The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-02-17

f-l.TT = ~ w aa so.
"I'm going to get tliat idol"
there are millions in gold hidden In
the Master Key mine. and the plans
are concealed in that image"
"WAan will you have them?" she
cried, trying to fight against the mans
evil power.
Tomorrow" he returned.
Even if Dofr and 'Ruth"-
+ He nodded gravely. She read the
message in his eyes and shuddered.
Wilkerson laughed. He had won. He
had conquered not only the woman in
that moment. but himself.
He was ready to do murder deliber-
ately. without Il qualn; There had.
been born in him another physica!
thirst-the blood lust.
He left Immediately without uncov-
ering Ills plans. lie knew that the
final victory would not be won until
Ne could fill Jean Darnelrs soft and
avaricious palms with glittering gold,
heaps OF gold, gold that ran over, that
spilled in luxuriant streams over her
clItclling fingers: gold that rang under
her feet, that mounted like an envel-
oping flood about her till her flesh was
bathed in it,
That night he paced the floor of his
room, dreaming of gold and Of blood.
So the next morning when John Dorr
Jared forth on his quest for the rug
peddlcr Harry Willzerson was not far
behind him. watching his every move.
studying him. trying to read what was
in his mind. And all with the great
question before him:
Had John Dorr the idol?
While these two We're seeking cor
the strange image of an unknown god
there was Il third who had found in it
the goal OF his life's toll.
When God conceaIs himself from US
IN time of stress and agony. when he
has closed his brazen heavens and our
prayers die in the empty air IT. is hu
man to build for ourselves Il tangible
God, one whom we can see and feel.
into whose face we can look and be-
fore whose feet we can lay our offer
ings and our petitions.
In far city in India men had died
OF famine. The earth had turned to
iron under their piows and the heavens
to brass above them.
They had implored a hundred gods
for help and made offerings at a thou
sand shrines. There had been no re-
Spouse. The smoke of the burning
CHATS by the side Of the shrunken riv-
er told the sorry tale of prayer unan-
swered.
And in their last misery men turned.
as men will, to one who dreamed. Re
atty was death. Dreams held out the
promise of life.
And this dreamer, rs do all who fol-
low vision. made his dream into a
god.
People listened to his tale Of a deity
who was 'inarciful to listen and power
full to save. They fed on the dream
er's words and called him prophet.
Yet still the earth refused food. and
the river sh,ank within its bed. Then
they went to the prophetand called on
him to save them and toseall his god
to their aid
Like many prophets. eefound him
self forced to materiaiize his dream IN
order that the common folk might see
and believe, for lie had taught them
that unless they believed there was no
salvation.
How can we believe in a god whom
we cannot see.?" they cried.
II believe. though do. not see nor
feel" he told them. But they We're
not satisfied and menaced him with
death.
So he took metals and fire and made
an image of his god and made shrine
for it and set the image in the shrine.
where all might see and worship.
And the people prayed to this new
god and laid offerings ut his feet and
looked into his eyes and called upon
him to save them. as his prophet had
said he was able.
Thus, with the folk believing on the
god of his vision. the prophet prayed
also to the spirit Of the deity, and the
rains came from the hills, and the riv-
err rose, and the earth grew green.
When they had been saved and their
stcmachs were full the people went
away and left the prophet alone with
his god and his deserted shrine.
Yet always in time of trouble and
stress they remembered the god who
had saved them and returned to his
worship. SO that in season other proph-
cts of him arose and erected temple
and taught the people to bring offer
ings at all times.
Thus the image became the image of
the tutclary deity of the city and its
river with other images to do him
homage and obey his commands.
Centuries passed, and the god still
maintained his place. His priesthood