Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1924-10-15

The little devil-dispeller fell from
the keyhole as she opened the con-
Meeting door. Kayama had been good
to ker. She saw him lying gray upon
the bed
The Kayama she had known was
gone. The color of his face was that
OF old white wax; his mouth seemed
stretched to the cracking point; nei-
Their turned up at the corners nor
down, but a bleak slit Jagged across
his face. His eyes were closed. The
bandage had slipped away, revealing
nothing of a scar beneath, for the
wound had been slight.
For all the distortion of counte-
nance, he looked boyish. She searched
for any shred of reason in him, but
the deadly mask told her nothing at
all. Then his lips moved, and as
founded, amazed, she heard him speak,
His eyes, sightless with fever, opened
fastened upon her. In one hand he
held a samurai knife, very lean at the
blade.
What is it, Kayama-SanT Ellen
spoke first, in a whisper.
He croaked his reply. williams, ]
am going to kill YOU"
'Kill me, LordT
You sold me out. You loved AL
berta. You made me lose Uncle Jim's
respect. That's why you had me drink
wine and carouse with the Japs.
There can be no other reason. / am
not q FOOL
He sat up. His frame was shaken
as If with palsy. Tremendous effort
took him careening to his feet, the
knife In his hand.
She turned like a wild creature, wild
and blanched with horror. He was
mad! Ellen swayed, started to run,
entangled foot in her long kimono
and stumbled forward to stay herself
by the table. He followed her, blind
ly, instinctively. AS he touched her
arm, she turned to him a pinched face.
Wells looked at Ellen fixedly. Some
whisp of his inner rage caught light
from the silken touch. He gasped
supported himself against her and fell
headlong on the bed again.
Fever thoughts raced through Wells
unconscious mind: he called aloud that
some one must shout his name, re-
membering that thus the dying may
be held to EARTH for the fleeing soul
can be induced to return.
"Kayama-San," Ellen whispered.
This contented him, and he lay
quietly.
The girl tried to remember the
words he had used, all English words
but the terrible scene had driven them
far away. What, she wondered, was
Kayama afraid Of? There was some.
thing Why the sudden departure
the long silences. the avoidance OF
people on the ship, the bitterness
which, cloaklike. enveloped him?
Should she call the doctor? Xaya.
ma was sick. Seriously, perhaps. Yet
he feared people. He-he had pro.
tected her, from the priests and from
himself. He had been kind. He was
taking her to America Perhaps he
might even free her from this bondage
would she want to go2 Holly she
dismissed any suggestion that she
wished to stay with him.
Perhaps Kayama needed protection
Thus she might repay the debt. He
had-bought her with money. Sure
ly, by staying with him, when all
would know that she was In his state
room, she would cancel that debt
Then she might be free.
Kayama was alone. 1t was hel
place.
Wells puckered face twitched, and
his tight lips struggled together as Il
working for words.
The little cabin was very quiet
Ellen saw the shrimp's head slide
across the floor as the boat rolled
gently. 1t was ymbolic-Japanese
She shuddered.
A heavier swell touched the ship
regularly beating ocean-pulses; the
ship swung slowly, cradle-like. ElleI
opened the portfolio, that air nigh
| revive the unconscious man. Blue
sky, blue sea, welded together in the
white horizon.
How happy and content she might
have been, upon this summer sea
What did the mission women call it
Honeymoon. If only the man were no
Japanese.
Wells must have seen phantoms, fol
he was singing the bridegroom's eve
are married. married joyously! In
shrill, strident voice. Thus sing the
young men Of Takusaki, where Well!
! was born.
The noise brought to the girl thu
necessity for action. What had Isl
K'ung, the venerable Chinese foster
father said? eff sicken, little daugh
ter, summon the priests. Make th'
triple prostrations. Place food be
fore the shrine. Then, hurrying lest i
be too late, obtain the doctor at thu
mission. When the senses swoon ant
are eager TO depart, he has poten
spells to bring them back" The las
sentence she remembered clearly.
With elaboration she opened the
door that led to the companionway