Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-03-15

or Sir Alan, but II 7 am mistaken IN
this respect, II Ia impossible to sup
pose that he can dream of clearing
his path again by the same drastic
method. or course he means mis-
chief. but he will stab regulations.
not individuals"
when will you come to the Black
Museum"
AT once, n you like. But before
we set out I want to discuss Mr..
Okesaki with you What sort OF per-
son Is hep
"A genuine Jap. small, lively, and
oval faced. His eyes are like tiny
Sits IN a water melon, and when he
laughs his grin goes back to his
ears
Really. Winter. did not credit
you with fund Of picturesque mag
cry. Would you know him AGAIN."
II can't be certain. All laps arc
very much alike. to my thinking, but
IL | heard him talk I would be al
most sure. Why do you ask?''
Because I have been looking up
a little information with reference
to the ko-Katana and It's uses Now.
Okasaki Is the name OF a japanese
town. Family names almost invar-
iably have Typographical founda-
ton. referring to some village, river.
street, or mountain, and there may
be thousands OF Okasakis. Then,
again. It was tho custom some years
ago for man to be called one name
n hNrtb In o
age. third when he obtained some
official position, and so on. For in
stance, you would be called Spring
when you were born. Summer when
you were twenty-one, Autumn when
you became a policeman. and Win
ter when you reached your present
rank"
"Oh, Christopher" cried the de-
tective. And If we're made Chief
Inspector"
Then your title would be Top
Dog or something Of the sort"
Mr.. Winter assimilated the fore
going Information with a profound
thankfulness that We in England do
these things differently.
Why are you SO interested In Mr..
Oknsaki?" he inquired
Il will answer your question by
another. Why was he so interested
in the Ko-Katana?"
THAT is hardly what l told you.
Mr.. Brett He profcssed to be inter
ested in the crime itself. But now
come to think OF It. he did ask me to
let him zee the thug"
And did YOU"
Yes; | wanted all the informa-
ton could get"
My position exactly. Let us go to
Scotland Yard
The famous Black Museum has go
often been the subject Of articles in
the public press that no Ntailed de-
scription Is needed here. 1t contains.
In glass cases, or hanging on the
walls, weird collection OF articles
famous in the annals of crime. 1t is
not open to the public. and Brett
who had not seen tho place before,
examined its relics with much Gu
riosity.
The detective exhibited par
donable pride in some OF them. but
his companion damped his enthu-
siasm by saying
This is a depressing sight"
I'm what way"
British rogues arc evidently of
low intelligence in the average. A
bludgeon and a halter make up their
history"
There's more than that in a good
many cases.
"Ah. | forgot the handouts"
We'll here Is the Ko-Katana,"
said Winter shortly
The barrister took the fateful
weapon. not more deadly than pa
per knife in appearance, and scrut-
ini7ed 1t closely.
ut has not been cleaned" he
said.
mo, 1t was left untouched after
the doctor withdrew II from the poor
young fellows breast"
Brett produced magnifying glass.
Beneath the rust on the blade he
thought he could distinguish some
Japanese characters in the quaint
pictorial script adapted by that sing
uidE peOIlt iEUW the '.HlneSe system
OF writing.
He brought the knife nearer to the
window and carefully focused it.
Then he produced note book and
made pencil drawing Of the follow
Ing inscription:
Winter watched him with quiet
agony. He had never noticed the
signs before.
Mr.. Okasak did not tell you
what these scratches meant?" in
CURED the barrister
mo. He did not see them"
Sure"
Quite positive. OF course. It is
very smart on your part 10 hit upon
them so quickly, but what possible
purpose can II serve 10 find out the
meaning of something carved In ia
pan more than fifty years ago. at the
very least"
II do not know. 1t is very stupid
OF me. ! admit, but | have not the
faintest notion"
Does 1t make the finding OF Okla
saki more important"
ITO certain extent. We want TO
have everything explained. At pres
ont we have so little Of what regard
as really definite evidence"
May ! ask what that little is?"