Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-09-25
The Death Stone
of Musu
THE Tale Has Served Its
Purpose"
By JESSIE |. SHARP

ONCld was CAC bGpoAASoO oAS "
tender blue. In the far distance the
snowy peak of Fujiyama seemed paint
ed against the horizon, and below at
the foot of the terraced hill the waters
Of the inland sea Tapped the silver
sands.
1t was all very beautiful, very peace
full, place to dream of love or
happy past or sweet, reckoning flu
ture
Yet Harrington stood there with
grim smile on his lips and murder in
his heart In the doorway of tiny
hillside temple his form bulked large
beside the small Japanese guide
You are sure?' he asked Taxi for
the third time that afternoon.
"Of a most positive sureness," re
sponded Taxi, also for the third time.
Harrington turned slowly and went
back into the temple. Six strides car
ried him across to the shrine with it's
image of the sitting Buddha. calm,
peaceful and remote in it's attitude of
meditation.
He did not look up at the image.
His eyes sought the small fat gray
green stone set in the exact center Of
the votive table. 1t was round and
polished as if with much rubbing.
IF you have lied to me. Taxi" he
said sternly to the guide, who had pad
ded softly in his wake. "it will go hard
with you. | am not to be taken in by
ordinary tourist stories"
THAT is a TRUTH" assured Taxi SOL
EMMY. II have myself seen it with
my own eyes,"
''Seen what?"
1.-THE action of the death stone. hon
orable sir
Harrington suppressed shudder
and his voice shook little as he mo-
toned to the Japanese.
.Go on. Taxi. Tell me about it,
Taxi drew long. kissing breath and
sat down upon his heels. Harrington
leaned against the votive table and
gazed moodily down at the green stone.
IA man from my village had an en-
envy. He wished him much evil. and
he persuaded his enemy to come to
Musu and to kiss the death stone; said
it would bring much virtue. The enc
nv kiss the stone and fall dead on the
table,
Harrington walked slowly to the door
and went down the crooked patti
among the cryptomerias. Presently be
came out on the seashore and made
his way toward the picturesque little
IAN where he had been stopping
His host came forward, rubbing hi
hands with i'll concealed pleasure.
my lord will not dine alone to
night" he said. smiling "Other Amer
lean gentlemen and ladies will homo
my worthless house,
Harrington smiled absently, and the
as sudden thought blazed its wa,
through the dark chaos of his mind b
asked abruptly:
.1These new people-what are thei
names?"
"Alas, it has escaped my wretche
memory" lamented Chenyo, but Oh
Is tall gentleman of reddish hair an
merry laugh"
"Grayson himself At last!' mute
ed Harrington. and he hurried away
his tiny room, where a servant was
waiting with water for his bath.
When he emerged an hour later
was clothed in spotless white. an
cool, refreshed and handsome. he W;
warmly welcomed by the little par
of Americans dining on the veranda.
"Dick Harrington, by all that
good!" shouted James Grayson, sprin
ing up and grasping Harrington's !
luctant hand. Priscilla. here is
old friend. You remember Prisci
eh. Dick?" Grayson laughed hearti
as his pretty wife arose and sho
hands with the grave eyed man.
Eyes. l remember Mrs. Graysol
rumbled Harrington's deep voice. a
the pretty color which had graced Pr
cilla's cheeks faded and left startl
pallor.
Priscilla Grayson had nearly low
Dick Harrington once upon tin
Then Grayson had come land swt
her heart into his own keeping. S
had never forgotten Harringtons VIII
hot anger. his bitter despair and
denunciation of Grayson. who seen
quite unconscious Of playing traitor
his friend.
Harrington had waited his til
Some day. he told himself. there wo
come the opportunity to pay ba
Grayson for his treachery. A kin
fate must bring them together. 4
then-let Grayson look out for hi
self.
So Harrington had nursed his hat
and jealousy through bitter year
restless wandering from one coun
to another. nowhere finding conf
or peace for his troubled heart A
weeks ago, when he first came to
pan. he heard that the Graysons W
in Tokyo. When Taxi. his guide,
told him the story of the death ST
Of Musu 1t had entered Harringtc
mind to lure Grayson here. and-w
the death stone would do the rest.
1t was something of shock for b
to find that the Graysons had come
Musu without lure of any sort ST