet were we'll apart. Such look OF
agony upon q human face the girl
had never dreamed Of. The eye-balls
rolled round and round in their sockets
as il they had never known restor quiet;
the lipS twitched and trembled and a
spot Of blood on the neither lip marked
the place whore tooth had penetrated
the flesh, while the hands alternately
clenched themselves and unfolded.
There is a traitrods heart, if ever one
beat in the bosom of man. He is not
fit to live. My brother, do you find out
his vital spot with that true and thrice
blessed blade and show how Toyhai
treats the enemies of Kwan Dah."
The mixture of the wine and blood
the girl had drank seemed to have filed
her with fire, and her blood went cours-
Ing 80 quickly through the veins that
when the speaker had finished she
could almost hear it surging to and fro.
Her cheeks were aflame, and her heart
beat with painful violence. She knew
what was required of her. She must
take human life, but such was the
wild excitement which now controlled
her that she had less horror in contem-
plating this act than she had before in
drinking the blood and wine.
She stepped forward, with the weapon
pointed toward the trembling wretch.
1t was within an inch of his breast. The
blood surging to her brain dazed her.
She wavered backward and forward.
and as the condemned traitor saw
her thus, as If summoning energy for a
fatal stroke, he sent forth such a crv of
agony as rang through the whole CITY.
10 Sho Mai it sounded like the voice of
a thousand demons hailing the new
murderer in the list of blood-stained
souls. She staggered, and the blade in
her hand, without her volition, touched
the barred breast of the traitor Tho
steel was keen as razor, and though
the touch was light blood flowed in a
bright red stream. Sho Mai saw it, and
4 voice seemed to thunder s'Murderessp,
IN her ears. Her brain reeled, and. bv
the mercy OF the gods, she fell to the
door unconscious!
how long she had lain thus she did |
lot know, but when night came to her
Eyes she found herself alone. living unon |
me tiles just as she had fallen. With a
'nuoder she turned her head toward the
'pot where corpse should have hung
by the bands of steel, but the
had been drawn, and no sound
anne from behind them. She would
AVE given much to lift that draperv
'no learn whether she had really taken
. LIE, but her resolution failed her and
ne turned toward the second apartment
With feeble steps she staggered toward
ne curtain, but as she placed her hand
pom II some force which she could not
race drew 1t back suddenly, and she en-
cred, wondering
mere she saw seated about the apart
lent the members of the clan who had
ssisted at her initiation. She was i'm
lediately conducted to seat before a
,iseo oals. upon which was the man
no wore the royal yellow robe and who
'ted as orator. An attendant brought
or glass OF sweet wine, and when she
ao drank she felt refreshed.
Tits considered by your brethren Of
ie Ioyhai that you have earned vonr
'oe,' said the orator. Remembering
we do, that you are but bow. and
latyou have succeeded where more than /.
ne man has failed, we are inclined 10 ,
ok lenlently upon your weakness and ,
vest you with the black robe of a Tow
A. linen without further formalifv y
II robe OF office was conferred upon her.
Hear the word of the mighty Kwan ;
an, said the orator, and at the name '
heads were bowed. "The most hiph v
Ter grants the now Toyhai his choice. :
'her TO remain and serve the great v
wan Dab in his city or to sail under the b
g OF the white crescent in the shin Of n
Q First Chief, which shall presently n
"A great hope swept through Sho Mai
ice free OF this island could she nor =,
cape altogether from the SWAY Of -
van Dab? The thought well-nigh be. n
It her of speech, but gathering her n
lrage she said at length
Let me sail the sea under the banner ;,
the great Kwan Dah." u :;
l(COntlnup0 payt xyoal-