Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1909-05-29

For expiation. brother" echoed
varnim, duly. His face was drawn
and gray.
Turning, the priest led the way. We
mounted the foot-worn stone sters In
silence, and at the top found long
avenue. This terminated in one Of
those ridiculously small shrines which
are the central point of miles of ap-
proach, terrace, and wonderful seen
cry. Behind the shrine was a low
stone building, and this, it seemed,
was our goal.
We entered in silence unbroken.
The place was shrouded in heavy cur
tains, and the small room was filed
with clear, bright lantern light. The
priest led Varnim just beneath an
image of bronze, facing the door.
was unable to recognize the god, but
it was one of great antiquity, and held
a bronze knife in its outstretched
right hand. The priest addressed the
image, still speaking in perfect Eng
lish.
Most Holy One, thou hast COM
manded that thy servants shed no
blood. 1t is well. Ten years ago thy
servant Kaga-Ichi had a sister. When
foreigner one day would have pro-
famed thy temple, thy servants sister
saved his life from the fury of many
men. But this stranger lived in the
land, and he acquired our customs and
became thy servant; also he married
thy servants sister. When he had
served in thy house for the space of
three years and thy servants sister
had borne him q manchild one day
there came letter and he disap-
peared.
Most Holy One, ii was well IL 1t
pleased thee that thy servants sister
should die of grief, and her babe with
her; but 1t was not well that thy
mysteries should be profaned and thy
servant forget them in other lands.
We may shed no blood nor life; so
here Most Holy One, thy penitent
yields him to thy justice"
The priest ceased and knelt on the
| floor, his head bowed. Varnim seemed
rs one stupefed, but his eyes filled
with an awful horror. / followed his
gaze-and then / saw.
The hand of the bronze image had
! risen! 1t poised in air an instant,
then fell swiftly. The knife struck
Narnim, but he remained standing,
only giving n low moan. l was par
alyzed with horror.
Then the arm was raised again,
slowly, remorselessly. But as it was
about to fall. came to my senses.
ing table | hurled it into the bronze
| eyes; there was a crash
And with a cry | switched on the
electricity
My brass cigar lighter had crashed
into the lantern and extinguished the
candle. Varnim lay by the fire, his
| coat dabbled with blood, and by his
side a queer bronze knife.
lie was only slightly hurt. Over a
| cup of coffee he laughed at the whole
| matter, although | saw that his voice
| was not natural.
I'VE were both rather nervous" he
marked; you were hypnotized into
| '''N''o NA"N 'ioAcii' anu "aS ih6
with my knife when it slipped and
cut me and | tainted. l would not use
that lantern much, If ! were you; you
seem rather susceptible to its infiu.
| ence."
He was so evidently shaken that ]
did not say that the knife in his hand
and that held by the image were the
same.
Next morning / took one of the
candles 10 a chemist for immediate
analysis; he could give me none
Opium, and some other drugs, he
found; but there were substances that
could not be named. AS was return
ing home paper was thrust into my
hand. Glancing at it, | saw headlines
of the strange suicide of Harold Var
MIN the night before at his apart
ments. No cause for the act wal
known.
am still wondering whether Kaga
Ichi's gift was one of gratitude, or
purpose. Some day l am going t
burn another candle.