to further complicate
matters.

My listener was more than pleased. "I thank you," he said impressively.
"You are a strong-minded woman."

When I remarked that Japan was no place for a weak-minded one he seemed
to think again about smiling, but changed his mind and asked me solemnly
if I would not honor him by coming to his house the following evening
and, with his family, attending the great festival on the last night.

I accepted the invitation and he left.

* * * * *

In the evening Page Hanaford came to dinner. When I told him Zura had
returned to her home, the smile on his face faded. It spread to his lips
and eyes as I rehearsed the close of my interview with Mr. Chalmers.

"I sincerely hope that danger is passed," I said earnestly.

"I would not consider Mr. Chalmers dangerous by nature, only by
thoughtlessness," remarked Page; "his bravado needs seasoning like his
youth. Will you not let me help you, Miss Gray?" he exclaimed as that
lady came in almost smothered in the packages her frail arms held.

"Oh! it's just grand--how many nice people there are in the world," the
little missionary said enthusiastically, when relieved of her burdens
and seated. "That druggist gentleman was lovely. I bought a jar of
vaseline, and he found out I could talk English. Then I found out he was
trying to talk it; I told him about my hospital, and he gave me all
these splendid medicines I brought in. There's court-plaster and
corn-salve and quinine and tooth-powder and a dozen milk bottles for the
babies, and plenty of cans to put things in. That's a good start for my
drug store."

"The drug store and the patients, but the building!" I exclaimed. "Only
a dream! I don't want to be a cold-water dasher but, Jane Gray, where
will your visions lead you?"

"To Heaven, Miss Jenkins; that's where they were meant to lead. My
hospital is a dream now because it is not built. But it's going to be
soon; I know it. Didn't that splendid Japanese man clothe and educate
hundreds of orphans for years on faith, pure and simple? Of course my
little hospital is on the way! What better proof does anybody want than
the story of Mr. Hoda's Orphan Asylum?"

"Give us the story," urged Page, sinking into a big chair, after he had
made Jane comfortable.

"Indeed I will. I love to tell it for Mr. Hoda certainly sold his soul
for the highest price."

"When he was a very young and ambitious man, doing without food t