The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-09-09
tcopyrisht. by BIZ,

a iacquered gong and a tiny jade ele-
phant, from Nagasalyi, japan. It vas
OF ordinary wefkmanshin. with ALSO
luteiy nothing about It to excite any
unusual curiosity. The slender stltls
were Of cedar wood enameled black,
and the upper section of ssiH White
paper gilded on one side and deco
rated on the other with a snan house,
quite crooked as to outline and blurred
as to coIoring, Examining the fan
more closely / was able To discern, Ap-
parently creeping from the doorway Of
the dwelling, most yiIlainousIook-
ing individual, garbed in the dress of
his country, girded about the waist
with brilliant red sash. The muscular
body was slightly bent, and the CLAW.
like fingers OF the right hand clutched
the hilt Of a long. slender weapon,
Something like a dagger in shape. the
sharp point STEPPED as though In.
blood, dark drops OF which fell from
the blade. NV attention, however,
was more especially attracted to what
seemed 10 have been a freak Of the
artists fancy or piece Of clear. sheer
carslessness One ear was entirely
missing from the icreasure's ugly head.
while the other one had been most
prominently delineated.
"A crude enough bit Of work. i
thoaght. yet what world OF fend.
ish deviltry has been depicted on that
small painted countenances for the
black eyes slanted look Or most afro.
cious yindictlgenass straight into
mine, and Iactnally found myself sbud-
derihg as I gazed back into them. ..3
A. I. half lnterestedly, let my eyes
rest upon the rough yet picturesque
skeEching, was Of sudden surprised
Into something akin to excitement. 1t
might have been trick Of imaglna-
tion. but | could have sworn, at the
moment. that faint light had ap-
pOared In one OF the tiny windows OF
the crooked house. Some trick Of
those clever little Japanese" NUT
tered to my self. and curiously turned
the fan over to zee II / could discover
any concealed mechanism that would
warrant the effect produced 90 strange
ly, but the back OF the fan displayed
only an expanse Of dull gilt. relieved
with one or two pink.billed herons.
and luxuriant lotus blooms. I quickly
turned the other side about and ex-
claimed aloud with astonishmsnt
Before my eyes human being, per-
fectly formed, although greatly reduced
IN size. was moving here and there Ii
the lighted room OF the house on the
fan The small face resembled won
degful piece OF ivory carving as It
rested its dusky background of blue
black hair. waxed and folded, loopad
and colled into an elaborate couture
"a Ia Japonaise" and decorated gor-
geously with gilded pins and creamy
white iaponica buds. A splash OF
gold aecentuated the brilliant scarlet
OF the full under lip and the trans
parent folds Of pink undergown cast
soft. rosy nushes against the white
neck and throat. while the outer kimo-
no OF tenderest green and silver
showed slashes OF pearl color where
the flowing sleeves fell open and back
from the rounded arms
Presently, / saw her lean her head
little to one side and. placing one
hand with palm Slightly curved against
her ear. listen attentively. and then.
rising preeipitonsly 10 her feet, run
quickly back Of one OF the paper par.
titions or screens that divided the
room into sections. Ny curiosity had
now become so intense that / felt
must not lose sight OF her for even
an instant and | found. much to my
delight, that By holding the fan at a
certain angle could see her shadow
quite plainly reflected against the
screen.
Evidently her abrupt exit had been
caused by the arrival OF someone.
whose dark reflection gave the impress
sion OF a tall broad-shouldered man In
uniform The man held out his arms
to the woman Again and yet again he
embraced her. Bending his head to
hers, he imprinted kiss upon her
forehead. For a moment she stood
with bowed head. as though receiving
benediction. her hands, held closely
between his own. resting against his
breast. After a time she gently with.
drew one hand and slipping It into the
loose drapery Of the pink klmono she
drew out q small folded paper which
she thrust into his fingers. closing
them over It. and. carrying his hand
TO her lips. she kissed It repeatedly.
As I watched with brsathlass inter
est the little romance being enacted
before me / was impressed with . feel
ing OF forsboding evil and with ap in
eanny sensation such as is generally
produced BY the contiguity 81 an 10.
seen presence. shortly understood
the reason of this feeling FOR at The
furshermost end of the lighted room
! saw the bamboo curtain swinging be-
fore the halfopen door move gently
70 one side. almost imperceptibly. Al
Ahf4gnh zffrfad h4 : estsT.4na,- .rrt.4a 6s