Catoctin clarion., 1910-03-10
NO. 81.
A Japanese Spy
BY FRANK MARTINOALE.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

the adherentS or the mikadO ana the
Shogun the miiados troops were be-
sieging fortress which both sides
wanted.
But there is one matter Of impor-
lance concerning 1t that is pertinent to
this story. The mikad0's army WAS
very small. and Il fur>e Of the Shugups
was coming up to the relief Of the be-
sieged This fierce was eXl,e ted with
in a week. The success Of the mikadO
depended upon how long his epemy's
cupplies would hid out. If there
were enough FOR but few days the
besie1erS might remain and reap the
benefit uf their laborS If the provi-
sions should last longer than that they
would better be of before the relief
force came up or they might be over
whelned 10y supel ior army.
To know what supplies the defend
ers Of the fortress had would be OF in
eStimHbe value to the be,iegel. 1t
meant possible possession Of the
point of attack. and 1t meant Il pre-, Ell
tion Of Il possible humiliation Of the
emperor's army and the probable loss
OF his cause.
The devotion Of the Japanese pc PIE
under such circumstances is woI,-
der 1t Is that devotion viii h enabled
them to force a peace upon the rus
sian bear that had threatened II
walk all over" their little island and
take possession of 1t. Ii l.. that dev"-
tion that has enabled them to protect
themselves while cultivating the com
mercial methods of western civiliza-
ton.
There came noble to the mlkado
and said to him:
20 mighty emperor, 1t is on aC-
count Of your majestys 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 will observe for
how many days your enemies are sup
piled. and | will return and advise you
Of the fact"
II am well pleased" replied the en-
peror. that my virtues have produced
in you such 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 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 prOstrated himself be-
fore his majesty and turned and went
away. That same day man dressed
as 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 shogun.
This man." said his captor. "is 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 n shepherd and knows just
how many days supply we have ON
hand What shall we do with him?
"Crucify him." said the shogun.
With that they were leading the spy
i'm uyha hn
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
will spare your life.'
"That will do" said the other
my ancestors call to me to stand firm
and they will receive me at my death
joyfuly. but have a wife and chill
dren in the n,ikadO's' camp. and | am
loath to leave them for my ancestors.
whom l reverence greatly, but have
never seen. 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 the
shotgun keeping In the background.
He signaled the besiegers to come
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 great
crisis was at hand.
The shogun sat In the center Of the
fortress, rejoicing that he had found a
means of dece1ving his enemies and
sending them off when near the ac-
complishment of all they had been so
long striving for. About him stood his
soldiers waiting to hear the spy tell
his people of the abundance Of sup
plies there were In the fort.
Then the spy raised his hand for
silence and said to them:
20 my people. | have examined the
supplies that there are in this for
tress. and there are but enough to last
two days"
4 thousand spears were hurled at
him, and he fell on the wall.
20 my people," exclaimed the MI
kado. "our ancestors are taking him
to their bosoms."
Then he gave orders to move on the
= Asx,
couraged, gave way before them. so
It was not long before the conquered
people were sent to the bosoms VI
their own ancestors.
.