Charlevoix county herald., 1915-01-16

| beSeech the gods tnat III Will not
come. | myself am man of peace,
content to burn my charcoal and sec
my daughter married and go to the
gods when my time shall come.
"When we fought with Russia j
saw what war meant. Nippon will be
long in regaining her loss even
though she won some miles of land.
Still, the tax-gatherer levies war
tax on my earnings. Our mothers
still grieve for the sons who came not
home. The whites say that we grieve
not because we do not weep. They
are wrong. Our children are our chill
dren, the same as theirs. | have had
children and | know. | had son
and | gave him to Nippon. He was
one of those who came not back. 1t
was for Nippon, and / do not re-
pret: but | miss the sound of his
voice, and | walk not so straight as
did. We lost many young men, and
her young men are nations
STRENGTH. 1t is for that that | curse
this new town in the valley on the
mountains other side"
at is for what ?" the stranger in
quired.
"They make strange things there
if one believes gossip" said Shikoku.
"There is a strange man who is the
spirit of the place. Things born in his
brain are constructed in that valley.
They are things for use in war"
"Nippon must be prepared" adj
monished the stranger with a voice
which quivered.
nippon should study to create, not
plan to Destroy" Shikoku replied.
ave have learned much from these
hated whites. We should be content
to accept and profit thereby, and so
make Nippon great"
"Yet if the government should de-
eide on war;" the stranger ques-
toned.
AL! Aiw crooned little Shima from
beyond them. She began to sway her
self to and fro.
"See! said Shikoku; "she remem-
bers the brother. She fears for war.
There are many who do so. The gods
will destroy those who seek to shed
more blood"
He rose and stood almost erect, his
grizZled face thrown into highlights
by the flame from the furnace. He
stretched out an arm and swept it to
the south and east. "a curse will fall
upon them-persons of selfish pur-
pose who seek to shed the blood of
their fellows, to salty their selfish
greed. Our young men nave left the
TEMPLES. Their little bells toll in vain.
Our people heed not the call, but the
gods are not dead. They are watch
ing. Woe to Nippon unless her peo-
pie heed the call in timel We have
grown a headstrong race, pulled up
in our passing pride. Stranger |,
Shikoku, tell you there will be no
war" He ceased, and, squatting
down, reached for another cigarette.
Yet while he had spoken it had
seemed to the other that his voice was
the voice of a prophet. His heart
throbbed at the mans words, and
after he had fallen silent he sat for
some time without speaking; then:
"The gods send you are right" he
said.
Shikoku nodded and rose stiffy.
"Come he invited. 81 am an old
man and | grow weary. Shall we
rest %
"By your courtesy, yes" accepted
the other, and followed his host.
ShikOku led him to floored cham
her IN the hut, spread a mat on the
floor, and laid down the wooden head
rest.
at is my sons room," he said soft
ly. "The Gods send you dreams of
comfort" He bowed and retreated,
sliding the screens across the open
side.
The stranger stretched out on the
mat but he did not sleep Lying
alone in the dark he fell into train
of thought. The talk with the char
.ccal burner had both moved and re-
assured him.
The man had talked to him from
an open soul. He Rad not suspected.
OF so much Gafford felt sure. More
tina that, he had told him what he
wanted TO know, which was beyond
doubt that he was headed for the
right place.
In the dives of Kobe, as a strange
coolie, he had picked up stray bits
of gossip during a long day after
he had landed from the yacht. That
landing had been far down the road
stead in the dead of night. From
the spot where the launch of the
Nantucket had left him he had
reached the city on foot.
He had money, and he spent it
with discretion. More than once he
blessed White Rates sacrifice.
Drink loosened tongues, and he had
learned, as he hoped, that there was
place somewhere back of beyond
where a new town had been estab-
lished. He had also gathered that
4 spur of railroad had been run into
the hills TO the place.
If his suspicious were correct he
felt certain that something of the
sort would have been done in order
TO transport material and supplies.
AS result he felt certain that he
was on the track Of what he sought.
Of Oshitu or his captive he heard no
word, and did not inquire.
Something told him that he would
find them at the birthplace of the
blue bombs. That night he slipped
away and set out. He might have
followed the railroad, but elected
not to, for the simple reason that he
sought to avoid observation. He
deemed il better to walk openly
along the road, in the part of
coolie, going somewhere or any