The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1902-10-02
THE ~ 81
ATTACHE
By p. Y. BLACK
By p. Y. BLAcK
Copyright. 1901. by p. Y. Black

with JOY when their striker brought in
the card, most official card-''Mr.
| KIDD Mabuchi, the Japanese Legation,
Washington. D. c." In the big school
in Massachusetts where Mabuchi as a
boy had studied the mysteries of Amer
Powers as his chief instructors he
had struggled through a course of foot
ball. He now required all the power
of muscular resistance thus gained to
Withstand the onslaught of these
friends Of his school days.
| You monsters! You dragons of
American he cried, falling backward
into the only armchair the youngsters
bare quarters possessed. HAS West
Point. then. not reformed your"
shut up. you lovely little brute, and
come to my bosom again! Amt he
sweet, Powers? Observe his little tan
tootsicums. The dude has been built
in London and Paris KIDD. oh, KIDD,
is this grateful return for all the re-
publican simplicity you imbibed at
Halton?'
They sat down, one on either side Of
| Mabuchi. Their tall, bony, wire woven
frames far overtopped that of the
graceful oriental.
well. tell me. then" said Mabuchi,
smiling.
Tell you? It's you who've got to do
the telling, Kido!' they cried together.
We've nothing to tell" Cannon added.
when you left for the war, we got
through West Point somehow and are
existing among cowboys and Indians
on these broad, unlovely plains. 1t
was good of you to come to see us, as
| we could not coa>e to Washington. but
you always were decent little speci-
men of foreign bric-a-brac. Now tell
us about Yourself"
at is not much to tell. When my
country went to war with China,
was ordered home. you know. Then l
served with the army, and the honor
able general spoke well of me in
dispatches and l was promoted. The
war ended. and my government sent
me to travel. l was everywhere-Lon-
don, st. Petersburg. Berlin. Vienna
and Paris.''
"How l should have liked to do Paris
with you! There's a French count, an
ex-officer. here stopping with the colo
mel. l suppose you met heaps Of them
in Paris? He's studying America too.
Count - Count - what's his name
Count
"Count Diceandbassy' cried the strik-
er, opening the door Of the young
officers sitting room to usher in an
elderly, wax mustached Frenchman.
Powers and Cannon advanced to greet
the new visitor. KIDD Mabuchi rose
slowly, his yellow brown face turning
gray.
"Count d'Eisenbas," Powers said.
1--WE are honored Let me introduce
to you Mr.. Kibo Mabuchi of the Jap
anese legation and an old school friend
of ours. We were just telling him
it was curious that you and he, both
studying us savages for the benefit of
your governments, should meet at such
an out of the way hole as Fort Drake"
The count made a rush of efusive
greeting at the Japanese. who coolly
took his hand.
mon Dieu. gentlemen! You afford to
me surprises the most welcome"
"You know each other, then" said
Powers.
"Know?' cried D'Eisenbas. 1--WE are
comrades since long timer
YES" said KIDD. and the laugh was
gone from the eyes which had sparkled
on his old friends, 1--WE met in Paris"
"And are ravished to meet in Amer
icav cried the count with hand on
either of Mabuchi's shoulders.
Cannon and Powers looked at each
other in amazement. 1t was impossible
not to note the dearth Of delight in
Kido's face.
ION this hot afternoon, when I had
nothing to do, l remembered our last
game at pokair. gentlemen, and l said:
Hal shall go and have my r-revanche
from the youthful giants, Messrs. Can
non and Powair.' May 1? For Mabuchi
at baccarat, ecarte and the games of
Paris. l know, but pokair''-
81 pray-excuse me-" said Mabuchi
gravely. 81 no longer play cards."
"Ah! Since Paris" cried d'Eisen-
bas, with a shooting glance.
'Since Paris" KIDD assented calmly.
"Pshaw, Kido," cried Cannon. you'll
ton. Count, let me offer you some
thing cooling. Kido-why your glass
is full yety
Il don't touch anything" said Ma
buchi gravely.
"Since Paris" again the Frenchman
asked and Knocked.
"Since Paris" said Mabuchi
"Ah. see, you want not to play po-
kair. You have much to talk. Au
revoir. my American giants. We shall
meet at the colonels. Mabuchi, shall
we meetY
1--WE shall meet" said KIDD. rising
and bowling with grave oriental cere-
mpny.
The school chums stared on KIDD.
"What the devil happened to you in
PARISH Cannon cried again. "Why
did that Frenchman grin in that meas
ly way. as if-as If he owned you?
Speak. you little lump of bronze. What
mischief did you have the nerve to get
into without Powers and me to haul
you out againY'
veranda that night Count d'Eisenbas
spoke in French briefly and coldly to
the little Japanese.
II cornered you here on purpose" he
said. Il have given you a year. and
you are not ready. Well. tomorrow
you must make good your promise or
shall hand these notes in my breast
pocket to your chief"
KIDD Mabuchi went home to his
bunk, hastily fitted up in Cannon's
room, but slept not at ALL
In the morning when his chums came
in from stables and early company
drills they found the attache sealing
letters on which he had been very busy
and which he now put in his pocket.
He was very amiable, very cheerful
and very calm 1t Is something to