The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1911-03-24

long DefOre ne discovered tnaJ men
were watching him, ana he became
filled with fear. Why should he be
watched? Had he done a guilty
thing?
so greatly did the fear swell in
him that he decided to take the letter
back to the place where he had found
it, and drop it again in the road.
But when he got to the place and
looked for last time at the writing.
it give him such longing to keep il
that he thrust it into his breast again
and hurried back to his shop.
That night man came to see
Kimaga.
Are you Kimaga. the maker of
vases?' he said.
"Kimaga, all trembling, replied that
he was
Then said the man, I have come
to you with high purpose. You have
a letter which does not belong to
you. Give it to me-
Does 1t belong to you? asked
Kimaga. his desire putting armor on
his fear
=" That is not to be asked replied
the man. 4 am samurai For the
glory of Nippon you mus give me the
letter.
But Kimaga did not wish to let
the letter go. How do you know that
l have it,? he said. You have not
seen it,
1T is enough that l know said
the man. Three days l allow you. II
by then the letter has not been placed
on the altar of the war-god, in the
shrine of Samiya, then you will be as
sassinated
with that the man went away
'Kimaga was now almos' dead with
fright For the first day he did moth
ing but weep. The second day he put
on mourning and set his affairs in
order. The third day he held the let
ter in his hand for many hours and
filled his mind with the beauty of the
writing. He could not give 1t up.
Rather would he die. And at last he
placed it in lacquer box and buried
it deep at the foot Of the largest cher
ry tree in his garden.
HE arose to go back into hrs
house, an his head was bowed over
with terror You see, he felt that
many eyes were watching him from
the nearby walls, an he thought he
heard breathings and the whispers Of
, strangers What should he do nowr
He dare not advance; he dare not
stay where he was. So exceeding af-
Ct: hot he nod
, aloud From all about him came
groans that answered his. Once more
: he groaned, and once more his ears
| were filed with the answers.
: Then he took one step toward his
house Nothing happened. He took
| another step, an his knees they shook
l like the palsy. The breathings an
: whisperings seem, oh, so much nearer
t now. But he muster all his strength
y an put out his foot for the third step.
f 1t did not reach the ground before the
vengeance struck him.
: THE next morning his wife found
him dead. His head had been severed
/. from his body"
d The minister stopped and sat back
Ill HIS Cutu'
:. How awful" exclaimed the wom-
an who had asked for story,
, mot So" said the minister affably.
"In serving my country such things
>, mus be done. Kimaga should have
9 given the letter Don't you think SO.
G Mr. Orme?"
, The parable was quite clear to
Orme. He understood the threat
l. "In America" he said, drily, we
do not worship penmanship."
q But an American might for other
f reasons keep letter that did not be-
d long to him"
a Not if he was honorable. His
v natural course would be to see that
= it was delivered to the person for
4. whom it was intended. Certainly he
would not give it to any man who
could not prove his right to 1t"
r. Would he not? But If he were
n told that he mus die"
n In that case he would inform his
a friends of the threats against him.
. and they would see that his murderers
: we're hanged Assassination is not
q DODuldT III Au1Ol SASSAShSJ'
Orme did not attempt to conceal the
- contempt in his words, and several OF
= the listeners moved in their chairs be
. traying their embarrassment.
- Perhaps, then, Mr.. Orme," said the
= minister, "you could favor US with
- story which would show the attituds
- of an American in such fair.
" Orme laughed. oddly enough" he
replied. 81 can give you just such
u story-if you all care to hear it.
" go on" murmured one of the men
= 1T happened to friend of NINE
y said Orme. He had in his possession
~ a number of proxies, the use of which
- would determine the control o.
- a certain corporation. While he wa'
- carrying these proxies to the country
~ house of the man to whom he was &c
- deliver them, he was attacked by
: man who was acting for another rae
ton. This man secured the advantage