Golden Valley chronicle. (Beach, Billings County, N.D.) 1905-1916, 1910-02-04
aside the stone slab which served as

aside the stone slab Wn1cn served as
a cover.
From within he drew something that
glistened like gold in the candlelight,
such a marvelouslv woven fabric that
l stared open mouthed as be approach
ed me.
"What is it?" demanded.
The Japanese laid the garment
across my knees with reverent care.
ut is the great coat Of him who
built this shrine-the golden coat of
the greatest emperor. Few may wear
It, but whoever does will come to great
riches and glory"
"And why do you not put it on,
Wakuru?" said. extending the coat
toward him. '"Then to you may come
great riches and the fulfillment of your
desire to study at the American col
leges in the west"
For answer he lifted the cloak and
threw it about my shoulders.
'It may be worn only once in cen.
fury. ! sacrifice my opportunity that
my honorcd friend. the great Lewis.
may enjoy benefits" said Wakuru
meekly.
He stood facing me with his eyes
wide open. as if watching for some
metamorphosis to take place beneath
the emperor's golden coat.
Presently became aware that the
coat was pressing my shoulders heav-
lily and that before me saw nothing
save Wakuru's beady eyes. They
changed to two black crows flying
above desolate mining country in
Nevada.
They paused above the mine in which
had sunk a little fortune in years
past-the Cinnamon Bear mine-and
dimly realized that the mine was no
longer deserted A small town had
grown up about it. and as l gazed
car heaped with rich ore was run out
of the shaft and sent whirling down
an incline to the smelter.
My brother-in-law and partner in my
mining enterprise stood in the fore
ground. and somewhere on sign
board l read. "Lewistown, Nevada"
The vision came so quickly and as
so rapidly vanished that it seemed but
a second later that l was once more
gazing at Wakuru's beady black eyes.
1.-THE Honorable Lewis has seen
visions of success" he said quietly. as
one who states Il fact.
"Wakuru. you rascal. you've hypno-
tiled me-" ! calculated angrily. but
I'm blessed if I've thought Of the Gin
namon Bear for three years, although
Ned did say he was going to have an
other try out there"
Without 81 word the Japanese re-
moved the cloak from my shoulders
and replaced it within the stone coffin.
Five minutes later we were walking
toward my hotel.
went directly to my sitting room.
and while Wakuru laid out my clothes
for dinner | opened an accumulation
of letters on my desk. Among them
was Il brief cabiegram from Ned Nor
daunt. my hrnther-in-law:
Lewiston. New May 49,
Cinnamon Pear made good at last.
Richest streak of gold in state. Come
home NED.
For i; man who desired not great
riches. but merely Il competence. as
had so neatly outlined to Wakuru. I
displayed unusual excitement at the
news coming so suddenly upon the
strange vision had had while wear
ing the emperor's golden coat.
blush to recoliect that | fell upon
my compliment manservant and slap
ped his august back and thrust into
his reluctant hand IL fifty dollar note
American money. of course.
When Wakuru withdrew and left me
arrayed for dinner | was simmering
with delight. | dined merrily. and |
sought divers information regarding
outgoing steamers in the near future
Morning came and no Wakuru
waited until noon and then sought the
hotel manager
He shrugged his portly shoulders.
"My boy told me this morning that
Wakuru had embarked for the United
States on the steamer that touched at
Kobe at 8 o'clock. There's Wakuru's
brotler-hc's the telegraph operator
in the Office -Matsukemo"
A nan-small. sleek and yeIlow-the
prototype OF my vanished valet. APP
preached with Il bland smile and lifted
black brows.
w ihulu. ue rcIllulS-
Gently. "Ah. him have most generous
august patron. My brother. him have
geeft from rich American and 20 I'M
medi?te to that America where all
= learning am':much money is. So late
now. too bau. Wakuru gone" lie NOV
ed away toward the telegraph office.
and went to my room and looked at
the cable lncSS:lro
1t had been received an hour before
my departure for the temple the pre-
vious day. and there was not the
slightest doubt that Matsukemo had
received the message and impaired to
the fHithlesS Wakuru the news thar
his employer had fallen into great
riches.
AS for the empcror's golden coat, |
fear its only usefulness had been to
cover Wahiirils deceit and avarice and
n n fln