The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-23

about us were giant trees, of that pc.
cuiiar growth one finds only in the
ages-cultivated gardens of old Japan.
Through the trees we could glimpse
trickling 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 | saw that his face was the face
of Kaga-Ichi
Greeting me with a 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 seen
| cry. Behind the shrine was a 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 clear, bright lantern light The
priest led Varnim just beneath an
| im1Op nf hrnnza fapinp tho dior
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 no
servant Kaga-lchi had a sister. When
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 and
became thy servant; also he married
thy servants sister. When he had
oelNeu III my muse lOT lHe space Vi
three years and thy servants sister
had borne him manchild one day
there came a letter and he disap-
peared
Most Holy One, it was well if it
pleased thee that thy servants sister
should die of grief, and her babe with
her; but it was not well that thy
mysteries should be profaned and thy
servant forget them in other lands.
We may shed no blood nor life; so
here Most Holy One, thy penitent
yields him to thy Justice"
The priest ceased and knelt on the
floor, his head bowed. Varnim seemed
with an awful horror. | followed his
gaze-and then | saw.
The hand of the bronze image had
risen. 1t poised in air an instant
then fell swiftly. The knife struck
Varnim, but he remained standing,
only giving low moan | was par
alyzed with horror
Then the arm was raised again,
slowly, remorselessly. But as it was
: about to fall, | came to my senses.
Selling dish of rice from the offer
ing table | hurled it into the bronze
eyes; there was a crash
And with cry | switched on the
electricity.
My brass cigar lighter had crashed
into the lantern and extinguished the
candle. Varnim lay by the fire, his
coat dabbled with blood, and by his
side queer bronze knife.
: He was only slightly hurt. Over a
cup of coffee he laughed at the whole
matter, although | saw that his voice
was not natural.
I'VE were both rather nervous" he
marked; you were hypnotized into
seeing that vision, and | was playing
with my knife when it slipped and
cut me and tainted. would not use
that lantern much, if | were you; you
seem rather susceptible to its influ-
ence.'
He was so evidently shaken that |
did not say that the knife in his hand
and that held ny the image were the
same.
Next morning | took one of the
candles 40 a chemist for immediate
analysis; he could give me none.
Opium, and some other drugs, he
found: but there We're substances that
could not be named. As was return.
ing home paper was thrust into my
hand. CHANGING at it. | saw headlines
or the strange suicide of Harold Var
MIN the night before at his apart
ments, No cause for the act was
known.
| am still wondering Dhether Kaga.
lchts gift was one of gratitude or
purpose. Some day | am going to
burn another candle