Show The Lord of Thunder Gate By SIDNEY HERSCHEL SMALL Copyright by The Tb Bobbe Co Ca POOR BOB BOBI SYNOPSIS In In a low drinking i place In the Japanese town of Kayama dl dissolute son eon of the wealthy Aochi Lord of or tho the Thunder Gate Oate bouts boast of a gIrl he heie hela la Is to tt purchase e with gold stolen i from hi hIs hi father Following a fight In the place a R. drunken white man speaking perfect Japanese Jap Jap- anese Is left Idt clou Kayama Kaya Kaya- ma dreading his hl father anger sees a way of ot esca escape escate e. e He lIe changes change clothe with the unconscious I d white while man to whom he bears bear a remarkable resemblance leaving a note of ot explanation Leaving Kayama Karama Is robbed and slain The white while man as all Kayama I Is Ie taken unconscious to the house of Ills IIII name Is le Robert nobert Well Wells Well Wells awakens bewildered but to familiar scenes In house almost from coin age does not perceive the deception j k lIe He had determined his hie unworthy eon son should be put to death but Wells Wells' deportment leads him to think a reformation Is la possible Aochi dies dIe that day Wells finds Kayama's note and under understands Priests Priest remind him of at a bargain he has made to buy a girl He lIe goes grots to the temple and anti purchases the girl to all appearances appearance white while though the priests assure him she has Chinese blood She tells him she Is le white all while all white white and and begs beg him to spare her The narrative narrative nar nar- goes back to Wells Veils youth motherless son eon of a missionary In a Japanese e village Ills IUs father tather sends the boy to America to tobe tobe tobe be educated James Jame Sanderson wealthy San Francisco contractor tor welcomes the boy his sisters sister's son lion In college Bob Dob does doe well but Is i. considered wild Wells meets meet Alberta Hayward daughter of ot his uncles uncle's former business partner and Is Im pressed She She Is sa really In love with Raymond naymond Williams but seeing Wells Well as a. his uncles uncle's heir she ahe flirts flirt with him while scheming scheme schem ing lug with William Williams to encompass his bill down downfall tall CHAPTER CHAPT R V V Continued 7 7 She unclasped her hand from his and twined the fingers together rough rough- ly Itay we we ought ought- to gather the roses or roses or was It primroses or violets while while we may Time does fly It Tt Isn't yesterday or yesterday or doesn't seem one bit longer ago that ago that Uncle Sandy promised you a n position with him and then some flame day after we were wre married you'd be head bead of the company company com corn pany puny It was w wonderful ni Hay boy y dear For Fr Id I'd have boe been heen now I dont don't know I start start with the Sanderson people I Ins ns as soon ns as I have m my degree Just n few months more Didn't I haven't ent i I done good work Wont Won't I d n d-n n nIt It ft It at ot the rate rote Wells Is going hell he'll be busted out out and oncI then then then- I She pressed his hand to her cheek and end n a tear made n a tiny warm wann streak across one of ot his knuckles I For heavens heaven's sake I I l he said the matter Berta 7 Everything's Every Every- I i things thing's going to be all aright right I know know know-I I know know It wit will be she as ns assured him quietly In tones lones that belled the expressed emotion It It must be te sweetheart Ive I've had hud all oil my hardtimes him hard times make moke It easy for me now a aIll nn Hay Ill 11 find n a way Williams told her grimly Ill 11 find a wa way Berta nerta He was so earnest In n this title that she he was surprised and nn Impressed Evidently Evidently Evi Evi- I dently he had 11 a deep I seated deep plan she had a vague ague momentary vision Islon of n a dominant Williams She spoke Involuntarily Imol In a lowered voice olce with deference def def- erenee What Is your plan pIon dear Williams stuttered I haven't one one yet he answered la Ia confusion Buck Back Into her eyes yes came clime that question question ques ques- tion of ot Indecision DO no visible I so O readable readable read read- able that Williams pulled her to ber tier feet teet and stepped close doe See here I he s' s You Iou owe me mean menn menn I I nn an explanation i What That explanation Whether Im I'm being made a fool of That's what I want to know l I Alberta shook her head hend despairingly despairing ly Iy seeking for tor outlet Dont get so excited nay flay There Isn't any need really Excited I 1 he shouted Do you youland stand land there and say that Im I'm excited I never ner was calmer In my tny life Im I'm Imperfectly Imperfectly perfectly cool He looked very handsome to the girl Ills His fare face was flushed slightly II and nil lifting her fare face close to his for tor forthe forthe the shortest possible Instant she e III-e him a look half loving half defiant but so utterly adorable that he forgot his Ms question and demand forgot an RII aswell well that but hut for Alberta there have been no future with the Sanderson San an- an derson outfit forgot all nil as ns did she save that they were close together toa In to Inn Inn n a haven of ot trees In th the midst of inov moving ing reflections of fire where the lowerIng lower lower- Ing sun struck truck In between the leaves He lie felt no high and mystic emotion for her She was his girl and some lome someday someday day day he eyes Ies of the two met and then their lips lip Forgive me for making such a arow arow arow row he be sold said v very ry gently Ive r been terribly upset You know how I Itrel feel trel about y you u. u Dont Don't you TOU dear She nodded but did not move or speak peak only stirring In his hll arms He lie became jubilant end and laughed triumphantly I Tru T n At t ii rn to k kt ks Insisted That you know Ray flay dear But nul we mustn't she ehe faltered then went on firmly we let a soul poul Know It Not yet Promise I dont don't promise You rou dot dol do I Dont Don't you Well All of Williams Williams' final protestations that hat he lie knew of the way never overcame overcame over came come his moment of ot Indecision when he had admitted that he had no nn plan True rul Alberta clung to Mm llIn w with passion passion pas ps- sion slon when he left for hi his Job In an Arizona canyon canon but having seen n how close Bob was to his Uncle Une Jim a R athing thIn thing not to be misunderstood although al nl- though she did not clearly see sm the outcome outcome out out- come returned from the station to gaze gate raptly into Wells Wells' eves yr-s rs ns h he e ex explained pIa plaited hied to 10 her the snaky motion of ot moonlight upon Japanese water Possibly Alberta was moved nicely upon an nn ordered considered course before the night was over oer Wells was wa In her ear of the day when together they would see the n first t blossoming bIos blos coming of the cherr cherry the flushing of the maple leaves Ipa-es In autumn Possibly also Wells Yells would not have waxed poetic If It there had not been ben a n subtle touch of a soft ort cheek brushing his The file Japanese do not kl kiss kills ss He lie had hod smiled nt at her timidly and found Cound nothIng nothing noth both ing lag amiss In the coo cool mouth that met his Ills o ow half V half Here was th the first actual feminine Int Intervention In his life lICe There had been the brown girl babies he be had rollicked rollicked rol licked with lie He had glimpses of hurrying hur r geisha or ne san but as he said to himself they Ihy were different Robert nobert Wells built up about and Alberta Albertn with rare rare dreams He lIe was unacquainted with the formalities formal tIes of ot engagement Since Alberta had said said Hint he lie must never ne-er breathe n o word word tint that was enough What difference tilt dif ference frence did It make 7 He Ile knew Sha Sli Sh knew He lie would have liked to tell Uncle Jim for he felt that his bIll uncle would be he pleased So So he e a contented himself with separated far passionless evenings from which he be was apt to depart with singing head and unusually ally excited eyes That Alberta and the lad were together to to- gether pleased Sanderson JJ He e rubbed his hands over It Here was a n match I Alberta was a greet great girl A fine tine girl A bit mercenary perhaps Her tier liking for Bob nob might be desire to feather her nest nellt But well nut well women were that tint way now And Andt It would be a n mighty good thing for tor Bob nob Alberta had am- am Shed She'd make him hew to the mark after the they were married Sanderson San San- derson hoped that they would be He lie found It difficult to reconcile lie the reports that filtered to him with Bobs Bob's actual work If It f they were ere true he would change all nil that when he got Doh Boh In the office offie After n nine-hour nine grind under himself or Gordon there would be no time for outside deviltry Couldn't blame the boy for that either Think of the years that hed he'd hedl been l caged c up In like ns nR not saying n a grace before menus meals while the food fond became cold eold and without a n white lad to pIa play with The stuff was there or it be been n a u sort lort of t dreamer reamer Instead Instead In In- st stead ad of ot n a live ll devil ile Aril Anti Bob nob wasn't one bit afraid to admit admit ad nd- mit what be hI had hud done Sanderson did not like to question him stion make lie lad Ind feel ted ns us it lie Ite were WE're being watched More than lion once he lie remarked that tint young Boh noh was ns the same ame as I J w ns 1 Yes 11 sir He lie even en tines does some orne of the very ery same orne tricks that I 1 did and recognized rec rl none of ot his own handiwork In them the o Wells Wells' letters from tram from his hi father arrived regularly upon upun each Inh It steamer They were curt They hoped that w was ns applying himself That hEI be hE would cn cause cause h his uncle nn no and I no re That at lit all nil times h he ren ember the debt which he owed to Tn iii ills his s mothers mother's brother and If It occasion presented pren tl lf that he attempt to repay In this title great debt dehl As for tor Doctor Dotor Wells Yells at nt the dose close of each letter let Id letter ter he be said tint that he be thanked 1 God Gad that he remained well enough gh to attend to his duties Once sent flent a little brass pipe and red embroidered tobacco pouch This was her o h gift her last ns as well Misako had hall stepped beyond beyond be he- yond the outer circle of millet millet mil mil- let fields and und found rest in the walled Christian cemetery There was walt no break In the te letters to warn Wells The Tenyo Maru aru brought together with the usual cheap cave me lopp lope a pitifully box bux which Bob opened tint first In n It was 1111 a n collection o of books read rend and reread warped of ot cover by the damp dump beat an ornament cr r two that he remembered dimly as liS his 1 mothers mother's and a thin roll of minted minted minted mint mint- ed Japanese coins He had hod no need to open olEn the en fl ea- ea elope When en the butler Informed Sanderson Sander stun son that Mr was RS n his room but had not heeded the Ihl third summons for dinner he went up to the tower room One quick look showed the piled books u on I on the table where Bob Boh had hod arranged arraf and rearranged them m all unconscious of su such siKh h action atlon took tonk In ayes also the brooch which he himself had hall given Elsie so 10 many years ego ago B Beth l tat sat very quietly at toe tile table his hll hand lax upon It Sanderson op opened the tho envelope reading the scanty words God keep kep you OU PlY my son Robert for I fear that I Iam Imn am nun dying lIe He placed his arm awkwardly awk about Bobs Bob's shoulders Poor loor Bob Dob I Poor tell fellow ow I I l he whis pared rl And patted Bob nab repeatedly upon the shoulder clucking ducking audi halt bly bl- and nUll wishing for tor words which would not come CHAPTER VI Sanderson found his cigar ble tile the luncheon that should have hav brought n a feeling of Inner content seemed suddenly distressing lIe He waved wU a pencil at nt the man across the desk Be lie explicit Gordon Cordon Get down to cases You say the boy Is wild I admit It It but only after hours Have you rou ever had bad a man who ho carried out your jour our orders more minutely You have hn not nOI Does Bob know his business lIe He does loes We e all ha have e our flung fling Hell He'll stop top before he be burns bums himself out And It Is b not Interfering with his work Gordon Cordon In charge horge of construction construction- shouted his answer Granted Mr Sanderson I e e heard of his parties partie but I e never neer seen fleen him when he couldn't ride a beam to the fourteenth four tour Its It's that confounded who who the the the- h you h manner of hIs bis Im I'm com com- of I never saw Baw that manner That Is III qualifying not not so bad as ns you ou say It t Is You wouldn't Gordon fiddled with his cigarette before continuing lIe He makes the think they're I J guess The men hate hIm It slows glows up th thO work Ill tell him Sanderson promised vaguely He Ile found the lie telling not en so simple and fiddled for an nn opening He lIe liked liked loved the young youn devil He lie wouldn't hurt him for tor the world But nut Gordon Cordon was wall right Bob he began begun slowly what are you anyhow He lIe answered his own question An American Sure So SoIs SoIs SoIs Is every other foreigner after he gets his papers A countryman of ours I wasn't born here either Bob nob Meaning Uncle Unde Jim Workmen are hard to get Bob nob Go Co Goeasy eo easy y with them Wells stood up and waved a n grandiloquent grandiloquent gran gran- hand at nt an nn Imaginary la Is borer Ir II Please ose Pasquale It grieves grievE's me to point out that this bolt has been blen Insecurely insecurely Inse Insl drIven drUen I dislike mentioning It But lint It would cause nu e this he this he slapped the to wall to be weak enk That the tho building might collapse Is of small matter but I appeal to your our better feelings and love lo of ot humanity which should he be paramount to to- to Dont be funny Bob Im I'm serious Its It's bail bad stuff Wont Won't go Heard any complaints of the way I 1 work UN Ilia i uncles uncle's face tace tn twisted Isted In a wry smile the devil de of It It he admit ted If It you ou were ere falling down on omi the Job I J could get at you ou fast fat enough gh It If If It say y Bob Dob what have hn you oU heard beard the bridge Job Anything Sanderson's fine free lit with sudden Intention but Lout he waited for time the answer anwer From Iron what I heard Williams say Its It's the tile Job of t the he c century If It It were Id I'd send sold one of the older men Hob Bob Its It's Just an nn op open shat piece of and bridging with a 8 goodly bit hit of Qt In till here and there Like Mke Williams Dont know him ery very well lie He was wan wana wasa a o I senior when I IlOS was lOS entering A friend fiend of ot Albertas Alberta's I Isn't nt he This was said Id I with obstruction abstraction Then Sn Say Uncle Jim Jim Jim- Yes rt Bob nob encouragingly That country Is some pine rilar Goron that Garcia Is 18 Imperialist retreat imperialist retreat find and nil all tha that sort ort of ot thing In the old ohl da days s 's even en the missionaries were afraid of that neck of the woods wood Dont Don't hl blame me them touch much either From what nhat Ive I've heard when there wore Were other oth er missionaries visiting us at lit tine one or two Christianized Japanese fed the Hie th fishes up there OR as n sort of lesson to their masters Howd How'd you jou Oll ever everland everland land lond such n Job They arent aren't very Iry nuh nuch on the big white brother there Sanderson brings Bob and Ray together Do you see tee the possibilities pos POI ITO TO |