Evening journal., 1910-03-23
A Japanese Spy
By FRANK MARTINDALE
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.

OuIinB tue wars IN japan between
the adherents Of the mikado and the
Shotgun the mikado's troops were be-
sieglng a fortress which both sides
wanted.
But there is one matter Of impor-
lance conceAning It that is pertinent to
this story. The mikado's army was
very small, and a force Of the shoguns
was coming up to the relief Of the be-
sieged This force was expected with
in week. The success of the mikado
depended upon how long lis 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. II the provi-
sions should last longer than that they
would better be of before the relief
force came up or they might be over
whelmed by superior army.
To know what supplies the defend
ers Of the fortress had would be Of In
estimable value, to the besieged It
meant a possible possession of the
point Of attack, and It meant a preven-
ton Of a possible annihilation 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 peace upon the Rus
sian bear that had threatened to
walk all over" their little island and
take possession Of It. IL is that devo-
tion that has enabled them to protect
themselves while cultivating the com
mercial methods Of western civiliza-
tion.
There came a noble to the mikado
and said to him:
20 mighty emperor, it is on ac-
count Of your majesty's virtue that
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 l will observe for
how many days your enemies are sup
piled, and l 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
shades Of my own ancestors to watch
over you, but II you die in your at
tempt you VIII 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 man dressed
as a shepherd found access 20 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 shogun.
This man." said his captor. ''is no
BILE who supports the miNado 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 himY
"Crucify him. said the shogun.
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, "and tell your people that
we have supplies to last several weeks
/ will spare your life"
"That 1 will do said the other.
"My ancestors call to me to stand firm
and they will receive me at my death
! joyfully, but / have a wife and chill
dren In the mikado's camp, and am
loath to leave them for my ancestors,
whom reverence greatly, but have
never seen. / am so weak as to pre-
fer my wife and little onesF
go, then; tell them what have
said TO you. and l will in time return
you to those you love-"
The spy was conducted to the wall
and stood upon it, the soldiers Of the
shogun keeping in the background.
He signaled the besiegers toGome
near that he might speak TO Them.
So they all drew as near as they
dared, the family Of the spy coming
with the others The spy stood look
ing at them benignly as they drew
near and saw his wife and little ones
looking up at him anxiously, knowing
that he must have been discovered by
the besIeged people and that a great
crisis was at hand.
The shogun sat I'm the center Of the
fortress, rejoicing that he had found a
means of deceiving his enemies and
sending them of when near the ac
complishment Of all they had been SO
long striving for. About him stood his
soldiers waiting to hear the spy tel
his people Of the abundance Of sup
plies there were in the fort.
Then the SPY raised his hand fol
silence and said to them:
30 my people. have examined the
supplies that there are in this for
tress. and there are but enough TO last
two days"
A thousand spears were hurled al
him. and he fell on the wall.
80 my people," exclaimed the mi
kado, "our ancestors are taking hin
10 their bosoms."
V,ban ba eava ordoro 20 ,,,o,,o ~, Al,