Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-01-22

Jack talked on for few minutes, be-
coming more and more unintelligible TO
Tan-Shiu, who watched the entire pro-
ceedings with wonder. but Helen seemed
to understand. although she cried softly
to herself long after he had gone.
Late that night she came silently. ali
white in the darkness, with tears still
in her eyes, very Lonesome and unhappy.
Its all because of the money!. she
whispered to Tan-Shin., ''all because
have it and he hasn't. And he might
have 1t If he wasn't SO silly and proud.
Still he does care for me. | know that
now and it's a great comfort, so you
must be a love-god as / thought. Why
couldn't he have had an Uncle Hora &C
For now the money has spoiled it all,
and I just hate it,
1t was quite beyond Tan-Shin's COM
prehension Certainly Helen had wanted
money. but the possession of ii made her
more unhappy than ever. Also. she said
that she hated IT, which was unique
condition that he could not conceive Of.
but-worst of all-it seemed that because
of the money she was going away. and
that meant much to Tan-Shin.
For the next two weeks he pondered
over the problem while Helen packed her
steamer trunk and prepared 70 leave the
studio for an indefinite time
The final day OF parting arrived, and
Jack. with a grave face. came for her.
Goodbye. my little god." she wills
rered softly to Tan-Shin; take care of
him for me while am away and keep
me always in his thoughts.
So she had gone. and Tan-Shin knew
that Jack would presently return alone
to take up his abode there. His reason
ing over the cause of Helen's departure
had led him to several conclusions and he
intended to profit by the experience In
the future. The money was without
doubt, the cause of all the difficulty.
Therefore, Helen's unhappiness and her
ultimate abandonment OF him were trace
able to his interference In her affairs.
But Jack had forced her to go abroad
and was entirely responsible for her
tears. Thus Tan-Shin concluded first.
that money and trouble were synonymous
in this strange country, and second that
he disliked Jack cordially. Then he re-
me mbered that Helen had told him in her
first conversation on the subject that
money would he Jacks ruin. Very we'll,
then, money Jack should have, And
the more miserable II made him the bet
ter Tan-Shin would be pleased. Money
with all its attendant difficulties should
pour in upon this despoiler of his shrine.
and Tan-Shin gloated over his prospec-
tive revenge.
There was only one possible chance that
these plans would miscarry In the event
of Jacks neglecting him or failing to
show tho&a he
useless. for il was necessary that the
recipient of his bounty should be a wor-
shipper Therefore. the god waited anx-
iously for the coming of his victim.
Jack arrived after dark and closed the
door behind him with bang She's
gone, little god,'' he said. gone, gone,
gone. and we'll be mighty lonesome with
out her.
Tan-shin. watching intently. saw Jack
take what he thought was a white stick
out of box and put it into his mouth.
Then he struck a match as Helen did
when she lit the gas. But Jack held
the light TO the white stick between mis-
lips for a moment and then blew it out,
so that Tan-Shin could only see a bright,
burning point in the darkness. Presently
Jack came over to the mantei. and a lit
tie cloud Of smoke enveloped the god.
Incense. was Tan-Shins first thought
His longed-for incense had come at last
and although ii was not the kind 10
which he was accustomed still it was IN
cense. He knew that Jack was worship
ing, and he sent out his occult vibrations
with all the energy of the old days In
China. Jack puffed away at the cigar
cite, talking now and then disconsolateiy
of the absent Helen or growing at his
poverty. little dreaming that Tan-Shin
was saying charms that would soon make
him prosperous
II was not until the cigarette had been
thrown away that the god realized what
had occurred This unexpected demon
stration on Jacks part had, for the mo-
ment, really put all thought Of retalia ton
out OF his mind. and he had worked his
spells quite mechanically. He was dis
concerted. therefore, when the truth
came 10 him that in return for this in
cense he would only he giving trouble:
but this did not bother him long, for.
being god of riches, and possessing con-
sistent attributes. he was. of course de-
ficient in gratitude.
He had used his most potent endeavors.
and knew that results might be expected
at once, SO he watched Jack open a Ie.-
ter on the following morning, grimly
pleased in anticipation of the results. But
Tan-Shin was hardly prepared for what
happened. Jack read the letter with de-
light. jumped TO his feet and strobe I'D
and down the room with every evidence
of keenest joy Then he stopped before
the mantel.
You foxy old god he said, irreyer-
emily. I've won the gold medal, and
that means money. You don't under
stand: no one would but Helen, and she's
gone. Pity that boat couldn't have
waited a day later. Never mind. old hoy.
maybe this luck will keep up and il IL
does I'll be going over there to bring her
back
In the three months that followed. Tan
Shin received almost oaily evidence of
his failure in the revenge that he had
planned Instead of the expected trouble
Jack seemed to radiate happiness and
went about his work singing or whistIing
the live-long day. Also he was very
busy. There were people coming con-
stantly to the little studio who would
sit patiently while he painted them: and
as each canvas went out Of the door
Jacks spirits became more and more
buoyant. Then. to Tan-Shin's utter per-
plexity. Jack made another revelation.
Only a little more now" he copfided
one evening during the incense cere-