Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-03-18

are an invention OF karIOf, a Russian
Nihilist.
oshitu chucklcd "Thou hast said
It, Yamata," he said lightly. "Kar-
loft is apt to disappear. He came
from a Russian cruiser, as you will
remember. He Is doubtless reported
lost in action in his own country"
"And you are surc these things
are practical-there can be no mis-
take?"
"None. Personally Karloff has
demonstrated to me with a small
! one. The coming demonstration is
for the government.
"It, is wonderful" Yamata ex-
claimed.
'1t means that we hold the world
in our hands," declared Oshitu, with
his first trace of excitement. zone
will destroy the greatest ship afloat.
A dozen will lay waste city or an
initiate TN army. The yellow race
will triumph. Wha. cares Nippon
how terrible war becomes so long as
she holds the instrument of supreme
destruction
"There," said Yamata, "is your
cause of war, my Samurai. There
could be an accident. The Ameri-
cans fought quickly enough when
thew lost their Maine. If one Of
their vessels on frien'ly call were
to be Destroy"
"Or," interrupted Oshitu, "if one
Of their diplomats or high Officials
or member of his family should
drop out of sight"
"Excellencyw gasped the other.
"What dost thou mean?"
Perhaps" drawled Oshitu, ".'~u
noticed the cruising yacht in tie
harbor, my good Yamata?"
"Yes, saw it, as you suggest"
COR noticed the man and worl IN
who came from it this evening""
Them, too, saw, The girl is a
bah! Be still! The man is high
government official Of the Unit ID
States on a secret mission. + s
presence is not suppose to be
known here"
Yamata clapped his hands. "Wise
Oshitu! His incognito is his danger.
They would have to fight. 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 bunk before he heard
the mans feet hit the floor, and an
instant later the bamboo curtain
was swept aside. s
"By the two swords of my father!"
swore Oshitu. "Look at this"
y 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
entity one of them snoke:
There 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 mcn speak little, my
friend" .
u Gafford thought fast They would
test his apparent slumber, and his
was the task to make it seem gen
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 a 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
evieably come.
Oshitu and Yamata whispered to-
rether 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 man 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
was worthy of supreme self-control
AS one reused against his will, he
turned his head and half opened his
eyes. "Take 'em away-please take
'em away" he begged in maudlin
fashion. He let his lids fall again
in simulated stupor and drew deep
breath.
Inwardly he found his brain or
fire. For an instant he had looked
into the cruel, sneering face Of the
man Oshitu, who bent above his
wounded foo. with a blocd-staineC
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 CO."
Their footsteps moved to the door
Gafford heard it close behind them
Bathed in a sweat of pain and un
accustomed self-control, he movet
on his couch and sat dizzily up. HI
lifted the foot and examined tn
Ias 1nssuan...s