New-York tribune., 1908-11-29

account for the fact that when it was opened
it contained nothing but rim"
"Afe! Worshipful Highness, that without
doubt was the work OF the toX spirit: These
spirits are very mischievous at times
Yes, said the magistrate, these spirits
are accountable for much mischief; but we
cannot command their presence at our courts
of law punish them for their m1sdeeds-
Has anyone present any doubt OF the truth
of what . Haiku San, the wife OF Cho-u-che.
has deponed in relation to the matter before
usI"
Honorable officer" said Ito, ~ do not
believe that a fox spirit has had anything to
do with the substitution of rim for silver rlyos
in the ginger jar
magistrate.
4 did answered Ito. Il opened it my
self"
Did the cover of the lar or the seal show
any evidence of having been tampered with!
asked Namagika.
They certainly did not examined the
jar very closely before opening it, replied Ito.
What then is your idea of the agency
through which the contents were changed from
silver to lead and copper and how do you
think the substitution of rim for riyos was
made2"
Il cannot imagine" admitted Ito.
Since no other explanation IS offered, or
even suggested, that OF the wife OF Cho-kl-che
stands said the Discerning Magistrate.
A T this moment Shori San, the wife of the
Discerning Magistrate, who had been eX-
amining the ginger lar outside and inside both
with her eyes and her fingers, uttered a sup
pressed exclamation of surprise, set 1t down,
and, pretending to retire, got behind the backs
of those present. As soon as she became sure
that she unObserVed, she possessed her
self of a valuable piece of Satsuma ware that
stood near the entrance, and quickly, silently,
and adrOtly placed 1t directly behind the en-
ployer OF Ito, the maker OF artistic vases,
Token GOmbei. As soon as she had done so,
she reappeared and began to thread her way
among the witnesses as If to get to her husband.
Seeing that he was in her way, Token Com
bel, who with the Others was sitting on his
heels. rose to his feet and with profound
obeisanCe stepped back to allow her TO pass.
In doing this he overturned and broke the
beautiful vase that ShOT san had placed at his
heels. Overwhelmed with modification at his
awkwardness though he could not understand
how the vessel came to be nearly behind
him. he overwhelmed Shori San with apologies,
assuring her that he owned many really fine
specimens of Satsuua. and that she might
select any She liked to replace the one he had
broken.
1t soon appeared, however. that she placed
a special value on this particular vase 1t had.
she said, belonged to her husbands mother,
and had many associations connected with 1t
that she was not likely ever to forget. NV
honorable husband will be very angry to know
that It Is broken and viii not easily forgive
the person that broke it. said Shori San
This alarmed Token GOmbei for the iudg-
ment which he now confidently expected TO
be IN ms favor had not vet been pronounced,
and he assured Shori san that he could have
the Jar skilfully repaired that the closest
inspection would fail to discover that it had
ever been fractured
How wonderful" exclaimed Shori san
If this Is indeed true, it Is almost worth hav-
ing vessel broken to see such an exhibition
of skilful workmanship. Do YOU yourself do
this mending''
oh, no, replied Token Gombei. at Is
not done at my shop. but in quite different
part of NedO. | viii myself, If YOU will gra-
CIouSly allow me to do So at once take the
three pieces INTO which this beautiful piece of
Satsuma Is broken to the man that does such
work, and when IL Is returned to YOU from his
hands neither your honorable husband nor
anyone else. with the exception OF yourself.
myself and the mender, viii know that it has
ever been a. It now Is.
But why trouble Your honorable self
sald Shorl san We have servants enough
and to spare Tell the mans name and
where he Is u be found and l viii send the
broken jar To- HIM
But Token Gombei shook his head. 81
am deeply grieved.' ne said. but no one ex-