Show 4 r THE LORD OF li II f 1 THUNDER GATE iJ Sidney Eve i A 4 T Tt Ti t I Small ma i 1 I h w y eis r I i i r ii i- i Merrill Men Co i by b the TK l CHAPTER XVI f 18 v The o Maru passed slowly through the Gate the waters broken and troubled by an talus- talus descended tide A land breeze met him harbinger o of manzanita and nail madrona madrona ma- ma of rough hark pine ansi and laurel of hills with hidden Vs of ot ravine cushioned with maiden-hair maiden and fingered live fin fi erel fern and goldback hills mountainous In purple-brown purple against a peacock-blue peacock sky White ferryboats churned their way across the Ule steamers steamer's path Like a hand with many man fingers the file city with Its piers swam past Tugs met them thorn hawsers were dragged aboard and the was slowly warped a against the docks dock's end swung broadside A crowd massed on the dock to welcome welcome wel wel- come the and Wells Veils felt homesickness homesickness home home- sickness stirring Before he had al always always nl- nl ways considered Japan as home tiny towns In the late evening lovers alike the world over a a. a boy teasing tensing a girl a maid mold provoking more teasing old Shinto priests fingers fingers fin fin- gers paused In rattling rm rosaries aries smiling smil ing upon heaps of ragged rugged urchins tumbling In warm dust the tintinnabulatIon tintinnabulation tintinnabulation tintin tintin- of little bells hells and cracked cadences of the temple bell bell all all this had been a part of his life from the beginning Now It seemed apart foreign foreign for tor- eign already half-effaced half and ond forgot forgot- ten Strange that the tile loveliness of his lIis real homeland had never Impressed Im Im- Impressed pressed Itself before It must he that that In the past he had been Impregnated impregnated with the Orient these hills about the bay were as velvet sided Its haunted bird and amI wind-kissed wind as us an any in the East East lf If he had but seen It Almost every ery one on board seemed to have ha at nt least one handkerchief handkerchief- f- f waving friend and most had hod a doz dozen n nf f r or more but hut all the smilingly ly eo eager r rf r f faces looking up were strange to his bis eyes He saw Alberta and his Uncle Tim Jim to be sure but the they also were strange ail und and strangers there was no one for Robert Kobert Wells and amI he felt very much alone lie He saw the police lines Hues that cl ti- I- I comers corners might not press too closely to the edge dge of the dock saw that a group of men were Inside of the lines men shorter horter and stockier than the rest This ThI must be the delegation come comp to todo todo todo do honor to Sans San's Sans San's son and md the the the- would expect er e every detail of ultra ultra- courtes courtesy from him him and and he would hive give Ive It He Ile would be he rushed away In their midst would be banqueted there would he be speeches and all of the time time- he lie Ie would he be keen to consummate the purpose of his long voyage He lie must remain a n masquerader masquerader-be be f a part of or never ending conversations and ceremonies ceremonies ceremonies cere cere- monies long long- drawn out As the boat swung close to the pier the tu tugs s cast off their lines Hues Wells tapped at Ellens Ellen's do door r. r I t It is the h hour ur for departure he sa said paid hI You Ton will wUl be glad to leave this prison Ellen noticed that his ls Is were even more like the letter I r In round pound than titan before So lie he was practicing that his part be perfect 1 I II I fear that which Is coming Ellen glIen said as they the walked to the side of the ship And I arii am ver very e excited You YU mo may touch m my nay sleeve with your fingers that my courage make you brave e. Wells said heroically A As the boat hont eased n against the pier Wells Wells' hand touched Ellens Ellen's he lie was waR waRnot not aware that he was r retaining It nor that a reassuring pressure was giving 1 him that pr very courage which he had so boldly offered lie saw Williams as m the latt latter r rushed down the gm gangplank plank saw saw sawAI Alberta Alberta Al Al- berta reach rench for him Kira and the lon long lone HID HID- brace Yoh he whispered to Ellen Ellon n These people touch their mouths mouth to to- gether Ier Japanese do not kiss It Is a 11 foolish custom Ellen felt his hand tl tighten upon hr her r own awn but she said i nothing She hoped hopel that he did not see pe her smile As he and Ellen In that order de he descended from the hunt bont ever every one who had not been heen staring nt ot the handsome arrogant man began to stare Wells was not displeased ed It was wm the en entrance n fl trance t he lie desired lie Ile knew w that Sanderson must mut be he watching him the welcome h by the Japanese lele delegation would show slow clearly that Kayama was a n Japanese noble nohle and find that what Sun San said being disinterested would be accepted ns os approximate troth Attention was focused upon him and a path opened before him Instead of ot feeling asinine n as he be hud head f feared he would his kimono with thread of thread gold old Insignia save gave ne him as ns lIe He dirt did not glance line knelt nt at t tEllen Ellen IWen but strode ahead careful to tl tomake tomake make his steps short The lender leader r of the delegation pr pressed fl to San Kayama-San Lord of ot the Thunder Gate made triple prostration and sail sad In greeting We Ve are honored by hy your presence Wells bowed deeply hl his kimono chine ch ine Ing him a n more graceful appearance c cas as fiR he bent forward 1 am urn utterly unworthy of or this attention he an tri I also In Japanese deprecatingly deprecating deprecating- i ly Iy which his arrogant air belled belied The others all bobbed their heads In unison a fi perfect chorus They were a n curious gathering from rom wealthy merchant of broad feature to toa ton a n professor of language e with face as ns angular and clearly cut as Wells Wells' own Wells Veils saw Instantly from the glances nt at his kimono that he was certain to tobe tobe be he told ver very apologetically that It would he be well to acquire an on Occidental wardrobe which wardrobe which he had no desire to do And the revered and honored Ao- Ao San chi your father Is lend dead 1 the leader lender asked lIe He Is doubtless In the tile nl Highest hest Heaven by merc mercy of ot and of the Horses Horse's Head Wells agreed It Is ver very sad sod for or you ou The gods oll must be dell delighted ht d by the man many virtues of San Aochi now in their midst Wells Veils bowed In assent You will follow tollow In your our fathers father's footsteps i Ingra Ingratiatingly I hope to he be found worthy Where was the Interrogation leading him It was rims not In accordance with strict No assurance Is needed as to that I I meant you ou are a conservative conserva conserva- conservative tive One of the few The leaders Ver Very softly You wish Old Oid Japan 1 Wells ells wished the questioning were well over Yes That Is well It delights u us all nil But you ou must be careful Ka How Why Is care necessary 1 I speaking of It so soon I Kayama a ama But nut nut- you But you ou must be pre- pre I J 41 r rY t. 17 Y t c cr r S 2 34 I 1 I f o f 5 s. s t Ih You May Touch My Sleeve With Your FinGers Pincers That My Courage Make You Brave Wells Said Hero Hero- pared Many Inn of the Japanese e In America Amer Auler- ica lea have queer ideas They are unsettled unset tied In the bend hend rhe They do not believe In the old order of owning land nobles such uh a as yourself The They believe that limit all nil should he be IH permitted d to own land but hut m instead tead of their Influence and votes toward that rl result lIlt ha have haun an un unpleasant wa way of Impressing their Ideas With th a 21 knife We must fur fur- nil h h with hod you a n bodyguard Who Vho would hurt huit th thi rum ron of m my nw father futher Well tIt 5 asked anted I 1 do not riot fear None will harm me They grow grew brave and reckless Ku San Kayama-San an At least we t will select as Its u Interpreter one who Is powerful aswell as Ufo aswell well a as learned I J understand th the of these people Wells VII answered AI Also Aho o m my wife his 11 head 01 toward time the rear where Eon EMen I would leI be n Willi he luy my wife sneaks no nn other othe lie He spilled smiled showing er e every tooth I Ill also o understand the tile cn customs I wn was In this land lanel he before Ire but few knew 0 of It It You Yon were wr not the head hend of your house then hl hissed erl the other politely u It t t Is different now A boy set down hags bugs behind t Wells a n hay cabin n with thin feature features und and burning hur e eyes r II He seal I behind Wells waiting wafting all order Isis Ills flu face wn was ns turned up to the time nobleman's In apparently rapt devotion Jc What a n perfect servant senant Ellen decided el Wells stood a Il half bend taller than the others rR III His pare hare head hen c marked erl him plainly plain I and imd Williams n ns as Sanderson's Sandr lIns lIn's n messenger r. r had 1101 no nn lilt dime In finding him hint Williams Williams' face fae was US still flushed for few Sanderson's greeting had been heen I curt cold I t Are you ou K San Kayama-San he lie osk asked d. d n a nI 1 I bit lilt out of breath Wells bowed gravely I didn't know know know-I I was wm Just told by hy Mr Ir Sanderson that you InU are the man who 19 Brings the boil body Wells finished fur for him bowing again I I Williams I It Is on the boat that I came OT T Ton I on 1 Wells boned for tor the In Ini i assent taking keen enjoyment from tile tile the others other's distress A hot dislike struck him Immediately upon the close sight of ot Williams lie He wondered how he had ever trusted or liked the them m man m. m It W was S as ns an unpleasant taste t. In his mouth when Alberta stepped to Williams William's side Ide her manner was eloquent eloquent elo elo- Qu quent nt of so much 10 love love love that could not be a n new thing Williams turned toward her about to present W Wells smiled at her the picture that flint they made was a n vivid vl one to the man they had wronged wrong ho whose e angry eyes In spite of nIl all the restraint under which he lie labored fell felI upon Alberts Albert's face She gave gave him him a n dazzling smile He hind had seen that snipe smile before And this Is the Japanese nl e lord Alberta announced gaily then quickly quick quick- ly Iy to Williams lie understands English English Eng Eng- lish doesn't he he Ray flay Why yes Why yes he es he spoke English to me Wells did not see his uncle approach ap ape ap- ap and the voice at his elbow elbo startled him It Is good of you yon to take so o much trouble for me Sanderson said I Ionly Ionly Ionly only trust It Is because e this voyage e fitted Into your our own plans Wells gathered himself In hand sad d turned toward his uncle Nothing of ot recognition no amazement at a n resemblance resemblance re reo re- re semblance was on the others other's face Vh Why Wray should there be Wells VellA realized 1 He had had months to perfect his part the disfiguring bandage and anCi foreign foreign for tor ei eign n dress s his acquired habit hohlt of narrowing narrowing nar nar- rowing his eyes es and holding his lips ups tightly together his darkened ened skin and thinned face to which he would add all In a moment his singsong stilted English English- Wells Veils was shocked at nt Sand Sanderson's appearance It told him plainly that the old man had been and still was suffering there were new wrinkles the whole face and figure were expressive expressive expressive ex ex- ex- ex of laxity sadness Wells Yells felt felta a n desire to get matters over oer with Set Set- tied Quickly Instead d there must t be ceremonial dinners dinners' and vacant speech Anger sur surged ed up In him He had a perverse desire to hurt some one and yet et did not dare vent It upon Alberta Albertn or Williams who were the tile cause I am nm on my wedding Journey journe he answered Sanderson lIe He indicated Ellen This Is my wife My first wife Alberta Albertn giggled How v deliciously ly naive nal she whispered to Williams Sanderson approached the point at once You know how how my my nephew died sir Alberta whispered huskily to toRay toRay Ray flay that Uncle Sandy was like that now always thinking of Bob and never minding where he spoke of him Imagine rl right ht on the wharf and Interrupting In a n Japanese e reception I Wells Veils was ryas not ready to answer the question at all nil so I am very tired We can cnn speak of this later Sanderson nodded I had hoped sir that you would come comae with me me me- with us us-to us to m my home I 1 had Im prepared rooms for you ou A suite as ns comfortable comfortable comfort comfort- able as an any hotel could furnish If It you ou and your wife could I I-I I I would like I like I am anxious to hear hear tie he was about your our heI height ht sir but a 11 bit broad broader er el In the shoulders perhaps perhaps- Of course I did not understand a glance dance at the waiting Japanese who lio chafed at the delay that you ou would would have so mun many friends who have hu claims upon you jou OU But But But- Buthe he left the sentence un un- un finished The leader of the delegation smiled nodding There will be a R banquet he hl admitted with the honorable Ka San Kayama-San San arnu San as our guest For a moment Wells did not see his way If It he went with the Japanese as San Kayama-San rightly should hould do It would prolong Sandel Sanderson's ons on's suspense and pain to say nothing of his own Impatience If 11 he lie w went nt with the white whiteman whiteman whiteman man the Japanese would think it t more queer queer more titan than queer And in Ili a u flush flash it cline Clime to him thit he need not nut care longer what they thought 1 I I 1 have haye business so gravely gra Important Im lm that the ghosts ts of ot m my ancestors ancestors an an- will come came t tit tl hear he d to the leader of the delegation dropping his voice olee and changing the language ua e. e Ii It concerns the honor of ot my house houe Tomorrow p perhaps 1 I do donot donut not nut cause HUH you ou too two great disappointment disappoint ment You Von will excuse e me Good Tomorrow Let them search for San Kayama-San un tomorrow If It all went well e I 1 will go with you Wells Yells told Sun Sun- derson I and anal my m. wife TO nn nC D CO CONTINUED |