The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-04

about rs we're giant trees, Of that Pc
culiar growth one finds only in the
ages-cultivated gardens of old Japan.
Through the trees we could glimpse q
trucking silver cascade, leaping down
the hillside, from terrace to terrace.
Suddenly Varnim gripped my arm; he
seemed all atremble. Descending to-
ward us was a priest, and as he drew
near l saw that his face was the face
Of Kaga-Ichi.
Greeting me with slight smile. he
then addressed varnim in the most
fluent English.
Hast thou come for expiration,
brother?"
For expiation. brother" echoed
Varnim, DULY. His face was drawn
and gray.
Turning, the priest led the way. We
mounted the foot-worn stone steps in
silence, and at the top found a long
avenue. This terminated in one of
those ridiculously small shrines which
are the central point of miles Of ap-
proach, terrace. and wonderful seem
cry. Behind the shrine was low
stone building, and this, it seemed,
was our goal.
We entered In silence unbroken.
The place was shrouded in heavy cur
tains, and the small room was filled
with a clear, bright lantern light. The
priest led Varnim just beneath an
image of bronze, facing the door.
was unable to recognize the god, but
it was one of great antiquity, and held
bronze knife in its outstretched
right hand. The priest addressed the
image, still speaking in perfect Eng
lish.
Most Holy One, thou hast com
manded that thy servants shed nc
blood. 1t is well. Ten years ago thy
servant Kaga-Ichi had sister. When
a foreigner one day would have pro
famed thy temple, thy servants sister
saved his life from the fury of many
men. But this stranger lived in the
land, and he acquired our customs ant
became thy servant; also he married
thy servants sister. When he hat
served in thy house for the space o
three years and thy servants siste
had borne him a manchild one da.
| there came a letter and he disap
| peared.
Most Holy One, it was well if
pleased thee that thy servants siste
should die of grief, and her babe will
her; but it was not well that tn,
mysteries should be profaned and tn,
servant forget them in other lands
We may shed no blood nor life; s.
here Most Holy One, thy peniten
yields him to thy justice"
The priest ceased and knelt on tn
floor, his head bowed. Varnim SCENE
as one stupefied, but his eyes file
with an awful horror. followed hi
gaze-and then l saw.
The hand of the bronze image ha
risen! 1t poised in air an instant
then fell swiftly. The knife struc
Varnim, but he remained standing
only giving low moan. was pa
alyzed with horror.
Then the arm was raised agar
slowly, remorselessly. But as 1t wa
about to fall. came to my senses
SEEKING a dish of rice from the offe
ing table / hurled it into the bronz
eyes; there was a crash
| And with a cry l switched on tn
electricity.
My brass cigar lighter had crashe
into the lantern and extinguished tn
candle. Varnim lay by the fire. hi
coat dabbled with blood, and by hi
side queer bronze knife.
He was only slightly hurt. Over
cup of coffee he laughed at the Who'll
matter, although l saw that his voic
was not natural.
I'VE were both rather nervous" b
marked; you were hypnotized int
seeing that vision, and l was playiH
with my knife when It slipped an
cut me and tainted. / would not us
seem rather susceptible to its inf,
ence."
He was so evidently shaken that
did not say that the knife in his han
and that held by the image were tn
same.
Next morning l took one of tn
candles to a chemist for immediat
analysis; he could give me non
Opium, and some other drugs, b
found; but there we're substances tn,
could not be named. As l was returl
ing home paper was thrust into m
hand. CHANGING at 1t, saw headline
Of the strange suicide of Harold Va
MIN the night before at his apar
ments. No cause for the act VIZ
known.
, am still wondering whether Kag
, Ichi's gift was one Of gratitude, or
, purpose. Some day am going
burn another candle.
Frankfurters and Pride.