Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-02-01

The White
Lantern
How the Mystery
Was Solved
By CLARISSA MACkIE
By CLARISSA MACKIE

surely way down the crooked streets,
quite oblivious to the malodorous at
mosphere as well as the unfriendly
glances that met him in his walk.
Latham was agent for large firm of
tea importers, and this was to be his
last trip to China. Hereafter he would
be stationed in the New York office of
the company, and he was glad Of the
change.
This evening as he strolled the streets
looking for one that led down to the
rivers edge, where there might be a
Whit of fresh air to fill his lungs he
scarcely noticed the crowds that grad
ually filed the streets. Then the
sound of drums and the shrek of Chi
nese fiddles announced that some festi-
val was in progress.
Lighted paper lanterns appeared ev-
erywhere, and Latham was jostled to
and fro in the crowd.
AS he went he became aware of a
curious fact.
In the narrow street there appeared
among the gayly tinted lanterns one
of pure white paper. 1t was swinging
at the top Of slender bamboo pole,
and the man who carried it was
masked.
AS soon as the white lantern appear
ed a babel Of staccato yells arose from
the crowd, and they broke away to let
the white lantern have free passage.
Then silence fell upon the street, and
the masked man had the right of way
until he turned the corner and disap-
peared.
Latham asked himself the question:
What about the white lanternT'
and the spirit of adventure which was
ever with him answered. Follow It."
So ne fastened to the corner as best
be might, turned it and in the far dis
lance saw the white lantern making a
path for itself through this less crowd
ed thoroughfare.
He kept hundred feet behind the
pale bobbing transparency until it left
the windings of the city streets and
turned into a path that led into the
country.
AS he passed through the city gate
Latham felt a hand on his arm. The
gatekeeper-a fat, friendly looking
Chinese-pOinted after the white Ian
tern bobbing steadily away.
The American lord must not fol-
low the white lantern" he said in the
dialect Of the province.
Latham understood his words and
paused.
why nOtY' he asked curiouSly.
ut is not well to follow the white
Iantern,' persisted the other guarded
~. 1T leads to death"
why can't you tell me where it is
going and all about it," Latham Jug
gled dollar in his hand
The gatekeeper's eyes looked covet-
ously at the money, but he shook his
head.
Il cannot speak the name or it will
come upon me and my family for three
generations" he muttered But /
have warned you"
Il shall follow it, said Latham OBJ
stinately. And here's something for
your warning, man of impeccable con-
science" and he dropped the money
into the eager palm.
The white lantern was disappearing
down the farther slope of little hill,
and he had to run to keep it in sight.
The masked man was evidently In a
hurry now. for he was Fastening up
and down the little hills, lodging
around farm buildings, following the
meandering path along the rivers
edge and finally vanishing in the gloom
of pine grove.
Latham ran breathlessly among the
pines until the moonlike face Of the
white lantern appeared close at hand.
Now it stopped. as if its bearer was
aware of pursuit and was waiting for
the pursuer
Latham painted to a standstin be-
fore the masked figure
The white lantern was lowered IN
til it became a barrier between the
Two men.
stand backw said the lantern bear
er in English.
Latham, startled by the unexpected
order, obeyed
The glow of the white lantern shone
on the implacable black mask with it's
holes, through which sparkled glitter
ing eyes
Stand backr' repeated the lantern
bearer
"Why?" retorted Latham.
Because to follow me is to go to
horrible death"
Il would chance it," said Latham
recklessly, for ne had witnessed many
strange happenings in China, and his
curiosity was aroused by the incident
or the evening. LET me follow you,
stranger, and l will hold no man re-
sponsible for what happens"
The masked man laughed shortly.
Come, fool!'' he cried and lifted his
white lantern on high.
Latham followed, a strange depres-
sion seizing his spirits.
Was the bearer of the white lantern
some Ill timed jester of the evening
who would make sport of the foreign
devil: Was he the agent of some
dreadful secret society? What was he?
Latham was soon to discover.
de followed the white lantern through
the pine grove and out into a barren
stretch Of open country. Here was
desolatfon indeed. A few trees were
crowded inside of a rough stockade
and shaded some miserable little buts.
PLAINLY visible in the light OF the full
moon.
Inc white lantern bobbed over the
nliIocks until they reached a gate in
the stOckade.
The masked man turned TO Latham,
VINO was close at his heels.
Would you enter and face death?"
he asked.
Yes" said Latham. his curiosity
aroused TO its highest pitch.