Charlevoix county herald., 1914-11-28

They would have to hight. And a
bomb would destroy the vessel as
though it had never BEEN"
Oshitu Kissed in annoyance. THAT
is the second time. Yamata, you
have mentioned the things by
name"
"But we are alone"
"Are we? We are fools not to
have made sure of that, Yamata."
Gafford had barely time to relax
himself on the Dunk before he heard
the mans feet hit the floor, and an
instant later the bamboo curtain
was swept aside.
"By the two swords of my father"
swore Oshitu. Look at this"
A ferocious note of menace
choked his voice.
Gafford lay still.
The two Japs approached his SIDE
and bent down. Gafford felt their
breath upon his cheek as they sought
to discover if he really slept. Pres
emily one of them spoke:
"Thcre is only one thing to do,
Yamata. If he sleeps we may leave
him and thank the gods that he had
smoked before we came. If he is
feigning-dead men speak little, my
friend"
Gafford thought fast. They would
test his apparent slumber, and his
was the task to make it seem gen
uine. Escape from that under
ground room was not to be even
considered.
Much experience had taught him
that person normally asleep will
respond readily to reflex irritation;
also that person opium drugged
reacts but sluggishly. He decided
that his course lay between normal
and insensibility, and prepared for
the ordeal which he knew would in
evitably come.
Oshitu and Yamata whispered to-
gether so low that he could not
catch their meaning. Then as he
Law with closed eyes and regular
breathing he felt one bare foot lifted
and experienced darting, lancing
pain. In dazed anger he realized
that the MAJ who held the foot had
deliberately slashed its sole with a
knife.
The moan which burst from his
lips was not all acting, but the eff
fort of will which held him from a
violent wrestling away of the foot
wa worthy of supreme self-control.
As one reused against his will, he
turned his head and half opened his
ewes. lake 'em away-please take
'em away ne begged in maudlin
fashion. He let his lids fail again
in simulated itupcr and drew deep
breath.
Inwardly he found his brain on
fire. For an instant he had looked
into the cruel, sneerinR face of the
man Oshitu, who bent above his
wounded foot with blood-stained
knife in his hand. 1t was the face
he had sometimes dreamed of find
ing in those days when he had hoped
that he might be able TO prove his
innocence.
Oshitu cast the foot he held from
him and addressed Yamata again.
"a sodden pig" he sneered. Lucky
for him that slumber wrapped him.
Come, We will 60"
Their footsteps moved to the doCr.
Gafford heard it close behind Them.
Bathed in a sweat of pain and I'M
accustomed self-control, he, moved
on his couch and sat dizzily up. He
lifted the foot and examined the
wound. The under side of the instep
was wickedly gashed. The blood
had stained the canvas of the couch.
Gafford whimpered in pain. A
sense of giddy sickness gripped him
and held. He struggled feebly to
reach his tray, and lighted the little
lamp he had accidentally extin-
guished while smoking his last pipe.
BY 9 great effort he prepared q
pellet of gum and placed it in the
pipe.
Through what seemed long minutes
he sacked hungrily at the mouth
piece until it ceased to give off the
least particle Of smoke. He was sick
and giddy and SLEEPY all at the saI4,e
time. His fingers relaxed on the
pipe, which fell to the floor. A great
lassitude laid hold upon him, which
he did not seek 20 resist. He seemed
to be floating softly away from all
conscious perception. In the end he
slept.
tContinued next week.