Show Tie he Lord of Thunder Gate By SIDNEY HERSCHEL SMALL Copyright by The Merrill Bobbs-Merrill Co I I BOB IN AMERICA ERICA In In a 3 low drinking ce In the Japanese town of or girl Kayama dissolute son the wealthy Lord of ol the under Gate boasts of or a girl he het heto heto t to purchase with gold stolen Following Following- a ait m ni his father at it in the place a drunken Ito lite man min speakinG perfect Jap- Jap se 5 se Is left lert unconscious Kaya- Kaya dreadinG his fathers lathers anGer la rn way a of Jr f escape He changes dies thes with th the unconscious lie Ito man to whom he bears a a resemblance leaving Leaving LeavinS' ote tote of or explanation yama ma is robbed and slain The Ite man as Kayama Is taken to the house of or hl hi His name Is Robert Wells us awakes bewildered but to scenes In s house hi almost sightless from age s Sr not perceive the deception had determined his unworthy I Should hould be put to death but Us Ili deportment leads him to toik tolk ik lk a reformation is possible hi hl dies that day Wells Yells finds Lamas rama's mas ma's note and understands nets remind him of or a a bargain bars has h-as made to buy a girl He Heto to the temple and purchases girl to all appearances white ugh the priests assure him she Chinese blood She tells him is white white all all white and white and s 9 5 him to spare her E CHAPTER IV IV Continue Continued d r F 5 with all nIl the explanations which Wells Tells must make make and the disI dis- dis I 1 to the household affairs time the or of f MIsako was a boon to the ned iced ed lad mother lady mother of little Bob- Bob Isako brought It was all they theyo Jo Io o a n letter from the mission mission- i n a village near six I later she became Bobbles Bobble's in bed an nn me night for mother y-mother died gather father ther always a silent man beo be- be o ubly stern devoted hIs duties Insistent that the mind long hours over dry books taw aw him seldom Contact with his father deso de- de so 50 did MIsako usurp all of ot J. J 3 affection Long tales she told i J they sat evenings upon the theof theof Most of all nIl of ot the town fromI from I she had come Its grandeur the terrific god who S the Thunder God 1 ace nce was veiled yelled that ordinary a d' d women might live To look looke e go god 1 save for the highborn t I thin death so awful was his J e child grew a sturdy brown- brown I J youngster MIsako's love be- be devotion It was t typical of ofT T Wells ells that lint he had not flinched jug been lIeEn sent to Ta al- al he e had seen Its location upon j and knew that he would be beg c. c g mIssionary for miles around ft tad tl not daunted him inspired hue tIlie He did not consider It as blom flora It was his duty this ls very thin thing n reacted a against shore than once he had felt that a it If only he had been able to edical attention he mightn't it t Elsie Now ow he saw his son medical Jin in n the dust with the time ragged of ot the village e. e ita it- it a n town ml might ht well have been beena iS In a thousand He dI did 1 not cons cona con con- has s a n town It was a place lilace of ot did dd not listen or listen- listen not ot learn x life In her brief stay had been heen beena a tl with It This Wells Veils did not and He lIe remembered only her y Feu Atell i hours an and 1 had them with ILi ILin n t Bobbie should acquire the theof thet t f isms sms of his playmates was natt nat nat- t that his skin became a yellow yellow rellow In tan tan that Ion long days s 's t sun should cause his e eyes eves es leli fv i this pave gave ae his father cr secret at Th The lad swam pla played e 1 with J His arms arias and legs browned J saw nothing In the f resembled either his wife or f Id lad was bright His Ills subtle TBS gS and brilliant crosscuts cuts problems in m mathematics Doctor octor Wells felt means to O t Ith fth superficial rapidity Nor or Nork bo k boy proper reverence re he haden had lind gien en n disgraced for clapping his Shinto prayer learned at ut the e I while Ho Doctor t Wells was pert per per- a funeral ceremony over n a i church member The excuse d' d t fly He wath a Jn p an the fit fa- i. i I thought he would like l J j t saw In tn the ell village lae many t gat were beautiful These his t with the stern taste of or the eady early developed elope 1 did not see sec j ll not look for Especially were ales ICS and und jU 1 no patience with the very elY who saw them as ns ob- ob art a be seen that Doctor Wells with the very air nir j I son breathed since that air ld with ancient lore folk and antl andI I I led lied with perI perd per per- 1 I Jid d habits Wt tit that application n to his s could roul 1 soon remove Bobble fa far r Insidious influence even even bet bet- gillie t himself might do it It It Itan A dryly clY an un Induced phase MIsako became toothless There was no more Bobble Sam She could remember no such person Instead there lived In the house the heir to the house of the Thunder Gate She bowed before him calling the boy San Kayama Doctor Wells ells did not exist save as a sort of upper servant ser The house was Bobbles Bobbies Bobble Bobbie was served first Bobbles Bobble's wishes must be he consulted before she would penult a n servant to carr carry out one of ot Doctor Wells ells orders Bobble Bobbie took It as ns a n matter of course MIsako liked It That was enough Wasn't she his little mother moth moth- er To please her he would memorize long Shinto pra prayers ers Became adept In the Rules of Courtesy Courtes Because It delighted her to see him Imperious he could coul 1 adopt a n commanding manner before her and the other servants Misako had on principal worry The Thebo bo boy was old enough to be married To whom In vain she painted a picture for tor the boy Th There re would be a n beautiful girl versed in dut and er e every duty appreciative of her exalted position A girl with long fine fingers with eyes eves that would 1 shine like black Jewels under brot brows s s curved as of the her black hair would be woven with the blossom of the plum she would have hn kimonos of pale silk with shiftIng shifting shift shift- In Ing colors changing with the light Here and her hert alone Bobbie Bobble would laugh although he took pains to conceal conceal conceal con con- ceal his amusement from MIsako I The position of Doctor Wells Yells In his own household became Intolerable I He could discharge e Misako yet et dreaded dread dread- ed facing his Maker and admitting that he hn had 1 acted so with one of such great and simple faith It was In a bitter moment that lint he I fumbled through his scant correspond correspond- ence lIe He found a letter already creamy with age It had been written shortly after the death of Bobbles Bobble's mother Send the boy to me if you will If It you rou want the little fellow educated In America I will see that It Is done ElsIe Elsie Elsie El El- sie would have liked It lIe He will not be he permitted to follow in his fathers father's footsteps I tell you that frankly To Tomy Torny rny my wa way of thinking there Is more religion re- re ligion In bringing water to a desert or housing the poor properly than In preaching to a horde of sn savages You wont won't do this at once Richard You were always obstinate But this Is an open offer It Isn't a n favor to 3 you ou remember It Is for Elsie and the boy boss bo Doctor Wells Yells from his window the theetter letter etter upon the desk before him watched a mendicant copper bowl banging against ng skinny shanks weary sore of feet extend his bowl at nt the doorway to MIsako begging a handful of rice lice the scrapings s of the curd bean pot a few shreds of ot fish Whimpering Whimper- Whimper Ing ng the mendicant thanked MIsako o for her gift Doctor Wells heard her answer answer- that thanks be poured down upon her great and revered lord Kayama Nonsense Nonsense What hat would the bo boy come to Better swallow his pride Suppose Bobble Babble were left alone What would happen With sudden intent Intent in intent In- In tent he clapped clopped his hands Send me m my son son he ordered We see little of each other Robert Robert Robert Rob Rob- ert he lie said Raid when the boy entered Sit down son How low his voice faltered faltered fal fal- a n moment how old are you ou 1 I was born In th th year of the time third Forty-third Blossoming of the Sacred Plu Plum n. n In the Season of of- of Doctor Wells shivering slightly cut him short English Robert I English English English Eng Eng- lish Eighteen teen father So soon So soon or so sn I Ion long on he paused d e vacant edAt ed At eighteen His own boyhood the great grent square house In a n commodious yard well shaded by over left forest trees elm and ond walnut and beech with here and there a line of leafy f sycamores sycamores cn mores where the creek had been heen tilled filled In Coolness and quiet ordered da days sA s A well marked pro program ram not too ton staidly staid staid- I ly delineated Cookies in the kitchen Strange e that he lie should remember that I The starchy gln gingham o of hl his mother Her lIeI pride In him a minister setting forth to strange lands Would 1 you ou like to go to America To a II college for learning If you OU command father I do not command son It Is a request You should go Yes Yes yes es I do command 1 You must g 0 b Bobble Dobbie lowed bowed 1 his head hend The son refusing to obey his father shall shull be he punished with one hundred blows of time the bamboo he said sn sadly When Is IsIt IsIt Isit It you OU will that I depart 1 Why hy dont don't you ou want to go 07 Are Arc you ou only nl going because I order you rou Y Yes s father Why Vh not 7 Only missionaries go to co college lege The boy smiled 1 sagely I would not care rare to be a missionary Rather Hather be a n mock lord ruler of a n host host host-a a host consisting of ot a n doddering servant ser senile Wells Veils said harshly adding somberly almost apologetically ly Your uncle would see to It that you ou were not a n missionary and explained explained ex ex- what colleges were for tor Listening without the door her her lIer ears sharp for tor all n the many van van- seasons heard Doctor Wells Veils put his question again and sent up a wall of protest and anguish at nt Bobbles Bobble's delighted delighted delighted de de- de- de lighted answer CHAPTER V V. V James San Sanderson was pleased with the lads lad's build and clear cleur eyes The Tho big bib house on Nob hill was pleased with him likewise While he was unimpressed unimpressed unimpressed pressed with the grandeur taking It as n a matter of or course yet et he had a n smile for tor every everyone one without being fa fa- It was not to be doubted that he had a n manner as ns If he were the masters master's son let alone the child of the masters master's sister and a n penny penny- missionary When James Sanderson had arrived at that place which permitted him to build a house of or his own It was of a n apiece apiece piece with Its neighbors a n wonderful example of ot ornamentation Th Time The portico portico portico por por- tico was teas corinthian There were pinnacles and many angled roofs roots all nIl wood painted gray Wherever a n space permitted the whole was Iced with carved wood acanthi and fat Rubens like babies all sprawling to to- gether It was with a n twinge after the fire and earthquake had swept s away his house with all of or the others that Sanderson Sanderson Sanderson San San- derson admitted that a n change would be necessary This he agreed to to as ns asfar asfar far nr as ns the exterior of or the house was concerned There was now nothing but severe lines and even his plea for tor fora torn a n Doric Done column was overwhelmed b by bythe bythe the architect ct He TIc was however positive about two things lIe He would hn have ve none of or your low lots ceilings lIe He wanted large rooms where there was space for a man to breathe The Time other matter was n a view Formerly a n cupola had hind served this purpose The nearest that Sanderson could come was to Insist that upon the roof root be built a n pill box as ns the architect architect ar nr- ar- ar called It which set at nt the opposite opposite opposite site end from the roofs roof's water tank It had many windows and was reached b by a spiral staircase which had a landing landing land land- ing before the door and then continued continued continued contin contin- to a n trapdoor In the roof root From the windows of or this tower room was a sheer drop of ot sixty feet Wisely Sanderson had this room prepared for tor Bob It was apart from the house No uNo sense keepin the time lad ial ladIn ladIn In a boarding school A fellow wants a little privacy A place to bring his friends where we grownups wont won't disturb disturb disturb dis dis- them nor hear them The room plea pleaded ed Bob Immensely Sanderson had fitted it up as ns he said to give glye the lonely boy a n homelike place Actually he had adorned the time room as he would have liked his own room when he was a n lad Ind Floor space nothing to speak of nf walls covered with the sort of huntIng huntIng hunting hunt- hunt Ing prints that Sanderson had always admired four chairs all nil bought second secondhand sec sec- ond ond hand so as ns to be homelike an annot and d not stiff sUfi a n rack ruck of ot books filled with some of or his uncles uncle's own A broad brond d double bed curtained from time the room t Sanderson had slept upon grain grain- sacks when he first came around the Horn a n table w with h a n huml humidor lest Bob Boh take to cigarettes which he early did His first days in the streets startled him It was strange to walk through the crowds of ot hUrl hurrying people an and 1 see ee no face lace that he lie knew Once or twice he had greeted a n Japanese only to be he rewarded with a n blank stare or a supercilious supercilious su su- giggle After that he was silent Yet he could not help but feel each time he saw a brown face disappear disappear pear in the crow crowd 1 an nn unexpected poignant loneliness It seemed to him that a fragment of his familiar world had vanished leaving him alone He lIe was entirely unaware of ot encouraging encouraging aln aging looks thrown at him hint Bob was as ns a n woman with two vo tiny bundles remarked remarked re re- marked to her companion not at nt all nil hard to tf look nt at There was something commanding about him Not Infrequently Infrequently infrequently a n girl or n a free easy young oung matron found time to smile at him Sanderson liked d the tte man It gave In him a u fee feeling ng that no guest no matter how intimate could instill The Thebo bo boys boy's s rapt attention when he spoke h he took tool not as duty but as Interest It H was wits a combination n of both The slightest encouragement was sufficient nt to In start him reminiscing of or his college days clays ln s lIe He felt that tha t Bob Boh should be forewarned forewarned fore fore- warned but hut dl did 1 not realize that he hewn wn was arming him as ns well Bob Is learning to be an Amer Amer- ican What will be the effect on him TO BE AL CONTINUED |