Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-05

The little Temple of the Sacred
White Stag was situated south of the
extreme end Of the English settle
ment and just outside the interna-
tional boundary line. This mada it
very convenient for its devotees to
visit it and sip their native wine in
its courts and settle their little ma
tive disputes without any interference
from the foreign police, whose views
on the drinking and gambling and
fghting question We're known to be
somewhat severe. 1t consisted of the
usual three courts with the surround
ing sheds and in front of the inner
shrine was the figure OF the white
stag bearing aloft on his interlocked
horns a handsome vase of old Picking
clofsonne. Over him We're large tab
His flesh is food! His horns are
medicine His tears are pearls"
1t was commonly reported that
business was not as thriving at the
temple as it used to be, and that the
income Of the priests was steadily
falling off. To be sure. two years
ago there had been a sudden miracle
and the Sacred Stag had been dis
covered shedding his tears of pearls
and these had been retailed at a high
for all bodily ills. but this had lasted
only few short weeks and now 1t
was becoming necessary again to ap-
peal to the miraculous to repleuish
the temple Golfers. This state of
things accounted for the secret meet
ing Of the five old priests one even
ing with "Old Nine Spot" the abbot,
presiding. A shrewd businesslilke fig
ure he was. bending over the tea
stand and smoking his little pipe:
clearly the. three rows of the nine
burnings of the moxa at the time of
his taking his vows.
Brethren of the order" he said,
the time has come for serious action.
The cash boxes are lower than they
ever were before--a miracle alone
can save us. What shall it be-"
well" replied Brother Two "it
must be something new and striking.
Our people are not as easily attracted
now as they were before the foreign
ers came. Let us take time and do
it we'll"
Our Sacred White Stag has wept
his pearls and shed his horns and cast
him now do something different from
them all. | have thought over it long
and carefully and have outlined the
great miracle in my mind-will you
hear it?"
Our listening ears bend toward
thee. in the pledge of secrecy" they
all answered as in one voice.
THE precious relic of the Dukes of
Loo which our Sacred Stag bears aloft
upon his horns is supposed to con-
AS the Book of Poetry says 'Heav-
ems crystal waters glisten on his
branches Well. let the vase of cloi-
some overflow in perpetual stream
and as the waters fall, into the bronze
basin at his feet. let us catch them in
little bottles of glass and sell them
for the cure OF all diseases Believe
me- this will be the grandest invest
ment we have ever made
1T sounds most attractive" said Old
Sn0t hnx mil NJ,
be carried out? How will You keep
the vase always full and OVERLOOKING
so that the people do not suspect the
TRUTH"
wonderful way. but and here he
we've shall need help
from some one that is without"
From without" they all cried in
'""'YSsx without that it is quite i'm
possible"
But can he be pledged to eternal
secrecy"
He divulges one word on the PEN
atty of his life!"
Shall we accept the plan of Brother
Three?' inquired the abbot.
All rose. and. slowly and reverently
bowling, gave the mystic signal of as
sent by raising the right hand and
moving 1T through the air in three in
terlocking circles. The meeting over.
they dispersed to the several duties
of the night.
Brother Three was very busy for the
next few weeks coming and going
from the temple at all hours Of the
day and night. Old Bon Lee. the egg.
peddler, who lived in the mat shed
opposite the temple gate. Thought he
saw him. always choose the nights
that were particularly dark and
stormy for his trips to town-and
sometimes he thought he saw him
BRING a mysterious looking stranger
with him--but he knew the priests
well enough to realize that they were
not like ordinary beings. and as his :
position at the gate depended upon
their favor. he did not question their
doings or talk Of them to STRANGERS
except Just once to a stranger who
kindly bought all his eggs for the day
ana asked him many questions about
the coming and going Of the priests d.
and who came there to visit them He
had seemed like visitor from anoth-
er province. for he spoke the local
tongue with difficulty. and his dress
was different from the dress Of those
who daily passed by the temple gates. .
But old Bon Lees memory was get
ting feeble now. and he forgot all
ABOUT the stranger in a few passing
days. - !.
Just across the line from the Tenn
pie OF the Sacred White Stag, and
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