The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1909-01-20


terious expedition for an isolated point on
the Florida coast. Hawaii is captured by
the Japs. Country. in turmoil. demands
explanation of policy from government.
All ports are closed, Hitler going to Eng
land on last boat. England learns that
Jap fleet is fast approaching western
coast of America. Hitler decides to re
turn TO America by any means. Siege,
japanese spy, discovers secret prapara-
tons for war He follows auto carrying
presidential cabinet. He unearths source
OF great mystery and fees. murmurinS:
1.-THE gods save Nippon"
CHAPTER V.-Continued.
In constant terror until his nerves
became shreds to torment him. alert
continent, and at last entered the
gateway Of the northwest, where SO
many of his countrymen had resided
prior to the outbreak of hostilities, but
where now he might claim neither
friends nor sympathizers. Here indeed
was a No Mans Land where none ex-
tended welcome. From then on he
must depend entirely on his own re-
sources, and he understood perfectly
well that he was nearing hard finish
of a long race. He lost no time in
making start.
Under the pretext Of going to Il
camp where he was to cook he in
duced launch that was starting out
toward the mouth of Puget sound to
take him aboard as a passenger and
land him at its journeys end short
distance from Port Townsend. He
was dropped of late in the evening
at a tiny landing. and later saw the lit
tie boat speed back toward Seattle.
He was without food save such as had
been given him. and frightened the
belt beneath his Chinese garb in an
ticipation of a hard trip. Unused to
the rougher life, he made painful
progress, and nothing save his des-
peration enabled him to traverse the
primitive strip between him and the
city. FoOtsOre and dependent, he
forged doggedly ahead. until at last
by sheer will power alone he gained
the outskirts of the port. Its wooden
wharf was deserted. and many of the
houses were closed and vacant, the
fear of Japanese shells and govern
ment weakness having driven the
more prosperous inhabitants away.
Thoroughly worn out, he waited I'M
til night fell. then crawled into coal
shed and slept as only the worn and
weary can sleep. He rose refreshed
and jubilant because he had gained
thus far without accident, hunger be-
ing his only immediate discomfort.
From his depleted store cloth he ex-
tracted the smallest coin. bent on
seeking food before the city was
awake. He made his way down the
hillside to the business section with
out attracting attention. and entered
the doorway Of grocery store, where
a sleepy-looking youth was sweeping
away the previous days waste. In
broken English he made known his
wants, and then. finding the salesman
apparently friendly and stupid. lost
some of his native caution and began
to ask questions regarding the watch
kept along the frontier. At his first
query the boy looked at him slyly: but
and answered everything readily. AS
surfing him, however. that it would be
dificult for any living thing to get
past the soldiers who kept watch and
ward over the boundary line.
Elated by the apparent ease with
which he had secured provisions, he
again retreated toward the edge of the
city, mentally formulating plans for
stealing a boat when night came. and
by this means to make his way to Van
soil. Had he looked back he would
have seen that the boy, broom in
hand, watched him with an assump-
ton of mere idle interest for a mo-
ment only. then hurriedly threw OF
his apron. banged the door shut and
ran as fast as his legs would carry
him to a big building farther down
the street. 1t was where the officials
Of the port held forth. The alarm
had been given!
Seigo rested in a thicket at the
edge OF a forest and partook of a |
leisurely breakfast. laughing mean
while at the dullness of the Ameri. |
cans and the boy In particular He |
regretted the loss of his handkerchief, |
which he feared must have been
dropped in the grocery store, but
smiled at the thought of being within |
SO few miles of refuge where others |
might be bought and where he could |
find ease and comfort
From back of him a deep believing
sound came family through the trees,
and he wondered what the unusual |
noise could be. He rose to his feet.
still holding remnant OF food in his |
hand, and waited for a repetition of |
the noise, which. borne on the breeze,
was heard more sharply. Only once
before had he ever known that same
sullen bay. and then it was when as
a visitor in southern village he had
seen a pack OF hounds followed by
excited men pass him in quest of a
negro criminal. His memory harked
back TO that time. and his hair raised
itself in terror. He threw away his
food and dashed madly into the woods,
seeking to escape that menacing I'm.