The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1910-03-23
A Japanese Spy
By FRANK MARTNDALE
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

During the wars In Japan between
the adherents Of the mikadO and the
shotgun the mikado's troops were be
sieging a fortress which both sides
wanted.
But there is one matter Of impor-
lance concerning it that is pertinent to
this story. The mikado's army was
very small, and force of the shOguns
was coming up to the relief Of the be-
sieged This force was expected with
in a week. The success of the mikado
depended upon how long his enemy's
supplies would hold out. If there
were enough for but a few days the
besiegers might remain and reap the
benefit Of their labors. If the provi-
sions should last longer than that they
would better be off before the relief
force came up or they might be over
whelmed by a superior army.
To know what supplier the defend
ers of the fortress had would be Of In
estimable value to the besieged. 1t
meant a possible possession Of the
point of attack, and it meant proven
ton of a possible humiliation of the
emperor's army and the probable loss
Of his cause.
The devotion Of the japanese people
under such circumstances is a won
der. 1t is that devotion which enabled
them to force a peace upon the Rus
sian bear that had threatened to
walk all over" their little island and
take possession of it. 1t is that devO-
ton that has enabled them to protect
themselves while cultivating the COM
merciaI methods Of western c:viliza-
ton.
There came a noble to the mikadO
and said to him:
20 mighty emperor, it is on &C
count of your majesty's virtue that 1
feel an impulse spring up within me.
My ancestors are looking down upon
me and smile pleasantly upon me as
yield to the inspiration. | will dis
guise myself and obtain admittance to
the fortress. There will observe for
how many days your enemies are sup
piled, and will return and advise you
Of the fact"
Il am well pleased" replied the EN-
peror, that my virtues have produced
in you such a worthy motive. You
have my permission to go into the
fortress and observe the supply of
food our enemies have and return TO
me and tell me- / will request the
cbodae of INV ov-,, opoactorc 70 watch
over you, but if you die in your at
tempt you will have the satisfaction Of
knowing that both mine and your an
cestors will welcome You In spirit
land"
So the noble Frustrated himself be-
fore his majesty and turned and went
away. That same day a man dressed
as a shepherd found access to the
fortress and went among the grana-
ries and found them nearly empty.
There was food enough to last but
two days. The shepherd. satisfied with
the information he had gained, was
about TO leave the fortress when one
who had known him before the war
came on recognized him. The spy was
seized and hurried before the shotgun.
This man." said his captor. sis a no
BILE who supports the mikado for the
position to which your majesty is en-
titled. He has been among us in this
raiment of a shepherd and knows just
how many days supply we have on
hand. What shall we do with him?"
Cruelty him." said the shotgun.
With that they were leading the spy
away to cruelty him when the shO-
gun called to them to bring him back.
"If you will go to the wall" he said
to the spy, land tell your people that
we have supplies to last several weeks
l will spare your life"
'SThat 1 will do" said the other.
my ancestors call to me to stand firm
and they viii receive me at my death
| joyfully, but 1 have a wife and chill
dren in the mikado's camp, and | am
loath to leave them for my ancestors
whom l reverence greatly, but have
never seen. 1 am so weak as to pre-
fer my wife and little ones"
go, then; tell them what l have
said to you, and / will in time return
you to those you love"
The spy was conducted to the wall
and stood upon it, the soldiers of thr
He signale1 the besiegers to come
near that he might speak to then
So they all drew as near as the
dared, the family of the spy cOmiI
with the others. The spy stood look
ing at them benignly as the DIRE
near and saw his wife and little a.,
looking up at him anxiously, knowi-
that he must have been discovered %.
the besieged people and that a grea,
crisis was at hand
The shotgun sat in the center of the
fortress, rejoicing that he had found o
means of deceiving his enemies am
sending them off when near the az
complishment of all they had been s.
long striving for. About him stood IN
soldiers waiting to hear the SD5 IL
his people of the abundance of SUI
plies there were in the fort.
Then the spy raised his hand for
silence and said TO them:
10 my people, i have examined the
supplies that there are in this for
tress. and there are but enough to last
two days"
A thousand spears were EGrled n
him. and he fell on the wall.
90 my people," exclaimed the mi
kado, "our ancestors are taking him
to their bosoms."
Then he gave orders to move on the
fortress, and the defenders. being dis
couraged, gave way before them, SO
1t was not long before the conquered
people were sent to the bosoms II
their own ancestors.