The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1924-10-16
CHAPTER xVlll-continued.

had followed girls selfish thought
lessness and a mans equally selfish
carelessness. His finger nails Bit
against the arms on which they rested
Had the hands been exposed all would
have seen his agitation; at It was, nc
sign was visible; Wells voice was
steady, monotonously cadenced. his
eyes blank Of expression.
Each Of the listeners sensed that
this handsome Japanese was withhold
ing something. All were silent AL
berta shivered. Williams eyes blinked
uneasily, then opened wide with salts
faction. The japanese was furnishing
testimony even as Williams had testi-
fed as TO Wells downfall. Sanderson
made no motion; 1t was as II he heard
nothing. Ellen's eyes were carefully
yelled from Wells-she thought of a
lonely man, and was almost sure that
she knew who that man was.
1T is dreary tale but If it is per-
mitted | will continue. The man was
sorrowful, but-how do you say?-
unrepentant. I was thrown out like a
poodle sent 10 capture a fox, he told
me- They must have known that
would become of me-"
God help me, so | should. so
should" Sanderson muttered. "My
poor lonely lad"
One of Wells finger nails, more
brittle than the rest, snapped with the
sudden pressure.
"'Here is my name he said to me,
giving me bit of paper. In this en-
velope l received a message from the
girl l was to marry. She told me that
she never wished to see me again
That envelope l have already sent
you"
Sanderson's heavy brows drew
closer to his eyes. 'Berta wrote that
and yet he had kept the damnlng
photograph from her. She couldn't
have knOwn-why. then-he turned
toward her: you didn't tell me you
had written Bob" he accused. "Or
that you had heard from him. al
though / asked. You should have told
me-"
1T is doubtless matter of small
Importance" Wells interrupted slow
iy. He could feel the palms of his
hands moist against his arms, and
hoped that his forehead was not
beaded also. ut is great thing that
the man died"
"How did you have him buried? A
missionary of his own faith?" Sander
son asked.
II buried him with full ceremonies.
Every honor was given him. AS | con-
sidered that he had suffered much,
and wished recompense for him, l
recited the holy prayer, only used in
my family for those certain TO reach
the heavens: 'Saite yuke tOya. Ano
va wo saite.' That, honored sir. says,
Go forward, straight to the place thou
seest before thee 1t is to be hoped
that the place which the dead man.
soul saw was not heated. as your mis-
sionaries sayl Yohl the village still
speak of these hOnOrs, and marvel at
them. Never was a white man given
such honor" This was also true.
Wells thought. There was the great
funeral procession" he thought of the
two servants and himself climbing the
dim Road of the Aged Men. (which
wound its way up the cemetery
crested hill by the light Of paper |
lanterns. Look ! show you the wan,
dead CLEAN like the simmer of glow /
worms on black leaves The long |
train OF white-hOoded women. OF |
white-robbed. white girdled priests. A
troop Of ghosts. A procession Of souls. |
If the dead man did not attain harpi- |
ness after that, what hope would /
there have been even If ] had sum
moned missionaries"
There was pain in Sanderson's
eyes. Visible pain.
Very gently. Wells added an after
thought. "Some day later three mis-
sionaries entered my village" (true
again y "and came 10 see me
spoke to them Of the matter. not tell
Ing them any details. since il is well
known that missionaries do not under
stand worldly affairs. Doubtless they
made incarnation over the grave"
"You have been very kind" Sander
son told him toneiessly. "He-Bob.
my nephew-would have done the
same for you He was a gentle lad.
before
$50. After the ceremonies had been
returned 10 my house
Ny honored father. now happy at the
seat Of the sun. had many papers
which had not Investigated since be-
coming his successor. / did so now.
There were many rolls Of paper to
examine. I found two things which
amazed me, since I had heard from
the white man that he had been an
engineer al FushikL So amazed was
! that I must do honor 10 his grave
again. BY decking II with the white
flower Of the shikimi. and placing upon
Il sections Of bamboo filled with sea
water. since the man had come from
across The sea-"
He paused Oriental enough Now
for unadorned facts again