The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1914-05-28
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TheDedthStOne:
of MuSu
The Tale Has Served Its
Purpose"
BY JESSIE |. SHARP

sands.
1t was all very beautiful, very peace
full. Il place to dream of love or a
happy past or sweet, reckoning fu-
ture.
Yet Harrington stood there with a
grim smile on his lips and murder in
his heart. In the doorway of a 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 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 its
image of the sitting Buddha, calm,
peaceful and remote in its attitude Of
meditation.
He did not look up at the image
His eyes sought the small fiat gray
green stone set in the exact center of
the votiye 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, lit will 90 hard
with YOU. | am not to be taken in by
ordinary tourist stories
THAT is II truth" assured Taxi sol
EMMY. Il have myself seen it with
nay own eyes.
Seen What%
THE action of the death stone, hon
orable sir"
Harrington suppressed a shudder.
and his voice shook Il 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.
"A man from my village had IN 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
my kiss the stone and fall dead on the
table"
Harrington walked slowly TO the door
and went down the crooked path
among the cryptomerias. Presently he
came out on the seaShore ana made
his way toward the picturesque little
Inn where he had been stopping
His host came forward, rubbing his
hands with i'll concealed pleasure.
My lord will not dine alone to-
night" he said, smiling. "Other Amer
lean gentlemen and ladies will honor
my worthless house"
Harrington smiled abseutIy, and then
as sudden thought bIa2ed its way
through the dark chaos of his mind he
asked abruptly:
These new people-what are their
namcs?"
ALIAS. it has escaped my wretched
memory" lamentcd Chenyo, but one
is Il tall gentleman of reddish hair and
merry laugh"
"Grayson himself. At last!' mutter-
ed Harrington, aud he hurried away to
his tiny room, where a servant was in
waiting with wafer for his bath.
When he emerged an hour later he
was clothed in spotIeSs white, and
cool. refreshed and handsome, he was
warmly welcomed by the little party
of Americans dining on the yerauda.
Dick Harrington, 10y all that's
good" shouted James Grdyson, spring
inYup and grasping llaTington's re-
luctanl hand. "Priscila, here is an
old friend, You remember Priscilla,
ell. Dick" Grayson laughed heartily
rs his pretty wife arose and shook
hands with the grave eyed man.
Yes. | remember Mrs. Grayson,
rumhed Harrington's deep voice, and
the pretty color which had graced Pris-
elias cheeks faded and left startled
pallor.
Priscilla GraysOn had nearly loved
Dick Harrington once upon time.
Then GraysOn had coue and swept
her heart into his own keeping. She
had never forgotten lIarington's white
hot anger. his bitter despair and his
denunciation Of Graysou, who seemed
quite unconscious Of playing traitor to
his friend
Harrington had waited his time
Some day, he told himself, there would
come the opportunity to pay back
Grnyson for his treaChcry, kindly
fate must bring them together. and
then-let Grayson look out for him
self
So Harrington had uurscd his hatred
and jealousy through n bitter year OF
restless wandering from one country
to another. nowhere finding comfort
or peace for his troubled heart. A few
weeks ago. when he first came to ia
pan. he heard that Che Graysons were
in Tokyo. When Taxi. his guide, had
told him the story Of the death stone
of Musu IL had entered harrington
mind to lure Grayson here. nnd-well,
the death stone would do the rest.
II was something Of a shock for him
to find that the GraySous had come to
MuSu without lure Of any sort save
the beauty of its sloping hiIlsides and
the exquisite pictures Of sea and land
and sky at sunrise and sunset, James
Grayson was landscape painter. and
Musu had drawn him to paint her
ioycllness