The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-10-27

this afternoon" said PlefpOHl.
Roy" said Barris, as David bowed
and started on, what did you do yes
terday?'
This was the question that l had
been expecting. All night long | had
dreamed of Ysonde and the glade IN
the woods, where, at the bottom Of the
crystal fountain, l saw the reflection
of her eyes. All the morning Whlie
bathing and dressing 1 had been per-
sUading myself that the dream was
not worth recounting and that search
for the glade and the imaginary stone
carving would be ridiculous. But now,
as Barris asked the question, sudden
ly decided to tell him the whole story.
See here, you fellows" l said
abruptly, Il am going to tell you
something queer. You can laugh as
much as you please, too, but first
want to ask Barris a question or two.
You have been in China, Barris?"
Yes" said Barris, looking straight
into my eyes.
Would a Chinaman be likely 70
turn lumberman?"
Have you seen a Chinaman?" he
asked in a quiet voice.
Il don't know; David and 1 both
imagined we did"
Barris land Pierpont exchanged
glances.
Have you seen one also?" I de
manded, turning to include Pierpont.
No" said Barris slowly; but l
know that there is. or has been, Chi
naman in these woods"
The DEVIL" said l.
Yes" said Barris gravely; the
devil. if you like-a devil-a member
of the Kuen- YUM"
| drew my chair close to the ham
I,
holding cut to me q ball of pure gold.
"Well?" said /, examining the en-
craving on its surface, which repre-
scented a mass of twisted creatures
dragons. l supposed.
'Well?" repeated Barris, extending
his hand to take the golden ball, this
globe of gold engraved with reptiles
and Chinese hieroglyphics is the SYM
Dol of the Kuen-Y YUM"
Where did you get it," l asked,
feeling that something startling was
impending.
"Pierpont found it by the lake at
sunrise this morning. 1t is the sym
boil of the Kuen-Y YUM" he repeated,
the terrible Kuen-Y YUM. the sOrcerers
of China, and the most murderouSly
diabolical sect on earth"
We puffed our cigarettes in silence
until BaTris rose, and began to pace
backward and forward among the
trees, twisting his gray moustache
THE Kuen-Yuin are Sorcerers,' ne
said, pausing before the hammock
where Pierpont lay watching him; Il
mean exactly what I say-sorcerers.
I've seen them-I've seen them at their
| Gevilish business. and | repeat 10 you
sOlemnly, that as there are angels
above, there is a race of devils on earth,
and they are sorcerers. BAH" he
cried, talk to me of Indian magic and
YOgis and all that clap-traD! Why,
Roy, l tell you that the Kuen-Yuin
have absolute control of a hundred mill
lions of people, mind and body, body
and soul. Do you know what goes on
in the interior of China? Does Europe
know-could any human being conceive
of the condition of that gigantic hell
pit? You read the papers, you hear
diplomatic twaddle about Ii Hung
Chang and the emperor, you see ac-
counts of battles on sea and land, and
you know that Japan has raised toy
tempest along the jagged edge of the
great unknown. But you never before
heard of the Kuen-Yuin: no, nor has
any European except a stray mission
airy or two. and yet I tell YOU that
when the fires from this pit OF hell
have eaten through the continent TO
the coast, the explosion will inundate
half a woodland God help the other
half"
Pierpont's cigarette went out: he
lighted another, and looked hard at
Barris.
But" resumed Barris. quietly
sufficient unto the day you know
I didn't intend to say as much as
did-it would do no gOOd-even you and
Pierpont will forget tit seems so i'm
possible and so far away-lilxe the
burning out of the sun. What / want
to discuss is the possibility or proba--
bility of a Chinaman-a member of the
Kuen-Yuin, being here, at this mo-
ment, in the forest"
IF he is said Pierpont, possibly
the gold-makers owe their discovery to
him.
Il do not doubt it for a second"
said Barris, earnestly.
l took the little golden globe in my
hand, and examined the characters en-
graved upon it.
'Barrts," said Pierpont, II can't be-
lieve in sorcery while l am wearing
one of Sanford's shooting suits in the
pocket of which rests an uncut volume
of the Duchess
Neither can t. I said. "for 1 read
the Evening Post. and know Mr. God
kin would not allow it. Hello! What's
the matter with this gold balI?''
What is the matter?" said Barris
grimly.
"Why-why-it's changing color
purple, no, crimson-no, it's green I
mean-good heavensi these dragons
are twisting under my fingers
''Impossibie," muttered Pierpont,
leaning over me; those are not drag
ons-"
NO" I cried excitedly; they are
pictures of that reptile that Barris
brought back-see-see how they crawl
and then"
Drop it," commanded Barris; and /
threw the ball on the turf. In an in
slant we had all knelt down on the
grass beside it, but the globe was again
golden, grotesquely wrought with drag
ons and strange signs.
Pierpont, a little red in the face.
picked it up and handed 1t TO Barris
He placed it on a chair, and sat down
beside me.
"Whewi" said l. wiping the perspira-
ton from my face. "how did you play
US that trick, Barris?"
Trick" said Barris contemptuously
l looked at Pierpont, and my heart
sank. If this was not a trick, what
was it? Pierpont returned my glance
and colored, but all he said was, IT'S
devilish queer" and BarriS answered,
Yes, devilish." Then Barris asked me
AGAIN TO tell nv story and 7 did he