The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1918-03-07
A Mysterious
Burial inSiam
By WARREN MILLER


In Siam on the banks Of the
Klawng canal, not far from the city
Of Bankok. lived Lin Thai in a
matched house elevated on posts and
looking more like an antiquated barn
than anything else. One night Lin
Thai came home from gambling
house In Bankok-the Slamese beat
the Mexicans In gambllng-having lost
what little money he had. and settled
himself to chewing the betel nut be.
fore turning In on his straw bed.
While thus engaged, the Juice of the
betel nut dripping through the open.
ings in the floor, Lin looking through
the crevices In the back of the house,
uttered an exclamation Of surprise
and cunning satisfaction. His abode,
though n primitive one, stood In the
vicinity of the residence Of Thee Wan,
a rich ivory merchant. Lin had very
good eyes and could distinguish dis
tant objects with remarkable clear
ness.
He saw Thee Wan and his wife car
rying from the rear Of their house a
box just large enough to contain lit
tie child. Thee carried the box while
his wife held light. They took the
box to spot about hundred yards
from their house; Thee dug hole In
the ground; the box was placed in II,
covered with earth; then the man and
his wife knelt beside the spot, and
they said their prayers. This being
finished, Thee led his wife away, she
weeping as though her heart would
break.
Lin Thai was overjoyed. He had
often gazed upon the palatial resi-
dence of Thee Wan and cursed his
fate In having to live In such a hum
BILE abode as his own while Thee Wan
resided In such splendor. Lin did
not consider that while the merchant
had worked hard for his comforts, he
Uim) had spent his time gambling.
Lin had lively Imagination, and
evolved many explanations of the Sc
cret burial he had witnessed. This
was his favorite theory: Thee Vans
wife had an orphan nephew, a minor.
who would inherit large fortune In
elephants. The child had been under
the care of his aunt. To get possess
sion of the elephants, the couple had
murdered the heir and buried him in
the rear of their grounds In the dead
of night.
While Linn was asleep that night he
dreamed that Buddha had appeared to
him and told him that his theory was
correct, and directed him to send
message to Thee telling him that he
knew his secret and unless he would
send him hundred teBels (about S60)
he would inform the kings officers
that he had seen him and his wife
bury their nephew at midnight.
Now, while Lin had every conf
dence in his dream and in Buddha. he
would rather have examined the grave
himself and confirmed the theory. I'm
the grounds of Thee were
inclosed and guarded by dogs. Lin
would have poisoned the dogs, but the
dog is n sacred animal in Siam, and
Lin dared not commit such an I'M
holy act. So he proceeded more dis
creetly, obeying Buddha's instructions. I
and sent an anonymous letter 10 Thee
blackmail.
Lin waited a week, and receiving
no reply, he sent another message to
Thee, this time demanding a thou
sand tekels for keeping the secret. .
Since this produced no effect he kept
on sending demands, till firing Of
threats, he sent one more message
declaring that II was the last, and
hat If the money was not Immediate
y forthcoming he would inform the
kings judicial officers of what he
lad seen.
This, like the rest Of Inns mes
ages, not producing any effect, he in.
'ormed the kings chief prosecutor of
he mysterious burial and awaited the
'esult. He was soon summoned to
'ourt, where he told the whole story,
including the elephant fortune, which
lad been confirmed by Buddha In his
lream.
The king was very wroth when he
Ieard Of the elephants, for'hls majesty
Ias a clnch on the elephants in Siam,
nd II IS hands of by all others, He
ent an order FOR Thee Wan to appear
efore him and answer to the charge
hat had been made against him and
is wife. Thee appeared at the court,
nd begged that the king send his
chamberlain to his house; the grave
hould be opened, and the contents OF
he box exposed.
The same day the chamberlain, Thee
Van, and his wife, and Lin, with at
endants from the court, stood beside
he spot where the burial had taken
lace. The grave was opened. the lid
emoyed, and there lay the remains /
( a little monkey.
Thee explained that II had been
Ell OF his wife's, that there was no \
ephew, no elephant fortune; indeed,
nat Lin had coined the story out OF
Is brain.
Lin was taken by the chamberlain
, the king and the results Of the In
estlgatlon were given to his majesty
i'm begged TO be excused for making
mistake which was a very natural
ne. and the king might have excused