The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-07-17
By CRTTENDEN MARRIOTT

panied by chanting
Louder and l0uCeT IL grew. a yellow
cicam lit I'D the scene. disclosing
massive platform with q small stone
altar just in frCIt of us a trampins
of many seet sounded in our ears. Then
a hundred or EOEe men,. e1ch carry lug
a torch. tramped past US and ranged
themselves with ordered precision on
each side Of the altar In the brighter
sight their dress and features were
plainly dIscernible
wei, I'H be durned.-' The voice Wis
CurIy's. I've reen held up NOR once
i'm my time. but never by no greasers
The pIainsIuaa's Characterization WAS
luapJ Though EuquesuOnably lnoisn ms
OF half-Dreedst our caDtors were very
different. both in costume and in aspect,
familiar II the travellers Of whose dis
appearance the bishop had spoken mad
I explanation OF their fafe was not Tar 10
seek
The drum ceased a. -ur. y and man
with long matted r. leveled hair.
dressed IN what ] --s 5ed 10 be the
Earb Of priest, sud, -ly appeared be
side the altar Whence he came 1 could
not guess. unless IL were through some
unseen door ia the y all that j now saw
rose close behind the platform
For moment he stood in silence
Then he raised his hand
Where is the sacriHce2' he demanded
( in mouErei Spanish that ] could bare
! iE understand
8 deep toned chorus answered him,
and Iu moment the guards We q upon
us. forcing us 20 our feet and proddIng
us I'D 90 The altar with their macneteS-
s1iGed exclamation drew my eyes
! 20 the bishop He was leaning tcr"arL
{ Win cleaning eyes int burning
I Image he uuftereI The Temple OF
the Burning image Lord LOrd-
/ I turned TO Marian with "a question IN
mE eyes. and she nodded signincanlly-
{ The Temple Of the Burning Image or
/ Chacmoof Is supposed 10 be the last re-
: naming shrine OF the Old Aztec gods
& she whispered. Its existence is an
+ article Of faith among the Indians but
no white man has ever seen 10 and lived
/ I fear we are ali lost AIr Scott
J We were close 10 the altar now and
/ could plainly Gesrrv the implacaDie tea-
[ lures Of the priest as he watched our
/ approach with eyes that burned with
! cruel triumph
] confess ny nerves were shaken
Marian too, was very white. ana the
. bishop was murterlng 90 himself IKE a
man iu fever Only Curly was IN
Impressed Iu the hush his voice
Three throws for ten ceuts-oue
dime E- announced loudly and the
. FIRST gent that knocks that old duueF 5
block of gets a NICE black secEaF-
The words were iu such vivid contrast
20 the suspense Of the situation that my
U-e-vTuu EEr nerves plaFec me iai~e ana
burst into "a "1str OF laughter
The rE passed IS quickly as D. ls-o
GIaus gazing al u.e with horror stricken
faces To fueu ruE laughter must nave
been OUTRAGEOUS Sd-ltlcGe- turned %
tie priest and when ] SAW me look OF
#fEelr-s rage on hrs Ease realized that
my iii timed merrirneut had made our
cease u possible more hopeless than ID
-er 4 fraulan- trs priest clared At me
in silence. too furious 90 speak Then
l- a marvellous effort OF SELF control
De wiped his features clear o. all eN-
tries iu words so swift and clipped ana
distorted -hat Z could make nothing 81
them
Fg- answer The guard opened UDOu
the platform a cloth containing a col
lection Of objects evidently madc u-
from The plumber Of uEr pockets ProTUi-
merit a-.0u- lE=IU were tETtE Two re-
viewers and --F aaacletv-
Contempt The priest turned them
f. over with ms FOOT then he turned 90
. Gs and spoke. his eyes cleaning WIN
--~rrau-er-.-' he said iu a parCiS Intel
li-flle.. indeed. but impossible to initiate
ire Er2IieG---~tr arGers- many wears ace
tho white men cams t1 our shores Inef
urufIueo our temples overthrow our
GODS and destroyed .1ur empire
IN this spot alone the worship ri the
mighty EEar-aoal stiN persists Here
for UuUUW gET-E centuries annual sac
- r5-e- Co the god has been made and
p here FOR centuries t1 come % Si.-il %
rlale. until 5E tae fUluess OF time CHac-
. u.1I -alt bless his children and rr-eS-
raaIish his rule over the world
zone victim he requires earI year and
in GOOD r5ra -a has sent ON here 90
constitute the -srrlee- Yet. as he eX-
acts but one victim wear On ce or YOU
may bee allowed 90 go free if YOU vii
bow down to his altar. become con
EerleE to his faith. @-5 swear on tGt
Burning Image trc cath that NAV no
De- broken. 10 take no tdmCs Of nI.
, rcUuIs 90 The outside world
break ETL- ItHEr- LIIF FETL-
aue- of the E gTuIuE Image shall fol
low yol- your senses shall leave YOU
los q living flame Choose. now. which
or YOU viii die and which become fol
lowers OF the mighty tlaCmUGi-
He ceased. and we four stared al
leach other in CONSERVATION. No saw
3 age NDClferaLlou could have chilled
b. our sirrits as did those cold meas
s urCG- memorable words They fell like
- doom upon our souls
QueStiouiuE-y- 7 turned 20 Marian
P wondering whether she could throw
some light ou the subject Its al
c sWered I'm q whisper Everybody II
c Central America has heard OF tn,
Burning Image It isn't hre- yol
d know but u makes sores like burns
7 don't know just what IL Is. but
3 suppose fr Is g sort OF poison
Desperately I called my wits TO-
Eerher- I'VE viii none Of us die no
VIII we become converts TO Chac
. uooI." 7 declared stoutly- we ar,
PEOPLE Of consequence In our homes
4 IT YOU dare to- iujUre US the Unite,
States viii take bitter vengeance
-'Na-- more We are not alone here
3 We have friends at hand There ar
i thirty weII-armed white men not
- dozen miles away looking for US a
j this very minute ttEis was quite true
s in words. at all events}. When tae'
come. YOU can guess what they vii
2 90 to arycu- who hurts us"
The priests lips curled in scorn-
, 81 am told he declared, and I nav
: been young Yet every year In IN,
= long life have T seen a victim Omerel
: I'D TO this altar, and no one has re
= called me 10 account Waste no nor
y words, whit men, but decide Chac
4 ulooI demands his victim.
For an instant I besitated. Then
: ca led up ali my courage
" Il oOk here. I cried. you can tax
. me for your sacrifice. If yOu'll let TN
= rest 90 free without making then
worship
& The Continuation Of This Story WI
= Be Found in TOmurrovs-a
d Issue Of The Times