Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1916-02-16
Latham was soon to discover.

Il
lesolation indeed A few trees were
crowded inside Of rough stockade
| and shaded some miserable little huts.
| plainly visible In the light Of the fill
| moon.
| The white lantern bobbed over the
hillocks until they reached gate In
| the stockade
The masked man turned to Latham.
| who was close ut his heels.
would you enter and face death p
be asked.
YES said Latham. his curiosity
aroused to Its highest pitch
"Foolr' laughed the other and. slip
ping inside the gate. barred 1t securely.
IF you have no care for your life
| viii save 1t for you" He blew out the
white lantern. and the place was bath.
I'd only In the cold moonlight
Specifies with surprise. John La
than leaned against the stockade and
looked through at the trees. the little
dark huts and the form Of the masked
man who was striding across the yard
He paused on the threshold Of the
largest hut. waved a pale hand and
| vanished.
Utter silence reigned over the place
| There was not the bark Of q dog or
| the stirring of fowl. and there are few
places in China where chickens are not
underfoot and disputing the right Of
way.
I'm wait until morning II necessary.
but I'll pierce the mystery Of the
| white lantern" muttered Latham as
he withdrew to nearby tree and sat
| DOWN with his back against It.
The night was warm. and be soon
slumbered.
| Morning dawncd family in the east
A red ray OF sunshine awoke John
Latham to a bewildered sense Of the
events Of the night he rubbed bis
eyes sleepily.
| Within the stockade there was
stirring Of forms. Some hobbled fee
bly, to the shade Of the nearest tree
and covered there. Others limped
woefully about In miserable silence.
while others gathered In groups and
ate ravenousiy. snariing like dogs
while they ate.
Gradually latham got upon his feet
a great dread In his face. Nearer.
nearer. be drew. step BY step. to the
stockade. where a dreadful face peer
| ed at him through the palings.
| A face that was a mockery-a mtx
ery--an hhuman horror.
Latham launched wildly. and the face
vanished-
He saw the tall form Of the lantern
bearer striding across the yard He
was clothed In long white linen coat
such us surgeons wear. aud on his
hands were white gloves. He was
still wearing the mask Of the night
before
He came straight to the stocknde
and. gripping his hands upon the pal
mgs. he asked abruptly:
My God. man. can't you stay
away9"
"You are an American" was La
tham's surprised reply.
Yea" The other drew a deep
breath And you-what are you do
Ing here In This place Of pestilence and
death? Did you come across the world
to tempt me to revenge myself upon
you for stealing the woman loved Z"
he ended fiercely
| Latham cried out sharply.
Only one man In the world could
reproach me that way" be breathed
heavily
Il am that man!- declared the other
u am Clay FOSTER
Clay Foster-youi You are here
here In this leper colonyT' painted La
than -You-yOu the brilliant young
physician who had everything In life
Everything save the woman l low
ed" was the grave reply Il can bring
my skill and knowledge here among
these unfortunates. can do good.
What more can ! ask?'
Lathams soul was wrung with re
morse
And II was In your power to visit
death upon me- he said slowly. when
saw you with your white lantern of
warning that u ieper was coming
Through the streets--w hen l saw you
little did ! guess your identity or the
Significance Of the white lantern.
Il was attracted by an element OF
adventure. and followed. wanted
10 follow you In here-among these,
And You. whom had wronged. you
prevented me. Clay Foster. you are q
great mana man indeed"
He bowed his head against the pal.
ings. and the man who had devoted
his life to the comforts Of leper colo
ny In the heart Of China looked at him
pityingiy. as looks one who has out
grown the insignificant things OF life.
who knows only OF the magnitude Of
sin and suffering and offers up his life
to allay 1t,
DR. Foster spoke again: you had
better go how. Latham Remember
me to old friends back In the world
I