Eugene High School - Eugenean Yearbook (Eugene, OR)

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- - r 1 : 'K ' - ' fs -. ' mf 21' H. 1 '11 'fi fa Eugene! I ' im 2 . -.- i ?q---.IM . . ,Pagc Oregon Thirteen to do nothing of the sort showed itself in my face, for he tried artifice. As I understand, Miss Reynolds, you are to have a happy event in your life in the near future and the Emperor has laid aside 350,000 in English curency for you on the culmination of your services. I wavered, Harry and I were so poor, and the poor boy had worked so hard to scrape our piti- fully small nest egg together. That interpreter knew his business all right for he artfully added: Your route will take you past Oiharo-maybe you could see Mr. Rice there and he could accompany you from there to the headquarters of the Czar - and I assented as he knew I would. Then my instructions: First of all, I was to regard my papers as myself. But as to my route. I was to go from Pekin to Bangai--by boat, I chose mentally, as I had experienced Jap jinrik- shas. From there, if successful, overland to the Czar's headquarters. They especially warned me, and the Emperor was intensely earnest, to beware of any men the lobes of whose ears had two min- utes punctures. These, he said, were men of a strong organization, descendents of the old jap- anese robbers and pirates, who had murdered the other three messengers. I left the palace, my precious document clasp- ed closely to my breast, and seeing punctures in the lobes of all the palace servants' ears, big enough to see a house through. I happened to half turn and saw my guide of the palace follow- ing me, tho' when he saw that I noticed him he pretended to be buying some cakes from one of the small shops. I went forward for perhaps two English blocks then turned swiftly, sure enough there was my man. I realized, heart-sick, that I was followed even now. Then I went rapidly through a maze of street and crowds and finally arrived at my quarters breathless and triumphant, for it seemed I had shaken my persistent shadow. I immediately began to make preparations tb go to the boat and taking my .38 Smith 81 XVes- son revolver, lay it on the dresser in front of me. Then I thanked my stars I had been so raised, particularly in regard to my skill in shooting and gymnasium work. Then I thought that perhaps I might meet Harry and prayed, ohl so strongly that I might. There was a bare possible chance that I might, for the last time I had heard from him he was preparing for a cruise against the pirates in the vicinity of Bangla. Then I ended my day-dreaming or rather ''evening-dreaming'I and taking only my neces- sary belongings and strapping my Smith 81 W'es- son in a suitable place I left for the water front and the junk the Emperor had designated as my conveyance. Finally finding my destination among the di- lapidated and nondescript junks along the harbor, I walked up the gangplank of a villianous looking junk and handed the note the Emperor had given me to the old japanese who was smoking on the hatchway. Ile read the note and toddled, beck- oning to a little room that was so neat and de- cidedly japanese that I voluntarily gave a little gurgle of delight. As the Emperor had told me that the junk would sail the next day, I opened the port window and began a letter to Harry and became so interested in it that I forgot the dan- gerous position I was even now in. The sound of muffled oarlocks aroused me and I leaned out of the window to see six villianous looking laps come quietly over the side of the junk-this was not so unusual but. with a start, I thought I re- cognized the square shoulders of my palace guide. As the sputter of the wood torch brightened it threw a weird scene in relief against the dark background of the night. The litter of coiled rope, rotten sails, thrown against the sides of the junk would come into view, then were blackened by the deceptive light. The light lit fitfully on the japs in the prow. They were in a close group, conversing in low tones with every now and then a glance to- ward my room. Then they dispersed quietly and soon I heard the soft shuffle of bare feet, the creaking of ropes., . 'Soon my. suspicions and alarms were thoroughly aroused, for the junk was in motion. I lay tense in the bed for hours it seemed to me, every muscle flexed. and praying that some power would send strong, dependable Harry to my aid. Then echoing, eeirly up the passage came the soft pat, pat, of bare feet. My limbs re- fusing to move I grasped my revolver and strained myself against the wall. I Presently the door began to slowly open, and I could discern the cunning features of my crafty guide of' the--palace. I-Ie cautiously approached . .. --.matt .... . ., .. wht L.,

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Q Y at ,. , if ,r '53 - 1 . H, 2.1, -A ' -f Page , 5 Eugene Twelve -' ' OVHUOH A Metssage to the zar HAT war is degrading to the human - racen I was now fully convinced. I had sailed on a tramp steamer, been jolted in jinriksha's and carried across streams by little brown men whose bareness embarrassed me at first-to marry Harry, my Harry, only to hear that a detestable Russian army lay between Pekin and Qiharo and would delay us for a month or more. ' I can remember yet how I had to bite my lip tm lteep from crying before those curious slant- eyerl fellows. I secured comfortable quarters in one of those little Japanese houses- play housesu-I call them, and had blubbered for perhaps two days when a dignified little Japanese entered and to my astonishment requested, nay ordered, that the most gracious Emperor of Japan requested my honorable presence at once. Not being so important yet having some spice of honorw in my own work. a newspaper wo- man, I was delighted at the opportunity to see a really, truly, Emperor. Dressing hurriedly I fol- lowed my pompous, little guide, who provoked my inward mirth by his unfailing dignity. In a short time we entered the beautiful grounds of the most holy Emperor of Japan. Entering the pal- ace and passing through innumerable, thick car- peted rooms, whose walls rolled back at the touch and the air seemed heavy with some pungent Oriental perfume. I presently entered the ante-chamber of the Emperor of Japan. ' e i I remember thinking with a little thrill how perfectly happy I would be if only Harry were with me. I recalled myself with a start and turn- ed to meet my Jap guide coming softly toward me. I drew back, startled, but he merely motion- ed toward a little entry, though still sizing me upl' as I thought. I entered, and walked in apparently calmly, tho' really my bones were knocking, made a low obeyance to the little brown man on the high chair, as it looked to me, and inquired what was his will with me. He did not answer immediate- ly, but on looking around and seeing my guide and another man near harshly ordered them from the room--the went-tho' sullenl , it seemed to Y me. Then his little slant eyes regarded me curious- ly-4'You Helen Lenoldsl Come to meet Mr. Hallery Lice ? Astonishment at his knowlezlge of my affairs werha as showed itself in m face, for he smiled Y hugely. Are vou not the ath-el-atic ffirl who G .f . I - 25 shoot, swim ? tl had won a medal in a wo- men's swimj. ' And are you not the girl-el who wrote Q newspaper article on the pl-easant war P To all these rapid-fire questions I merely nod- ded and he made a queer little gesture of satisfac- tion and struck a queer dragon shaped gong which nearly frightened the wits out of nie. Immediately came a soft shuffling of feet from somewhere to my left and a servant entered and bowed low to the Emperor. They conversed rapidly for some minutes and as I looked curiously around it seemed to me as if the reed walls on the left bulged inward as if someone were pushing against themithere. Miss Leynolds-this man talk to you l The servant bowed courteously to my gaze and mo- tioned toward a low divan. I seated myself and watched interestedly the short, erratic, walk of the little Emperor. Then the interpreter: Miss Reynolds, you are aware that the two Japanese parties, the Okai and the Shumari are in deadly enmity over the policy followed by the Emperor in the presentiwar ? QThis in the most perfect Englishgatiny nod he continuedj. The Em- peror has long wanted to culminate this unhappy war by negotiation with the Czar of Russia-this the Shumari are aware of and have killed each of the three messengers we have dispatched, sending us a hideous remembrance, two human fingers, the sign of the party. Vtfhat this was leading up to I was perfectly unaware, but in any event I was intensely interested. Then the interpreter: Miss Reynolds, for the sake of humanity, for the sake of Japan's homeless and destitute, the Emperor begs you carry an important paper, in fact, peace negotia- tions to the Czar of Russian I sprang to my feet in asonishment, perhaps my firm determination

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Page I ourtecn the bed, then-I must have made some sound, for he was on me like a flash before I could fire. He evidently intended to choke me for he made sev- eral attempts to reach my throat-but as I have said, I am very strong and was nearly his equal in strength. VVe wrestled in silence for a space of time, then I felt a tightening of his muscles and he threw me on the floor. I felt a stinging sensation on my wrist and grabbed the revolver I had drop- ped in the fight. He was reaching for my throat now, and the smell of his clothes, the touch of his body to mine maddened me and I thrust the bar- rel of the revolver against his body and angrily ordered him up. He slowly arose, his mouth twiching with rage, and his slant eyes like green slits of fire. I was horribly frightened and had a fear that the other murderers might have heard the noise made by our fight. The cords of my bathrobe gave me an idea how to do away with my captive and covering him with the revolver I tied him to the bed as best I might. For some moments I lay in the corner farth- est from the door, moaning in terror and pain,for the brute had bruised me horribly, and satisfied that the next few minutes would witness my death. Presently I decided that I would carry the war into the enemy's camp and crept softly to the door. There was no sign of life in the pas- sageway and I shivered as a blast of cold, salt air struck my bare shoulder, for the Jap mad torn off the sleeve of my negligee in our fight. Then the sound of the Shumari conversing in low modified voices from somewhere in the re- gion of the prow came to me and I proceeded more cautiously. Flickers of light through the porthole at the end of the passageway warned me that the Shu- mari were on the deck outside the deckhouse and I cautiously glanced through the porthole and on the ghostly scene outside. The men were in a semi-circle and I was directly above them. They were sewing upon some canvas and as I watched I recognized it as being those in which they bu- ried the dead at sea. They I shuddered-they were making that bag to encompass my body and so certain were they of the little jap's ability to do away with m that they had begun work on my sea coffin. I debated rapidly upon my immediate course of action-if only Harry were there to judge for me-and decided as the men appeared to be with- out revolvers, but had their murderous looking knives, I would stand more chance of success if I could get them before they could separate. My plans worked beautifully, without a word of warning I stepped out and tried to say calmly, 'fHands up l in English, of which they would not have understood a word. But my throat seemed to be stopped and I gave an insane sort of yell which served the purpose admirably, for they sprang to their feet and huddled in the stern, a frightened, chattering group of laps, with no thought of attacking me. And it must have been a picture to frighten anyone, there I was to all appearance a chatter- ing maniac with a revolver that might do damage at any time and they showed their respect for my revolver by keeping where I motioned. The ghostly yellow of the torch light threw only the stern of the boat in relief and I imagined I heard a noise in the prow, but dared not turn my head for the ,laps were becoming bolder and showed signs of attacking. I noticed particularly the ac- tions of one fellow whose arms hung long, gor- illa-like and I thought once or twice he glanced past me. but when he saw that I noticed he tried to act unconcerned. The soft pad of bare feet back of me made me wheel suddendly. I saw nothing in the blackness and I turned just in time to stop the swift attack of the Japs with threatening motions of my re- volver. I was certain that there was someone in the darkness back of me and I realized that I was at a terrible disadvantage. If I turned my head for the fraction of a minute, the 'Iaps in the stern would attack me and at any minute a shot or blow from the something back of me would spell my finis. I tried stratagem and began to slowly back toward the right side of the junk, watching both the stern and the prow as best I might, but I had miscalculated and stumbled over a loose rope end and lowered my revolver in trying to regain my balance. There was a cat-like rush from behind and I clenched and fought desperately with my palace guide who had somehow released himself from my insecure fastenings. He secured a hold on mv upraised wrist and slowly bore it downward by Eugene Oregon