The Glenwood post., 1924-06-19

When She mad returned TO tno mouse
Wells ran his fingers through KayA-
mas pockets, through the pockets Of
the suit whtcn he had worn-and won
dered how aIlayama would have treat
Cd him had he continued to wear tie
suit and Kayama were standing above
him-found, in watch pocket. q crum-
pied bit Of envelope, with the name
and address Of Robert Wells written
upon It. Here would be proof. He
folded 1t carefully, and tucked 1t into
the sleeve Of his kimono. Hf
The path which leads to the shinto
cemetery is dignified with the name
of the Road of the Aged Men. 1t is
SO narrow that one can, by extending
his arm. reach from houseside to
houseside. Pine torches are fixed firm
ly in the ground before each home to
guide the ghosts of the departed past
the novels. so they do no damage to
the occupants.
Wells and two servants carried Ka-
yama-San slowly up the path, the
servants chanting the first song for
the dead
So Kayama-San, Lord of the Thun.
der Gate, found his proper and conse-
Grated ground, above which religious
ly prepared and blessed food awaited
him. for the Hungry Hours
Wells returned. after warning the
servants to say nothing. by way of the
temple. He read the placard-a thou
sand yen-dead or alive-five feet, ten
lnches-inform James B. Sanderson-
read 1t through to the end, and re-
turned to his home very much ab-
sorbed.
Here was the way. A heaven-sent
opportunity. He would return as Ka-
yama, as he had always planned. but
instead Of forcing himself into &C.
quaintaAce with Sanderson, he could
come as gueSt-he saw it all clearly.
Kayama was dead. He might leave
Ellen here, safely. What could hap
pen? Nothing. She would be safe.
The servants would heed her every
wish. She could not, conceivably, run
away; departing, she would be re-
turned. He smiled at his own thoughts,
knowing that he wanted her near him,
with him, and would want her so al
ways.
But should he take her with himf
Suppose that Williams met his state
ment and what little proof he had with
manufactured contra-proof7 Suppose
that his Uncle Jim wouldn't believe
him. Wasn't the presence of the girl
almost verifcation Of the fact that
Bob Wells had been carousing in
Japanf It would make matters more
difficult, perhaps. 1t shouldn't, though
Any one could see the sort Of girl
Ellen was.
Should he tell Ellen? What, then,
If he were unable to convince the home
people Of the crime to which he had
been subjected? Could he convince
her? He wouldn't want her to know.
Why -. why not leave her here. He
might send for her later. Or get her
himself. Or. If the matter ended as 1t
shouldn't-he could return to her E.
she was his wife!
He refused to permit himself to
think of that. He must prepare the
Homecoming first. There was no time
to waste-he wanted II over. He need
ed certain number of days, to pre-
pare to leave, to arrange the affairs Of
the house so that If he did not return
If Kayama did not return-all would
he well nevertheless Ellen /. :.
Ellen =. he threw the thought Of her
from him.
The house was very still as he be-
gan his task. Wisely, he determined
to write in Japanese. knowing that In
depreciation would be simple affair.
written by Kayama, Lord Of the
village Of Mitaglri and of the house Of
last frost with the assistance of the
Twelve Divinities Of Ink.
"The recompense of Immortality
has descended upon the man whom
you are seeking. AS lord Of the VII
lage, have seen that this man was
buried. have since granted him all
Of the Forty-seven honors. There then
appeared upon the wall Of the temple
of Mitagiri your desire to be possessed
Of this mans body. I Knew 1t was the
man by reason of his name upon pa
per. which priest translated for me,
and identified. Therefore l have
brought the man above ground again,
and surrounded him with many flow
ers, the ghosts of which will keep
away evil spirits. send this paper
to you.
"What Is your desire regarding this
man? Until your honorable word is
received. we will keep this Robert
Wells"
Wells grinned as he painted the
characters, Sin that condition which
we found him." He closed the letter
briefly.
SHOULD you express the wish that
he be returned to you. I will pray that
the spirit Of the Wind follow after
him. quickening his flight"
.
Sanderson listened to the interpre-
ter's literal translation. 1t was not SO
clear to him as Wells had imagined.